Friday, June 4, 2010

Stars Shine Bright at Rocky Mountain Combine!



Prairie View High School played host to a terrific combine last weekend that put a number of talented prospects on display. Participants trekked from multiple states (including Utah, Wyoming and Arizona) with hopes of taking their game to the next level. Every participant undoubtedly left their blood, sweat and tears on the football field, but after three competitive combine sessions, a select few stood out as the Rocky Mountain's best.
Brighton HS' Zane "The Train" Smith rolled through the competition, taking home the Junior Overall MVP award. The 6'3 202 lb Tight End was literally and figuratively head and shoulders above the competition, grabbing the majority of passes that came his way during the 1 on 1's. Smith displayed exceptional quickness for a big man, has great hands and is an easy target to find for a QB. He is definitely a receiving model TE and a perfect fit for the position.
Ben Clarke (Chatfield) was virtually immovable during the 1 on 1's and looks like a QB's dream. The 6'2.5 248 lb Clarke was a defensive lineman's worst nightmare, as his determination, promise and excellent technique. From the moment he stepped up to the line, Clarke was ready to go and handled many different d-lineman with ease. Coaches love players like this.
Jeremiah Hunter (Cheyenne) has the potential to play both WR and TE, but regardless of where he suits up, it's going to be a problem for the defense. The 6'2 191 lb standout was effective in using his size against smaller d-backs during the 1 on 1's positioning himself to make a number of nice grabs. Hunter has great leaping ability (jumping 9'10 on the broad), strong hands and runs terrific routes. Hunter is worth watching out for.
River "King" Thompson had every reason to feel like a million bucks following the combine. The 5'8 147 lb d-back was a menace during the 1 on 1's, pressuring the WR's to the max. He had great recovery speed, can change directions on the dime and plays the ball very well. Thompson was also the best pure athlete during the class of 2011 session, with a 33 inch vertical, 9'8 broad jump, 4.12 shuttle run and 4.62 40. His size will be a concern for some programs, but his skills can't be questioned.

Exceptional Underclassmen!
·        Aaron Mispagel (Mullen) is an accurate passer who knew when to get the ball out of his hands and up in the air. The 6'3.5 189 lb QB moves well and has great leadership skills.

·        Ben Cherry (Silver Creek) brought his A game and was a star throughout the day. The 5'10.5 295 lb d-lineman bench pressed 185 lbs 33 times, had an 8'0 broad jump and was simply sensational during 1 on 1's. Cherry's strength, hast hands and determination were too much for the offensive line to handle.

·        Fountain HS' Ben Selby proved to be the total package at running back. The class of 2013 standout made major waves during the individual period, changing directions like a pro at a high speed, while also displaying terrific hands. At 5'10 189, Selby has phenomenal size for a freshman, therefore is likely to outgrow the position.

·        Ryan Novak (Heritage) also has great size for a first year high schooler. The 6'5 241 lb QB looks like a pro physically and has a great head on his shoulders. Novak throws a good ball, kept those around him pumped up and maintained control during the 1 on 1's, proving to have the maturity level of a player many years his senior. This well rounded prospect is definitely worth watching out for.

DENVER, CO 11th grade NUC Schuman’s Outstanding Performance List


DENVER, CO 11th grade NUC Schuman’s Outstanding Performance List
Zane Smith
Brighton HS, UT
11th
TE #67
Smith won the Overall MVP award. The 6'3 202 lb Smith ran a 4.63 shuttle, had great feet, was fast off the line, had exceptional hands and runs tremendous routes. Smith is also a big target easy for a QB to find.
Ben Clarke
Chatfield HS, CO
11th
OL #94
Clarke, 6'2.5 248, won the OL MVP. Clarke had an 8'0 broad jump, bench pressed 185 lbs 18 times, was coachable, showed great promise and has awesome technique.
Jeremiah Hunter
Cheyenne East HS, WY
11th
WR #22
Hunter, 6'2 191, took home the WR MVP. He had an outstanding 9'10 broad jump, knew how to use his size, runs awesome routes, and has strong hands. Hunter may now become the hunted.
River Thompson
Denver East HS, CO
11th
CB #22
Thompson was feeling like royalty after winning the Combine King and DB MVP awards.  The 5'8 147 lb phenom athlete had a 33 inch vertical, 9'8 broad jump, ran a blazing 4.12 shuttle, 4.61 40 and was in a league of his own during 1 on 1's. Thompson has quick feet, a nice back pedal, good recovery speed and plays the ball well.
Max Delia
Lake Havasa HS, AZ
11th
RB #69
Delia was awarded the RB MVP. Delia, 5'9 190, is powerful with the ball, has a 30 inch vertical, 8'9 broad jump, ran a  4.45 shuttle, is coachable and has great feet.
Alexander Thompson
Cherry Creek HS, CO
11th
LB #103
Thompson, 6'0 208, took home the LB MVP. Thompson had an 8'11 broad jump, ran a 4.57 shuttle, bench pressed 185 lbs 27 times and was physical, strong and aggressive during 1 on 1's.
Jarred Radenbaugh
Northglenn HS, CO
12th
QB #18
Radenbaugh, 5'10.5 174, won the QB MVP. The gifted Radenbaugh had great timing on his passes, nice footwork and was accurate during 1 on 1's. He was also a terrific athlete for a QB, with a 31.5 inch vertical, 8'4 broad jump and 4.61 40 in his arsenal.
Alex Koerner
Ralston Valley HS, CO
11th
DL #30
Koerner was the center of attention after taking home the DL MVP. The 6'1.5 224 lb prospect had great feet, good hips, was fast for a lineman, easy to coach and smart.
Quentin Riser
Fountain HS, CO
11th
WR #68
Riser rose to the occasion, earning himself the WR MVP. The speedy wide receiver, who scaled in at 5'9.5 154, had a 9'0 broad jump, ran a 4.58 shuttle and 4.59 40.
Craig Leonard
Fossil Ridge HS, CO
11th
QB #12
Leonard won the Leadership award. A hard worker with no quit in him, the 6'3.5 200 lb Leonard lead by example throughout the day and kept those around him pumped up.

DENVER, CO 10th grade NUC Schuman’s Outstanding Performance List


DENVER, CO 10th grade NUC Schuman’s Outstanding Performance List
Aaron Mispagel
Mullen HS, CO
10th
QB #12
Mispagel, 6'3.5 189, won the Overall MVP award. Mispagel is a smart QB with great timing on his passes. He also has excellent footwork and is a natural born leader.
Ben Cherry
Silver Creek HS, CO
10th
DL #140
Cherry had a day for the ages, taking home the DL MVP, Leadership and Strongest Man awards. The powerful 5'10.5 295 lb d-lineman had an 8'0 broad jump, bench pressed 185 lbs 33 times, was overpowering during 1 on 1's had fast hands and is a natural born leader.
Kevin Davis
Fountain HS, CO
10th
LB #57
Davis, 6'2 202, was the LB MVP. Davis had an 8'5 broad jump, 29.5 inch vertical, got great leverage during 1 on 1's and plays smart.
Justin Tadlock
Bear Creek HS, CO
10th
WR #34
Tadlock was the Fastest Man award winner and a terrific athlete as well. The 5'8.5 150 lb wideout ran a 4.55 40, 4.17 shuttle, had a 9'0 broad jump and had a 29.5 inch vertical.
Christian Thomas
Mountain Vista HS, CO
10th
RB #41
Thomas was crowned Combine King and also earned the RB MVP. An exceptional player at 5'11.5 183, Thomas had a 30.5 inch vertical, 9'2 broad jump, ran a 4.39 shuttle, bench pressed 155 lbs 26 times, was coachable, displayed tremendous hands and solid body control.
Jordon Vaden
Prairie View HS, CO
10th
WR #39
Vaden won the WR MVP. Lean ant athletic at 6'2.5 168, Vaden had a 9'4 broad jump, 29.5 inch vertical, ran a 4.46 shuttle, had awesome moves, a good first step, ran nice routes and displayed tremendous hands during 1 on 1's.
Kai Wolfe
Alma HS, NE
10th
OL #97
Wolfe took a bite out of the competition and won the OL MVP. The 6'3 302 lb monster  had outstanding strength, plays at a high intensity level, had good hands and neutralized the DL's during 1 on 1's.
John Keane
Lubbock HS, TX
10th
QB #14
Keane, 5'10.5 168, was awarded the QB MVP. Keane had an 8'4 broad jump, ran a 4.49 shuttle, had great timing on his passes, listened well and has a high football IQ.

DENVER, CO 9th grade NUC Schuman’s Outstanding Performance List


DENVER, CO 9th grade NUC Schuman’s Outstanding Performance List
Ben Selby
Fountain HS, CO
9th
RB #12
Selby, 5'10 189, won the Overall MVP award. Selby had an 8'6.5 broad jump, bench pressed 135 lbs 23 times, had great hands, nice speed, cuts well and has great size for a freshman.
Patrick Elsenbast
Chatfield HS, CO
9th
CB #64
Elsenblast, 5'11 157, earned the DB MVP award. Elsenblast had an 8'7 broad jump, ran a 4.55 shuttle, jammed the WR's well and plays the ball effectively.
Ryan Novak
Heritage HS, CO
9th
QB #128
Novak took home the QB MVP and leadership awards. Novak's heart is far bigger than his already large 6'5 241 lb frame, as he had zero quit in him and was vocal throughout the event. Novak also throws a good ball, bench pressed 135 lbs 23 times, is coachable and a very hard worker.
Justin Miller
Classical Academy, CO
9th
LB #70
Miller, 6'1 178, won the LB MVP. Miller ran a 4.50 shuttle, had an 8'6 broad jump, bench pressed 135 lbs 23 times, displayed solid footwork, great hips, is a natural born leader and is fast.
James Zafarana
Rocky Mountain HS, CO
9th
WR #14
Zafarana, 5'8.5 138, took home the WR MVP. He ran a 4.56 shuttle, has good hands, runs nice routes, is coachable and creates great separation between himself and the DB's.
Anthony Davis
Fountain HS, CO
9th
RB #11
Davis, 5'7.5 159, nabbed the RB MVP award. Davis had an 8'6 broad jump, bench pressed 135 lbs 19 times, is coachable, a good natural athlete and changes direction well.
Ian Califf
Rocky Mountiain HS, CO
9th
DL #72
Califf won the DL MVP award. At 5'10 206, Califf is strong, aggressive, has good hands and played hard during 1 on 1's.
Jake Schlayer
McCook HS, NE
9th
S #9
Schlayer, 5'11 148, was the Fastest Man. The speedy d-back ran a 4.68 40, 4.73 shuttle and had an 8'8 broad jump.
Lucas Atwood
East HS, CO
9th
LB #63
Atwood won the Strongest Man award. The 5'8.5 164 lb Atwood tossed up 135 lbs 30 times and had an 8'3 broad jump.

Top Junior Players NUC Denver, CO 2010

Top Junior Players NUC Denver, CO 2010




First Name Last Name Grade School State Position Height Weight
Zane Smith 11th Brighton UT TE 6'3 202
Ben Clarke 11th Chatfield CO OL 6'2.5 248
Jeremiah Hunter 11th Cheyenne East WY WR 6'2 191
River Thompson 11th Denver East CO CB 5'8 147
Max Delia 11th Lake Havasa AZ RB 5'9 190
Alexander Thompson 11th Cherry Creek CO LB 6'0 208
Jarred Radenbaugh 11th Northglenn CO QB 5'10.5 174
Alexander Koerner 11th Ralston Valley CO DL 6'1.5 224

Top Sophomore Players NUC Denver, CO 2010

Top Sophomore Players NUC Denver, CO 2010




First Name Last Name Grade School State Position Height Weight
Aaron Mispagel 10th Mullen CO QB 6'1.5 189
Ben Cherry 10th Silver Creek CO DL 5'10.5 295
Kevin Davis 10th Fountain CO LB 6'2 202
Justin Tadlock 10th Bear Creek CO WR 5'8.5 150
Christian Thomas 10th Mountain Vista CO RB 5'11.5 183
Jordon Vaden 10th Prairie View CO WR 6'2.5 168
Kai Wolfe 10th Alma CO OL 6'3 302
John Keane 10th Lubbock TX QB 5'10.5 168

Top Freshman Players NUC Denver, CO 2010

Top Freshman Players NUC Denver, CO 2010




First Name Last Name Grade School State Position Height Weight
Ben Selby 9th Fountain CO RB 5'10 189
Patrick Elsenbast 9th Chatfield CO CB 5'11 157
Ryan Novak 9th Heritage CO QB 6'5 241
Justin Miller 9th Classical Academy CO LB 6'1 178
James Zafarana 9th Rocky Mountain CO WR 5'8.5 138









Thursday, June 3, 2010

Seattle's Best!



A small but hard working group of athletes graced the field for what turned out to be a better than advertised combine last Saturday at Seattle's Franklin High School. To the NUC's pleasant surprise, a number of solid prospects were discovered in the same area that is far better known for coffee and rain than football.
The top performer of the event was Mount Si HS' Taylor Mitchell, a 5'11.5 209 lb line backer. Mitchell had exceptional quickness and athleticism, as his 4.05 shuttle and 8'11 broad jump were off the charts from a linebacker standpoint. Mitchell had great field awareness, was quick to get to the ball, plays physical and is has terrific all around skills. Mitchell definitely has a future playing in college and with his athleticism and pure position skill, is worth keeping an eye on.
Monster TE Joe Farmer, also of Mount Si HS, was thoroughly dominant during the 1 on 1's. At 6'5.5 22, Farmer was able to grab the ball over much smaller players and with a 4.50 shuttle run, he has great lateral quickness for a player his size.  Between his hands, speed and size, Farmer has terrific all around tools.
Power back Devon Lewis (Central Kitsap) is 5'8.5 201 lbs of mean. Lewis runs the ball with great intensity and change direction on a dime as his 4.18 shuttle indicates. Lewis' strength, bulk, quickness and on field awareness placed him atop a gifted group of running backs.
Underclassmen Make Waves!
Tyler Berkheniser (Meridian) was the top dog during the underclassmen session, earning the Overall MVP and Fastest Man awards. The 5'8 149 lb wide receiver had exceptional quickness, great hands, ran nice routes and regularly shook off hard charging defensive backs to grab the ball.  Athletically, Berkhensier was near flawless with a 34 inch vertical, 9'10 broad jump, 4.20 shuttle run and 4.54 40. He still needs to get bigger but with two years of eligibility remaining, he is one to look out for.
Return standout Visa Thach (Mountainview) took home the RB MVP and made notable improvements since last year's event. At 5'7.5 223, Thach has tremendous strength (bench pressing 155 lbs 35 times), unbelievable quickness for a player his size (running a 4.29 shuttle), and has a great motor. Thach is a true fullback but he is also a threat to rush the ball due to his quickness and impressive strength.
Massive QB Caleb Smith (Kentridge) was literally head and shoulders above the competition at 6'5.5 238; more importantly, the kid was a prime player. Smith's great size, leadership skills, arm and footwork were all outstanding, powering his successful day. During the 1 on 1's, Smith maintained control of the offense and was highly successful in getting the ball to his receivers. Few QB's, even at the pro level, have Smith's size.
Seattle; mark it down for coffee, rain, and more importantly, football!

SEATTLE, WA 8-10th grade NUC Schuman’s Outstanding Performance List


SEATTLE, WA 8-10th grade NUC Schuman’s Outstanding Performance List
Tyler Berkhensier
Meridian HS, ID
10th
WR #38
Berkhensier, 5'8 149, won the Overall MVP and Fastest Man awards. The athletically gifted wide out had a 34 inch vertical, 9'10 broad jump, ran a 4.20 shuttle, 4.54 40, displayed great hands and put together solid routes during 1 on 1's.
Caleb Smith
Kentridge HS, WA
10th
QB #78
Smith took home the QB MVP and Leadership awards. At 6'5.5 238, Smith had terrific size for a QB, worked hard, was a natural born leader, threw a great ball and had nice footwork for a player his size.
Visa Thach
Mountainview HS, WA
10th
FB #32
Thach won the RB MVP and Strongest Man awards. A return standout at 5'7.5 223, Thach bench pressed 155 lbs 35 times, ran a 4.29 shuttle, was tremendously quick for a player with his build and looks to be a solid blocker.
Josh Mitchell
Mount Si HS, WA
10th
OL #33
Mitchell, 6'2.5 244, was awarded the OL MVP. Mitchell had impressive all around strength, good footwork and managed to neutralize the opposing linemen.
Manaea Mane
Lakes HS, WA
10th
S #60
Mane was the main man and won the DB MVP. The 5'9.5 164 lb standout ran a 4.4 shuttle, had an 8'9 broad jump, kept the WR's in check and was light on his feet.
Logan Dieterich
Bainbridge Island HS, WA
10th
DL #123
Dieterich, 6'3 283, was awarded the DL MVP.  Dieterich used his size to his advantage during the 1 on 1's, overpowering the opposing linemen while also displaying nice moves.
Christian Melton
Lakewood HS, WA
10th
LB #39
Melton earned the LB MVP award. The 5'8 210 lb prospect bench pressed 155 lbs 23 times, had good on field awareness and played at a high level throughout the 1 on 1's.
Michael Cupps
West Salem HS, OR
10th
WR #53
Cupps won the WR MVP award. At 5'10 182, Cupps ran a 4.44 shuttle, had good hands, was quick off the line and knows how to catch the ball in traffic.
Jonathoan Tharpe
Cottage Grove HS, OR
10th
QB #51
Tharpe was the co-QB MVP. The 5'10.5 178 lber ran a 4.6 shuttle, throws a good ball, has a high football IQ, plays patiently and is accurate.
Chase Hanson
Lone Peek HS, UT
10th
QB #77
Hanson, 6'2.5 200, earned the Combine King award . A gifted QB, Hanson had a 29 inch vertical, ran a tremendous 4.09 shuttle, 4.64 40 and jumped 8'8 in the broad.
Jordan Turner
Kings HS, WA
8th
WR #55
Turner won the 8th Grade MVP. At 5'6 151, Turner ran a 4.62 shuttle, made a number of nice grabs during 1 on 1's, was quick off the line and had good moves.
Jake Gall
Cle Elum HS, WA
9th
RB #95
Gall was the co-RB MVP. The 5'11.5 171 lb standout had an 8'111 broad jump, ran a  4.22 shuttle, bench pressed 135 lbs 21 times, changes directions well and has good hands. Gall has a ton of talent for a freshman.

SEATTLE, WA 11th grade NUC Schuman’s Outstanding Performance List


SEATTLE, WA 11th grade NUC Schuman’s Outstanding Performance List
Taylor Mitchell
Mount Si HS, WA
11th
LB #73
Mitchell, 5'11.5 209, won the Overall MVP award. Mitchell had an 8'11 broad jump, ran a blazing 4.05 shuttle, had great hands, awesome awareness
Joe Farmer
Mount Si HS, WA
11th
TE #87
Farmer was awarded the TE MVP. The 6'5.5 221 lb Farmer ran a 4.50 shuttle, had an 8'2 broad jump, had good hands and moved very well for a player his size.
Jay Dienes
Issaquah HS, WA
11th
OL #138
Dienes was awarded the OL MVP. The powerful 6'3.5 250 lb prospect ran a 4.82 shuttle, had good hands, quick feet and solid technique.
Devon Lewis
Central Kitsap HS, WA
11th
RB #88
Lewis won the RB MVP award. The 5'8.5 201 lb standout had an 8'4 broad jump, ran a 4.18 shuttle, was light on his feet, carried the ball powerfully and changed directions well.
Mitchell Haldane
Mountlake Terrance HS, WA
11th
LB #101
Haldane, 5'11 193, was awarded the LB MVP. Haldane had a 32 inch vertical, 8'9 broad jump, ran a 4.49 shuttle, did a great job of keeping the RB's in check and moves well off of the break.
Kevin Russell
Timberline HS, WA
11th
QB #90
Russell earned the QB MVP with a terrific performance. The 5'11 187 lb Russell was highly successful during 1 on 1's, using excellent mechanics, a high football IQ, good footwork and impressive reads on the defense to maintain control.
Patrick Taiwo
Newport HS, WA
11th
DL #103
Taiwo took home DL MVP honors. The athletic Taiwo ran a 4.46 shuttle, had great moves, strong hands and great instincts during 1 on 1's.
Robert Sharps
Eastlake HS, WA
11th
CB #27
Sharps, 5'11 188, was awarded the DB MVP. The shut down corner had an 8'7 broad jump, ran a 4.28 shuttle, jammed the WR's consistently and displayed solid footwork.
Terenn Houk
Enumaclaw HS, WA
11th
WR #41
Houk won the WR MVP. A big target at 6'3 190, Houk had an 8'5 broad jump, ran a 4.51 shuttle, made a number of nice catches and put together tight routes.
Zach Keiser
Coeur d'Alene HS, ID
11th
WR #6
Keiser shared the WR MVP with Houk. The 5'8 189 lb standout was a great athlete, with a 33 inch vertical, 9'2 broad jump and amazing 4.02 shuttle run in his arsenal. Keiser also had good hands and made some clutch grabs during 1 on 1's.
Coleman Bryant
Lynwood HS, WA
12th
CB #23
Bryant was the combine's Fastest Man award winner. The speedy 5'8.5 170 lb d-back jolted his way to a 4.50 shuttle and 4.21 40 while also impressing with a 31.5 inch vertical and 8'6 broad jump.
Derek Kolar
Post Falls HS, ID
11th
OL #86
Kolar, 5'10 279, won the Strongest Man award. He bench pressed 185 lbs 26 times.
Dale Garcia
Timberline HS, WA
11th
WR #96
Garcia, 6'1 207, won the Leadership Award. He has a terrific attitude, is vocal, works hard and set an example of how to perform at the combine.
Zack Berg
Edmonds-Woodway HS, WA
11th
S #114
Berg was sitting atop the throne after being crowned Combine King. The 6'1 202 lb Berg had an 8'8 broad jump, ran a 4.16 shuttle and 4.60 40.

Great Pictures from Rivals.com's Dirk Knudsen from Portland NUC event Featuring Colt Lyerla and Nicholas Rothstein

8-10th grade
http://picasaweb.google.com/dirkknudsen/2010SchumansFootballCombineWestSalem8th10thGrade#



Juniors

http://picasaweb.google.com/dirkknudsen/SchumansNUCCombine2010JuniorsClassOf2011#



Colt Album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/dirkknudsen/ColtLyerla2010#



Also I made a Lyerla Montage: On you Tube,,, use it as you like...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlHIrj7qyW0

Top Junior Players NUC Seattle, WA 2010

Top Junior Players NUC Seattle, WA 2010




First Name Last Name Grade School State Position Height Weight
Taylor Mitchell 11th Mount Si WA LB 5'11.5 209
Joe Farmer 11th Mount Si WA TE 6'5.5 221
Jay Deines 11th Issaquah WA OL 6'3.5 250
Devon Lewis 11th Central Kitsap WA RB 5'8.5 201
Mitchell Haldone 11th Mountlake Terrace WA LB 5'11 193
Kevin Russell 11th Timberline WA QB 5'11 187
Patrick Talwo 11th Newport WA DL 6'0.5 225
Robert Sharps 11th Eastlake WA CB 5'11 188
Terenn Houk 11th Enumclaw WA WR 6'3 190
Zach Keiser 11th Cour d'Alene ID WR 5'8 189

Top Sophomore Players NUC Seattle, WA 2010

Top Sophomore Players NUC Seattle, WA 2010




First Name Last Name Grade School State Position Height Weight
Tyler Berkheiser 10th Meridian ID WR 5'8 149
Caleb Smith 10th Kentidge WA QB 6'5.5 238
Visa Thach 10th Mountainview WA RB 5'7.5 223
Josh Mitchell 10th Mount Si WA OL 6'2.5 244
Maine Manaea 10th Lakes WA S 5'9.5 164
Logan Dieterich 10th Bainbridge Island WA DL 6'3 283
Christian Melton 10th Lakewood WA LB 5'8 210
Michael Cupps 10th West Salem OR WR 5'10 182
Jonathoan Tharpe 10th Cottage Grove OR QB 5'10.5 178
Chase Hansen 10th Lone Peek UT QB 6'2.5 200

Top Freshman Players NUC Seattle, WA 2010

Top Freshman Players NUC Seattle, WA 2010




First Name Last Name Grade School State Position Height Weight
Jordan Turner 8th Kings WA WR 5'6 151
Jake Gall 9th Cle Elum WA RB 5'11.5 171









Colt Lyerla; A Legend in the Making



Few, if any, high schoolers in the country have the gifts of Hillsboro's Colt Lyerla. The 6'4 224 lb phenom can jump like an NBA all star, has the speed of an Olympian, strength of a player many years his senior, and is simply sensational on both sides of the ball.

From the moment he stepped onto the gridiron last Sunday at West Salem High School, those around him were aware of his exceptional talents to the point that they literally watching him perform every time he stepped up; and what a performance it was.

Lyerla took home the Overall MVP following an unbelievable day of football and one that the NUC will remember for quite some time. Lyerla had a 39 inch vertical (setting an all time record with a 137.5 on the jumping reach), 10'8 broad jump, ran a 4.11 shuttle, 4.55 40 and bench pressed 185 lbs 20 times, giving him some of the best all around testing numbers to date. During the 1 on 1's, Lyerla, who plays WR and LB, had great hands, unbelievable strength, is light on his feet and simply blew past the competition to the point where it was ridiculous.

With a year of high school football still to come, Lyerla has ten plus offers from programs such as Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas Tech, Washington, Vanderbilt and Arizona. He has all it takes to become a star in college and beyond.

Jason Ferguson (also of Hillsboro HS) refused to be in his teammate's shadow and put forth an honorable performance. The 6'2 221 lb d-lineman has great athleticism for a player his size and world class quickness. Ferguson had a 31.5 inch vertical, 8'5 broad jump and ran a tremendous 4.40 shuttle, something few big men can claim. During the 1 on 1's, Ferguson's quickness, explosive moves, powerful hands, nimble feet and all around power gave him the edge virtually every time he stepped up  to the line. Athletically, he is comparable to a player like Dwight Freeney and his future definitely looks bright.

At 5'4.4 153, Ralph Greene is easy to miss on the field. He is far smaller than most players his age, but athletically, he is first in class. Greene's weaknesses are also his strengths, as his cat-like quickness powered him to a 4.14 shuttle run. While performing during the 1 on 1's, Greene displayed great hands, quick feet, can change directions on the time and was born to be a playmaker. 


Underclassmen Shine!
Brett Bafaro of Liberty HS topped a small but talented underclassmen session, taking home the Sophomore MVP. The 6'1.5 197 lb linebacker was in a league of his own during 1 on 1's, impressing our coaches with his quick feet, closing speed, physical play and ability to track the ball. Athletically, Bafaro is first in class, with a 9'1 broad jump, 4.27 shuttle run and 25 reps at 155 lbs to boot.

Freshman phenom Evan Voeller (West Linn) has tremendous size and skill for a player yet to enter his second year of high school. Scaling in at an imposing 6'4 285 lbs, Voeller proved to have great quickness for a player his size during the 1 on 1's. He also displayed excellent strength and solid technique while bench pressing 155 lbs 24 times. Voeller is definitely one to keep an eye on.



Tobias Kelly (Trinity Lutheran) unquestionably has the makings of a future star, especially considering he is still in middle school. With a 31.5 inch vertical, 4.54 shuttle run and 8'2 broad jump, the 5'6.5 147 lb Kelly has out of this world athleticism for a player his age. The gifted corner back also did a nice job of neutralizing the WR's during 1 on 1's and displayed good ball skills.


Portland may not be big numbers wise, but in terms of talent, these kids are no joke.