Local Players Compete In NIKE Combine

Derrick Davis, Modzelle Atkins, Ja'Kyari "Jay" Jenkins & Yancey Burns

Four football players from Mitchell County traveled to Mobile, AL to participate in the NIKE SPARQ Combine.  Along with 900 other football players from across the country, the four, who attend Mitchell County High School (Modzelle Atkins, Yancey Burns, Derrick Davis & Ja’Kyari "Jay" Jenkins), were tested on their speed and agility.  Paired off into a group of 30, the Mitchell County athletes were weighed in and given a NIKE SPARQ compression training shirt.  After signing in, the boys went through technique drills and training to warm up their muscles to fend off the frigid temperatures that plagued Mobile.

           

The first station the guys went to was the 40 yard dash.  Each player was given 2 runs to showcase their speed.  After the 40, the group moved over to the 20 yard shuttle, where the player starts in the middle, runs 5 yards to an end cone and then sprints back 10 yards to  an another end cone only to turn around and run 5 yards back to the middle cone.  Next up was the power ball, where the four had to kneel down and throw a 25lb ball the size of a basketball as far as they could.  Finally, the last station of the combine was the vertical jump, where the players were tested to see how high they could jump in their bare feet.

                

After the testing, the boys were given their scores and complimentary drinks and gifts.  They then sat down in the bleachers with parents and friends to listen to George Henshaw, who is an educational speaker with the NCSA Athletic Recruiting.  Mr. Henshaw told the guys what to expect during the recruiting process and also what to do and what not to do to get exposure.

               

Once the testing and speaking were over, the athletes checked out the NIKE display and took photos.  After all the events ended, the boys left the combine learning what they needed to work on and how to become a better football player.  They recounted their experience at the NIKE SPARQ Combine as they made the five hour drive back to Mitchell County.