Despite the cold and rainy conditions, prospective high school football players made the most of their opportunity at the Nike Football Training Camp in Dallas. NFTC camps are an interesting combination of football players with bright futures in the sport, along with players that will, unfortunately, end their careers after high school. The amount of speed and strength that sets Division I athletes apart from good high school players is narrow but noticeable – especially at events like Nike’s camp.
Only 5.8% of all high school football players end up on scholarship at an NCAA Division I program. Each of the 123 Division I programs can only have eighty five players on scholarship, so difficult choices must be made by college coaches. That’s what makes camps like the NFTC so valuable to coaches…they provide an opportunity to compare and evaluate talent.
Hornsports was at NFTC – Dallas.
Read on for a summary of the SPARQ testing and a breakdown of each position…
SPARQ:
• Patrick Vahé showed impressive explosiveness throwing 41′ on the Power Toss. That type of power from the hits is key for Offensive Lineman.
• Charles Omenihu was a scratch in the 40-yard dash. That disappointed some; however, he ran a 4.5 on his pro-shuttle. That’s not exactly blazing fast, but athletes with his long frame and low weight typically have issues with body control. A 4.5 shuttle proves that Omenihu is not only capable of changing direction under control, but can do so quickly. This change of direction is essential for defensive lineman and especially for pass rushing defensive ends like Omenihu.
• Despite the Texas verbal pledges posting impressive SPARQ performances, the MVP of the testing was Justice Austin. With a total score of 124.08, Austin’s performance in every SPARQ test was thoroughly impressive. Despite measuring 6’ and 240 pounds, Austin matched Vahé with a 41’ Power Toss. Austin combined that performance with a 4.7 forty and a 4.1 pro-shuttle to prove he is a formidable talent at linebacker.
Position Group Work:
QBs- This group wasn’t extremely impressive, but also didn’t disappoint by any means. Kyler Murray was without a doubt the most impressive QB in attendance and to no surprise, he walked away with the MVP award. Murray is a dual threat QB with mobility to match a considerable arm. A consensus Top 10 statewide recruit, Murray moved extremely well both inside and outside the pocket. While Murray’s throwing technique will need some coaching his passes were accurate and on time.
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UT commit RB Jordan Stevenson participates in ball security drills
RBs– Not only did this position group impress; there were a lot of RB’s in attendance. Texas commit Jordan Stevenson did very well during his 1-on-1’s, using great technique to win the majority of his reps. His pass protections skill were impressive and he looked like a collegiately coached running back. Stevenson has good knee drive and equally good cuts that are both decisive and fluid – an especially dangerous combination. In each drill the coaches paid him extra attention and made the drill more difficult (weighted balls, extra moves and cuts, etc.) Jaylon Smith was another stand out performer at RB, despite being an under-recognized talent. While Smith was listed at 5’11’’ and 210 pounds, he likely plays closer to 220 or even 230 pounds. Smith is a difficult running back to evaluate at a non-contact camp because he’s a downhill runner. His one-on-one period was very well done and he was undefeated in pass protection. He was told several times by coaches that they were not in pads and he should remember that… but the coaches on the field loved it.
LB’s- Simply put – what an impressive bunch. The linebacking group was a recruiter’s dream, and it’s not an exaggeration that the majority of attendees will play Division I football. The linebackers operated more like a team instead of a group of football players looking for attention. They were all enthusiastic, positive, and cheered one another throughout the camp. The 1-on-1’s against RB’s was clearly won by the LB’s with few losses in the pass rush, or inside run. The clear choice for MVP was Malik Jefferson (Rivals.com’s No. 3 ranked LB in the nation). Jefferson has an impressive physique that compares better to an NFL linebacker than a college player. At 6’2’’ and 225lbs, Jefferson doesn’t have an ounce of fat on him. Trevis Gipson was another stand out, displaying impressive pass rush moves during his 1-on-1’s. At 6’5’’ he has the height to play defensive line and proved his athleticism during the pass skeleton, looking every bit of a capable safety prospect. Gipson already has offers from Texas Tech, Vanderbilt, and Tulsa and more are sure to follow.
DL- This group was dominant. The battle for MVP was tough, with many different interior and exterior linemen providing worthy competition, but George Lea walked away with the title. Lea is a visibly impressive athlete with a large frame and proportional weight. In the day’s final 1-on-1, Lea lost to Vahe despite a great battle and an impressive jump on the snap. In 1-on-1’s Charles Omenihu was nearly undefeated with only one loss; however in the rematch it was a clear that the first rep was a fluke with Omenihu winning decisively. Omenihu will be an interesting player to watch develop because he certainly has the ability to ‘flip the switch’ and put his game face on.
WR- The wideouts were another large group of talented young men with a lot of solid athletes. Although it wasn’t a particularly tall group it was a fast one. The receivers were difficult to truly evaluate due to the overwhelming talent at Linebacker and DB, but the MVP award went to DaMarkus Lodge. Consistently open even when he was not targeted, Lodge was also a clear stand out in SPARQ testing. Lodge is an extremely talented athlete with a bright future. His combination of size, speed, and physicality will make him a serious threat for early playing time wherever he chooses to play football. The catch of the day was made by a relatively unknown running back named Bryce Beard. A smaller running back that projects as a slot receiver in college, Beard will not have a difficult transition based on his performance. His one-handed, toe dragging catch on the sideline was, without a doubt, a Sports Center Top Ten-type grab (with several chanting the theme music on the sideline).
OL- An overall unimpressive group, with only a few individual standouts, the OL was dominated in 1-on-1’s. The MVP award went to Texas commit Patrick Vahé, and it was well deserved. Vahé seemed a little under his reported weight but the explosiveness shown on the Power Toss and his quickness in pass sets were more than enough to cement him as the group’s top performer. The coaches frequently used Vahé as an example of great foot placement, and his pass protection skills were outstanding. In passing drills, Vahe was patient and delivered a strong punch that was both on target and on time. Matt Morse was another impressive lineman but is undersized. It’s difficult to get noticed on the offensive line if you are under 6’, but Morse really caught everyone’s attention during 1-on-1’s. Morse was only beat once, and at the center position that is a truly difficult task. Surprisingly, Morse does not hold any offers yet. Morse’s size will without a doubt affect his stock but placing 5th in the state (heavyweight division) in wrestling shows great potential and athleticism.
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DB’s- This was another really impressive group that included three athletes with invites to The Opening (an elite 11-on-11 football camp run by NFTC). The invitees in attendance were Justin Dunning, P.J. Mbanasor, and Will Sunderland. The DB’s MVP competition was the fiercest of any position group of the day, and the award went to Will Sunderland. A highly sought after recruit, it’s easy to see why Sunderland has offers from schools in the Big10, Big12, ACC, and SEC. At 6’2’’ Sunderland has good height to match his speed and will be able to play safety or corner in college. The defensive back group was full of raw NCAA Division I-level talent and was probably the main reason the QB’s had a below average day. There were very few receivers open during the zone coverage drills and almost none in the man-to-man drills.