MASSILLON, Ohio -- The Nike Football SPARQ Combine tour made its annual stop at Massillon High where over 1,200 athletes competed and tested. 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: Javon Harrison, 6-1, 208, Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio)
Results: 4.82 40, 4.32 SH, 40 PB, 27.9 VJ, 92.85 SPARQ
Breakdown: Harrison is an exceptional dual-threat quarterback who is close to netting his first offer.
RB: Heath Harding, Dayton Christian (Dayton, Ohio)
Results: 4.53 40, 4.19 SH, 35.0 PB, 37.9 VJ, 105.45 SPARQ
Breakdown: Harding had a huge junior year, rushing for over 1,500 yards with 33 touchdowns.
RB: Berkley Edwards, 5-9, 181, Chelsea (Mich.)
Results: 4.51 40, 4.43 SH, 36.5 PB, 37.8 VJ, 103.71 SPARQ
Breakdown: Edwards a monster junior season rushing for 1,520 yards and 18 scores. Braylon's younger brother has earned a variety of MAC offers.
WR: John Franklin, 6-0, 216, Canal Westchester (Ohio)
Results: 4.84 40, 4.36 SH, 41 PB, 31.2 VJ, 102.45 PB
Breakdown: Great overall combine for Franklin, who proved he has the speed and size needed to play on the next level.
WR: Jesse Bray, 6-0, 193, Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio)
Results: 4.74 40, 4.26 SH, 41 PB, 32.3 VJ, 106.14
Breakdown: Bray was the top target for the aforementioned Harrison this past fall, catching six touchdowns on the year.
WR: Thaddeus Snodgrass (2014), 6-0, 175, Springfield (Ohio)
Results: 4.64 40, 4.33 SH, 37 PB, 34.6 VJ, 96.27 SPARQ
Breakdown: Standout performance for one of Ohio's top prospects of the Class of 2014. Snodgrass has an early offer from Toledo.
TE: Keith Towbridge, 6-5, 245, Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio)
Results: 5.06 40, 4.34 SH, 34 PB, 24.5 VJ, 78.09 SPARQ
Breakdown: He had a superb shuttle for player of his size and has been offered by Louisville and Nebraska.
OL: Harneet Gill, 6-6 240, Francis Howell (Saint Charles, Mo.)
Results: 5.28 40, 4.83 SH, 42.5 PB, 33.0 VJ, 90.93 SPARQ
Breakdown: Recent Missouri commit looks to be a solid pick up for the Tigers.
OL: Derek Brown (2014), 6-3, 293, Ypsilanti (Mich.)
Results: 5.60 40, 5.04 SH, 43 PB, 23.8 VJ, 80.40 SPARQ
Breakdown: Young prospect has tremendous strength and proved it with the day's top power ball toss.
OL: David Nelson, 6-5, 263, Hershey (Pa.)
Results: 5.00 40, 4.78 SH, 36 PB, 29.9 VJ, 82.26 SPARQ
Breakdown: An unknown heading into the combine, Nelson proved he has the size and strength for the next level.
OL: Cole Newsome, 6-3, 296, Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio)
Results: 5.76 40, 4.74 SH, 42 PB, 21.2 VJ, 80.43 SPARQ
Breakdown: Earned Division I All-Southwest District honors after a solid junior year.
ATH: William Houston, 5-11, 232, Dublin Scioto (Dublin, Ohio)
Results: 4.88 40, 4.31 SH, 38.5 PB, 28.1 VJ, 93.45 SPARQ
Breakdown: Built like a linebacker, Houston is a shifty running back with an offer from Bowling Green.
DEFENSE
DL: Aaron Gordon, 6-0, 244, Half Hollow Hills (Dix Hills, N.Y.)
Results: 4.80 40, 4.58 SH, 39 PB, 27.2 VJ, 89.43 SPARQ
Breakdown: Speedy pass-rush specialist posted the top SPARQ rating for his position.
DL: Ryan Stout, 6-5, 243, Southview (Sylvania, Ohio)
Results: 4.97 40, 4.36 SH, 31.5 PB, 28.2 VJ, 78.96 SPARQ
Breakdown: Stout has both the measurables and agility to earn recruiting attention, now he just needs to flash his potential on the field.
DL: Jon Yohman, 6-1, 254, Wilmington Area (New Wilmington, Pa.)
Results: 4.79 40, 4.52 SH, 40 PB, 28.2 VJ, 97.80 SPARQ
Breakdown: Yohman improved in every test from last years combine on his way to a 20-point increase in the rating.
LB: Darrien Howard, 6-0, 252, Chaminade-Julienne (Dayton, Ohio)
Results: 4.83 40, 4.53 SH, 41.5 PB, 29.1 VJ, 102.99 SPARQ
Breakdown: Howard has offers from Cincinnati, Illinois and Pittsburgh.
LB: Jon Reschke, 6-2, 224, Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)
Results: 4.80 40, 4.25 SH, 35 PB, 31.8 VJ, 95.40 SPARQ
Breakdown: Michigan State commit totaled 140 tackles this past season on his way to earning all-state honors.
LB: Michael Lawless, 6-2, 203, Tuscarawas Central Catholic (New Philadelphia, Ohio)
Results: 4.80 40, 4.21 SH, 42 PB, 34.9 VJ, 113.43 SPARQ
Breakdown: Finished with the day's top rating and increased his rating more than 30 points from a year ago.
LB: Deon Drake Jr. (2014), 5-11, 206, Cass Tech (Detroit)
Results: 4.83 40, 4.67 SH, 43 PB, 29.1 VJ, 89.97 SPARQ
Breakdown: A key contributor on defense for the state champion Technicians. He should be highly recruited by this time next year.
DB: Jayme Thompson, 6-2, 183, Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio)
Results: 4.77 40, 4.40 SH, 34 PB, 32.9 PB, 82.86 SPARQ
Breakdown: West Virginia commit was a Division II All-State selection this past year.
DB: Gary Jaycox, 6-0, 204, Edison (Berlin Heights, Ohio)
Results: 4.84 40, 4.41 SH, 41 PB, 35.4 VJ, 104.64 SPARQ
Breakdown: Tested extremely well in each event on the way to a stellar SPARQ rating.
DB: Logan Cox, 6-2, 186, Parkersburg (Parkersburg, W.Va.)
Results: 4.75 40, 4.29 SH, 40 PB, 36.2 VJ, 104.61 SPARQ
Breakdown: Coaches should begin to take notice of the combination of size and quickness Cox possesses.
DB: Darius West (2014), 5-10 183, Lima Central Catholic (Lima, Ohio)
Results: 4.63 40, 4.29 SH, 39.5 PB, 32.4 VJ, 101.04 SPARQ
Breakdown: West is an excellent two-way standout who had the top rating for underclassmen at the event.
ATH: Jerome Lane, 6-2, 203, Firestone (Akron, Ohio)
Results: 4.69 40, 4.40 SH, 37 PB, 30.7 VJ, 91.83 SPARQ
Breakdown: Lane's father was a standout basketball player at Pitt in the late 80's.