WINTER GARDEN, Fla. -- The Orlando Nike Football SPARQ Combine set an attendance record last Sunday with over 1,400 athletes receiving SPARQ Ratings. A familiar face, Derrick Henry of Yulee (Fla.), earned the day's top mark with a 138.03 and cemented his place at the top of the SPARQ leaderboard. While many had great performances, only 24 were good enough to make the All-Combine team.
Note: Selections are based upon combine performance as well as past and projected on-field performance. Athletes must have completed two of the four combine tests to be eligible for selection. Athletes are in the Class of 2013 unless otherwise noted.
OFFENSE
QB: D.J. Gillins (2014), 6-3, 185, Eagle's View Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Results: 4.87 40, 4.66 SH, 41 PB, 35.6 VJ, 91.44 SPARQ
Breakdown: The Class 2A Honorable Mention All-State threw for 2,667 yards with 36 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.
RB: Derrick Henry, 6-3, 241, Yulee (Yulee, Fla.)
Results: 4.58 40, 4.15 SH, 42 PB, 40.3 VJ, 138.03 SPARQ
Breakdown: The UGA commit and ESPNU Watch List prospect dominated the combine and posted the 2012 tour's top score with a 138.03 through four events.
RB: Adam Lane, 5-8, 216, Winter Haven (Winter Haven, Fla.)
Results: 4.72 40, 4.32 SH, 38-5 PB, 33.6 VJ, 103.47 SPARQ
Breakdown: Lane missed his junior season with a broken leg and has bounced back nicely this offseason, regaining the lateral quickness and power that made him an ESPNU Watch List recruit and early Florida commit.
RB: Josh Mercer, 5-10.5, 185, South Effingham (Guyton, Ga.)
Results: 4.58 40, 4.22 SH, 35-0 PB, 31.7 VJ, 95.97 SPARQ
Breakdown: Mercer blazed a 4.58 40; the Peach State rusher reports a Florida offer and the Gators are showing interest despite two 2013 RB commitments.
WR: Branton Lee, 5-8, 163, North Florida Christian (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Results: 4.56 40, 4.19 SH, 34-5 PB, 32.6 VJ, 94.14 SPARQ
Breakdown: Leading receiver for the Class 2A state champion Eagles with 811 yards and eleven touchdowns.
WR: Jordan Reus, 5-10, 162, St. Cloud (St. Cloud, Fla.)
Results: 4.57 40, 3.90 SH, 38 PB, 38.0 VJ, 119.28 SPARQ
Breakdown: Burst on our radar last year after posting a 101.73 rating as a sophomore, but an injury sidelined him for his junior campaign. This athletic flanker is looking for a breakout senior season.
WR: Dominic Walker, 6-1.5, 194, Evans (Orlando, Fla.)
Results: 4.79 40, 4.16 SH, 36-0 PB, 32.8 VJ, 95.94 SPARQ
Breakdown: Holds seven offers and posted almost 500 yards receiving and five touchdowns during junior year.
WR: Taj Williams, 6-3.5, 166, Lincoln (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Results: N/A 40, 4.44 SH, 30-0 PB, 30.1 VJ, N/A SPARQ
Breakdown: Another top-flight prospect on head coach Yusef Shakir's team. The slender split end has over 20 offers.
OL: Michael Watkins, 6-2.5, 286, Durant (Plant City, Fla.)
Results: 5.58 40, 4.98 SH, 39-5 PB, 23.4 VJ, 71.61 SPARQ
Breakdown: Solid size and lateral quickness; just missed the 40-foot mark in the power ball toss.
OL: Shawn Curtis, 6-5.5, 270, Olympia (Orlando, Fla.)
Results: 5.45 40, 4.61 SH, 34-0 PB, 23.0 VJ, 65.31 SPARQ
Breakdown: Easy to see why Cincinnati, Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisville, UNC, and USF have offered the fleet-footed tackle with great height and reach.
OL: La Darrien Wilson, 6-1, 281, Teneroc (Lakeland, Fla.)
Results: 5.61 40, 5.09 SH, 37-5 PB, 24.2 VJ, 67.72 SPARQ
Breakdown: Strong power ball toss to go with decent vertical jump.
OL: Garrett Smith, 6-3, 271, Central (Fort Pierce, Fla.)
Results: 5.55 40, 4.75 SH, 36-0 PB, 23.0 VJ, 64.83 SPARQ
Breakdown: Improved his SPARQ Rating by 24 points after packing on 40 pounds of upper body bulk from a year ago.
ATH: Reggie Davis, 6-0, 158, Lincoln (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Results: 4.55 40, 4.56 SH, 30-0 PB, N/A VJ, N/A SPARQ
Breakdown: Forms a dynamic receiving tandem with the aforementioned Williams; already over 20 offers.
DEFENSE
DL: Nathan Obinwa, 6-3, 220, Olympia (Orlando, Fla.)
Results: 4.70 40, 4.51 SH, 35-5 PB, 32.9 VJ, 91.74 SPARQ
Breakdown: Receives plenty of competition in practice against from touted teammate Shawn Curtis.
DL: Brandon Crawford, 6-1, 222, Madison County (Madison, Fla.)
Results: 4.78 40, 4.79 SH, 38-5 PB, 33.9 VJ, 90.87 SPARQ
Breakdown: This ideal weakside defensive end hails from a great program.
DL: Keyon Brown (2014), 6-2, 227, Hardee County (Wauchula, Fla.)
Results: 4.77 40, 4.59 SH, 38-5 PB, 32.8 VJ, 94.74 SPARQ
Breakdown: Athletic rush end that plays both ways, scoring seven touchdowns while racking up five sacks as a sophomore.
DL: Winston Chastang, 6-14, 226, West Orange (Winter Garden, Fla.)
Results: 4.77 40, 4.34 SH, 35-0 PB, 27.1 VJ, 86.22 SPARQ
Breakdown: Chastang is under the radar as a prospect on an up-and-coming team.
LB: Quinton Powell, 6-2, 187, Mainland (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Results: 4.80 40, 4.28 SH, 38-0 PB, 32.1 VJ, 93.09 SPARQ
Breakdown: Florida pledge and ESPNU Watch List outside linebacker tallied 104 tackles and 13 sacks off the edge last fall.
LB: Rayfield Dixon, 6-3, 192, Seminole Ridge (Loxahatchee, Fla.)
Results: 4.82 40, 4.28 SH, 36-0 PB, 38.1 VJ, 98.88 SPARQ
Breakdown: Boosted rating 10 points from last year on the heels of his excellent vertical jump.
LB: Jacques Bryant, 6-0, 176, FAMU (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Results: 4.77 40, 4.56 SH, 43-0 PB, 38.2 VJ, 102.63 SPARQ
Breakdown: Notched the day's top power ball toss. Made 2011 Class 2A Second Team All-State.
DB: Keanu Neal, 6-1, 200, South Sumter (Bushnell, Fla.)
Results: 4.67 40, 4.34 SH, 32-5 PB, 33.8 VJ, 90.72 SPARQ
Breakdown: Class 4A All-State selection after racking up over 100 tackles and three interceptions as a junior; committed to Florida this month following Junior Day.
DB: Samolu Jallah, 5-9, 183, Wekiva (Apopka, Fla.)
Results: 4.87 40, 4.34 SH, 38-0 PB, 42.0 VJ, 105.78 SPARQ
Breakdown: Big vertical and power ball toss for the small, but powerful, safety.
DB: Matt Milano, 6-0, 193, Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.)
Results: 4.64 40, 4.25 SH, 38-0 PB, 34.3 VJ, 104.52 SPARQ
Breakdown: Finished with the fourth-best overall rating on Sunday; selected to the Class 8A Third Team All-State in 2011.
DB: Shaquill Griffin, 6-1, 184, Lakewood (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
Results: 4.59 40, 4.47 SH, 39-0 PB, 33.2 VJ, 96.96 SPARQ
Breakdown: Recently picked up an offer from UCF; increased rating 35 points since last spring.
ATH: Shedrick Williams, 5-10, 169, Madison County (Madison, Fla.)
Results: 4.61 40, 4.69 SH, 33-5 PB, 31.3 VJ, 74.64 SPARQ
Breakdown: Lines up all over the field for the Cowboys; Louisville, USF, and Western Kentucky have offered the multi-purpose star.