March 2, 2010
Milton, Douglas do it again at NUC
David Schuman, director of the National Underclassmen Combines, has conducted events all over the country for years. But he said no state churns out athletes and eye-popping combine scores like Louisiana.
Schuman was reminded of such on Sunday for the Junior NUC Showcase and Combine at Zachary High School. And several of the event's MVPs were familiar names.
The Overall MVP was Pineville running back Derrick Milton, who for the two previous years was the Combine King. He tested well once again, posting a 39.5-inch vertical leap to go along with 9-foot-10 broad jump, a 4.57-second 40-yard dash and a 4.49 shuttle.
He also did well in position drills and in the showcase, displaying his explosive play and great hips. Milton -- who's eligibility under LHSAA rules will expire right before the start of the 2010 season because of his age -- said next season he will be playing at Hargrave Military Academy.
"It is exciting to finally win the Overall MVP," Milton said. "Two years in a row I was the Combine King and I really wanted the MVP."
Last year's Overall MVP in the sophomore event, quarterback Stevie Douglas, had to settle for Quarterback MVP on Sunday. At 6-foot-4, 196 pounds, the home school player for the Baton Rouge Christian Patriots looks the part. But he also delivered in the position drills and the showcase. He has a tremendous arm and a very quick release.
Ironically, Douglas has not been able to throw much during his career with his home school team given the often limited talent and experience level of his teammates. That's why performing well at events like the NUC have been so valuable.
"(Winning the MVP last year) changed my recruiting," Douglas said. "That really got me going. I've always been known for having a strong arm, but I really have not been able to show that in games because of inexperienced receivers. Last year we had just seven players out for spring practice before recruiting some more."
Douglas said that there are only 13 on the team now. Like last year, he is bracing for the possibility of not being able to field a team. He and his family will likely be weighing a number of options, including playing for a tradition high school football program.
The Combine King was Thibodaux standout Raheem Richard, who ran a 4.44 in the 40 and had a 39-inch vertical leap. The 5-foot-7, 152-pound Richard said he is holding offers from Ole Miss, UCLA, and Southern Miss. The offers are for either running back or slot receiver.
The event's Fastest Man honor went to Cecilia's Montrel Carter, who ran a 4.40. He also had a 4.41 shuttle, an 8-6 broad and a 31-inch vertical leap. Carter is a second cousin to recent TCU signee Curtis Carter of North DeSoto, who coincidently was the NUC's Fastest Man last year.
The competition was so fierce for many of the position awards that there were a number of Co-MVPs. Even for the Strongest Man crown, two players both ripped off 33 reps at 185 pounds, including last year's strongest man, Darren Harrell of Marksville. The 6-foot, 435-pounder guard was also an Offensive Lineman Co-MVP, showing off tremendous footwork for a player over 400 pounds.
The other Offensive Lineman MVP was the towering, 6-6 Southern Lab tackle Ezekiel Alexander, who despite being raw, his tremendous wingspan helped him control virtually every would-be pass rusher. The other Strongest Man was Northshore defensive lineman Tyler Porter, who also had 33 reps.
Another Northshore player, defensive lineman Brandon Taylor, and Shaw's Donald Phillips were the Defensive Lineman Co-MVPs with both showing quick feet and excellent technique against stout offensive linemen.
Thibodaux's Joshua Johnson rose to the top of a solid running back crew to win Running Back MVP. Johnson tested well, including a 33-inch vertical leap, and then displayed a good combination of agility in drills and one-on-ones, coupled with a great attitude and leadership.
There were Co-MVPs for a very deep wide receivers group. Wilkinson County, Miss., standout Devin Fosselman was very impressive during the showcase, grabbing every ball thrown his way. Ellender's Jermaine Johnson was quite a find, though. At 6-3, 168 pounds, Johnson posted a blazing 4.47 40, a 9-8 broad, and a 34-inch vertical leap. He had good hands on top of it all.
There were Co-MVPs for both the defensive backs and the linebackers.
The defensive backs were Belle Chasse's Brock Matherne, the younger brother of former Mr. Football Blake Matherne, and Central's James Richardson. Matherne had a 4.5 40, a 30-inch vertical and 24 reps in the bench to go with outstanding eyes and hips in the drills. Richardson was among the day's fastest with a 4.46 40-yard dash.
The linebackers were Ascension Catholic's Parris Stewart, who tested well and looked the part in the showcase and drills, and Hammond's Matthew Brown, who posted a 4.54 in the 40 and is put together well at 5-foot-9, 196 pounds.
Schuman was reminded of such on Sunday for the Junior NUC Showcase and Combine at Zachary High School. And several of the event's MVPs were familiar names.
 |  |
| |
| Running back Derrick Milton took the Overall MVP this time around. |
He also did well in position drills and in the showcase, displaying his explosive play and great hips. Milton -- who's eligibility under LHSAA rules will expire right before the start of the 2010 season because of his age -- said next season he will be playing at Hargrave Military Academy.
"It is exciting to finally win the Overall MVP," Milton said. "Two years in a row I was the Combine King and I really wanted the MVP."
Last year's Overall MVP in the sophomore event, quarterback Stevie Douglas, had to settle for Quarterback MVP on Sunday. At 6-foot-4, 196 pounds, the home school player for the Baton Rouge Christian Patriots looks the part. But he also delivered in the position drills and the showcase. He has a tremendous arm and a very quick release.
Ironically, Douglas has not been able to throw much during his career with his home school team given the often limited talent and experience level of his teammates. That's why performing well at events like the NUC have been so valuable.
|  |
| |
| Home School quarterback Stevie Douglas was the Quarterback MVP. |
Douglas said that there are only 13 on the team now. Like last year, he is bracing for the possibility of not being able to field a team. He and his family will likely be weighing a number of options, including playing for a tradition high school football program.
The Combine King was Thibodaux standout Raheem Richard, who ran a 4.44 in the 40 and had a 39-inch vertical leap. The 5-foot-7, 152-pound Richard said he is holding offers from Ole Miss, UCLA, and Southern Miss. The offers are for either running back or slot receiver.
The event's Fastest Man honor went to Cecilia's Montrel Carter, who ran a 4.40. He also had a 4.41 shuttle, an 8-6 broad and a 31-inch vertical leap. Carter is a second cousin to recent TCU signee Curtis Carter of North DeSoto, who coincidently was the NUC's Fastest Man last year.
The competition was so fierce for many of the position awards that there were a number of Co-MVPs. Even for the Strongest Man crown, two players both ripped off 33 reps at 185 pounds, including last year's strongest man, Darren Harrell of Marksville. The 6-foot, 435-pounder guard was also an Offensive Lineman Co-MVP, showing off tremendous footwork for a player over 400 pounds.
 | |
| |
| Thibodaux's Raheem Richard was the Combine King. |
Another Northshore player, defensive lineman Brandon Taylor, and Shaw's Donald Phillips were the Defensive Lineman Co-MVPs with both showing quick feet and excellent technique against stout offensive linemen.
Thibodaux's Joshua Johnson rose to the top of a solid running back crew to win Running Back MVP. Johnson tested well, including a 33-inch vertical leap, and then displayed a good combination of agility in drills and one-on-ones, coupled with a great attitude and leadership.
There were Co-MVPs for a very deep wide receivers group. Wilkinson County, Miss., standout Devin Fosselman was very impressive during the showcase, grabbing every ball thrown his way. Ellender's Jermaine Johnson was quite a find, though. At 6-3, 168 pounds, Johnson posted a blazing 4.47 40, a 9-8 broad, and a 34-inch vertical leap. He had good hands on top of it all.
There were Co-MVPs for both the defensive backs and the linebackers.
The defensive backs were Belle Chasse's Brock Matherne, the younger brother of former Mr. Football Blake Matherne, and Central's James Richardson. Matherne had a 4.5 40, a 30-inch vertical and 24 reps in the bench to go with outstanding eyes and hips in the drills. Richardson was among the day's fastest with a 4.46 40-yard dash.
The linebackers were Ascension Catholic's Parris Stewart, who tested well and looked the part in the showcase and drills, and Hammond's Matthew Brown, who posted a 4.54 in the 40 and is put together well at 5-foot-9, 196 pounds.
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