Last weekend's event at Highlands Christian Academy marked the second time the NUC visited Miami this year, but following a terrific first event, a shortage of terrific athletes was far from a problem this time around. The event size was not the same as the preceding event, but those who showed up beat the heat and defied the odds all at the same time.
One of those very special athletes was F.W Bucholz' Marquis Noble. At 5'5.5 144 as a rising senior, Noble is easy to miss; that was until he thoroughly dominated throughout the event's duration. Noble reigned supreme during the athletic testing, with a 32.5 inch vertical, 9'8 broad jump, 4.27 shuttle run and 4.51 40. He also was an absolute beast during the 1 on 1's running great routes and making a number of good grabs while displaying the kind of quickness the defense simply couldn't contain. His lack of size is definitely going to be a concern for a number of programs, but his talent can't be questioned.
Standout DB Miles Campbell (The Kings Academy) created plenty of frustrations for the offense during the 1 on 1's with his well rounded talents. The 5'9 157 lb prospect excelled at covering the deep ball, had a great backpedal, strong jamming skills and terrific instincts. His athleticism also guided him throughout the day, a 30 inch vertical, 9'4 broad jump, and 4.36 shuttle were efficient enough to scare those on the other side of the ball.
Linebacker Robert Hayes (Charlotte HS) was atop the charts for his position throughout the combine. The 5'9.5 220 lb prospect had great strength, a quick reaction time, nice closing speed and pro style awareness, giving him the look of a run stopping machine. Haynes also did a good job during testing, running a 4.46 shuttle while jumping 8'5 on the broad.
Upper Echelon Underclassmen
Rising junior James Brooks of Ocala Forest HS capped off a talented underclassmen session by taking home the Overall MVP award. Brooks set the tone during the 1 on 1's with an array of impressive catches, quick feet and good moves to shake off the db's. The 5'9 192 lb Brooks was also an elite athlete, with a 33.5 inch vertical, 9'3 broad jump, 4.34 shuttle and 4.5 40 powering his well rounded performance. Brooks, who still has two more years of high school football left, should develop into a nice prospect.
Randy Johnson (Miami Norland) shares a name with one of this era's top baseball players, but unlike the 6'11 strikeout machine, this kid brings fire to the football field. The 5'9 169 lb Johnson earned the Combine King and Fastest Man awards after dominating during the testing events, with a 37.5 inch vertical, 10'0 broad jump, 4.41 shuttle and 4.47 40. Johnson is nearly flawless athletically and plays both RB and WR, making him a major asset to any offense.
Superstar freshman Ryne Rankin of East River high school was clearly top player from the class of 2013. The 6'1 188 lb linebacker had good size for a freshman, terrific ball skills, great acceleration and unprecedented strength, enabling him to stand out throughout the combine. He also made a name for himself during the testing by bench pressing 135 lbs 24 times and jumping 29.5 inches in the vertical leap. Rankin displayed the necessary skills to succeed for many years to come and is going to get bigger and stronger.
As is the case in other locations such as Atlanta, Dallas and Las Angeles, Miami's talent is so good that multiple events are necessary to showcase all of their top players.
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