ATLANTA -- The 2012 Nike Football SPARQ Combine tour hit the Southeast on Sunday for the eighth event of the spring, as over 1,400 participants were tested and competed at Lakewood Stadium in Atlanta. The combine was the largest of the year and saw the fifth invite to The Opening earned.
The day belonged to ESPNU 150 Watch List prospect Jalen Ramsey of Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.), who posted the day's top SPARQ rating of 130.32 and was awarded with an invite to The Opening.
The talented defensive back has been a participant at the Atlanta Nike combine each year of his high school career and has improved tremendously since his freshman year rating of 70.47. With over 15 offers to date, Ramsey surely will become more a national name after this performance.
Another player who made a significant improvement from last year was receiver Ryan Jenkins of Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.), going from an 81.09 at last year's Atlanta combine to the day's second-highest rating at 122.88 on Sunday. An all-region selection as a junior, Jenkins has been offered by Clemson and Louisville.
The conditions for testing and competing were ideal at this strong stop of the tour, as 15 players went over 100 in the SPARQ rating system. While Ramsey stole the show with his performance, some other strong prospects emerged with stellar numbers.
Top Class of 2013 Performer
Jalen Ramsey, DB, Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.)
At 6-foot-0 and 186 pounds, this elite two-play player has the size that colleges are looking for in a lockdown corner. Ramsey scored nine total touchdowns to go with 42 tackles and three interceptions as a junior.
Class of 2013 Honorable Mention Performers
Travis Custis, RB, Lovejoy (Ga.)
The 5-foot-11.5, 200-pounder finished with a 105.60 SPARQ rating; clocking a 4.67 40 and 4.34 shuttle. Custis greatly improved on his 76.53 from last year's Nike combine and rushed for over 1,800 yards as a junior this past fall. The talented tailback has offers from Miami, Georgia Tech and Michigan State just to name a few.
Brendan Langley, DB, Kell (Marietta, Ga.)
An ESPNU 150 Watch list player, Langley is one of the Peach State's top prospects after earning an All-State selection as a junior. A tremendous athlete who plays multiple positions, Langley is being targeted by top college programs with offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. He ran a 4.61 40 and 4.19 shuttle for a rating of 103.71.
Deangleo Yancey, WR, Mays (Atlanta)
Just last week Yancey posted a 91.95 SPARQ rating at the Mobile Nike combine and improved his rating to a 116.61 in Atlanta. Still looking for that first offer, Yancey is out to prove that he has the talent and willingness to put in the work.
Brian Whitaker, DE, Westside (Macon, Ga.)
Whitaker proved that he has the size, speed and power to be a dynamic pass rusher. The 6-foot-3, 231-pounder finished the day with an 83.76 SPARQ rating in running a 4.98 40 and jumping 35.1 inches on the vertical. Auburn and Oregon have offered.
Top Underclass Performer
Wesley Green ('14), Martin Luther King (Lithonia, Ga.)
Green is emerging as one of the region's top prospects for 2014 and has earned an early offer Georgia. With a 4.15 shuttle and 4.70 40, Green showed the speed that will garner him more attention. Green posted an 82.59 SPARQ rating and measured in at 5-foot-10.5 and 165 pounds.
Other underclassmen who impressed
QB Tymashian Clemons ('14), 5-10.5, 166, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)
WR Keyston Fuller ('15), 5-11, 175, Grifiin (Ala.)
RB Jordan Dooley ('15), 5-10, 182 Norcross (Ga.)
DB Chase Pankey ('15), 5-11.5, 170, Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio)
RB Lawrence Austin ('14), 5-10 170, Lamar County (Barnesville, Ohio)
Below is a list of top five performers from each testing category. Stay tuned to ESPNHS.com and the Nike Football SPARQ Combine homepage the rest of the week for more coverage from the Atlanta Nike combine.
Atlanta Nike Combine Top Fives
SPARQ Rating
1. Jalen Ramsey, DB, 6-0, 186, Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.) -- 130.32
2. Ryan Jenkins, WR, 5-11, 177, Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.) -- 122.88
3. Deangelo Yancy, 6-1.5, 200, Mays (Atlanta, Ga.) -- 116.61
4. Trey Burks, RB, 5-8, 184, Tullahoma (Tenn.) – 116.04
5. Harvey Harris, RB, 5-10, 157, Carver (Montgomery, Ala.) – 112.59
40-yard dash
1. Ryan Jenkins, WR, 5-11, 177, Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.) -- 4.53
2. Nathanial Miller Jr., WR, 5-8.5, 159, North Cobb (Kennesaw, Ga.) -- 4.53
3. Marcelis Logan ('14), RB, 5-9, 168, Lexington Catholic (Kent.) -- 4.53
4. Harvey Harris, RB, 5-10, 157, Carver (Montgomery, Ala.) -- 4.54
5. Chaz Thornton, RB, 5-8, 170, Stephens County (Toccoa, Ga.) -- 4.55
20-yard shuttle
1. Tymashian Clemons ('14), QB, 5-10.5, 166, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) -- 3.98
2. Ryan Jenkins, WR, 5-11, 177, Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.) – 4.01
3. Arman Smith, DB, 5-7, 158, Fayette County (Fayatteville,, Ga.) -- 4.03
4. Deantre' Truman, DB, 5-10, 155, Creekside (Fairburn, Ga.)-- 4.04
4. Jalen Ramsey, DB, 6-0, 186, Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.) – 4.04
4. Jacob Nichols, RB, 5-11, 181, Pelham (Ala.) -- 4.04
4. Demetrius Campbell, DB, 5-8.5, 154, Northeast (Oakland Park, Fla.) -- 4.04
Kneeling Power Ball toss
1. Craig Mackey, DB, 5-10.5, 174, Rickards (Tallahassee, Fla.) -- 44.5 feet
2. D'Von Isaac, DL, 6-4.5, 289, Henry County (McDonough, Ga.0 -- 42 feet
3. Deangelo Yancy, 6-1.5, 200, Mays (Atlanta, Ga.) -- 41.5 feet
4. Jalen Ramsey, DB, 6-0, 186, Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.) -- 41 feet
4. Chequan Burkett, LB, 6-0, 200, Jefferson Davis (Montgomery, Ala.) -- 41 feet
4. Austin Golson, OL, 6-5.5, 277, Prattville (Ala.) -- 41 feet
4. Todd Wooten, DL, 6-1, 268, Banneker (College Park, Ga.) -- 41 feet
Vertical Jump
1. Cory Battle, RB, 5-7, 150, Horseshoe Bend (New Site, Ala.) -- 42.5 inches
2. Ryan Jenkins, WR, 5-11, 177, Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.) -- 41.3 inches
3. Jalen Ramsey, DB, 6-0, 186, Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.) -- 40.3 inches
4. Keyston Fuller ('15), WR, 5-11, 175, Griffin (Ga.) -- 38.8 inches
5. Trey Burks, RB, 5-8, 184, Tullahoma (Tenn.) -- 38.6 inches