Tom Nash, the Strength and Conditioning coach for the Super Bowl
Champion New England Patriots, instructs the camp participants in proper ways to
achieve their goals of becoming bigger faster and stronger.
Student Sports' Andy Bark gives out instruction for the day.
University of Alabama Quarterback Brodie Croyle demonstrates a
drill while Head Coach Dennis Franchione looks on. Croyle calmly went through the drills
that made him the #1 QB prospect in the nation 2 years ago.
Auburn Head Coach Tommy Tuberville observes the action.
Brodie Croyle stands next to Junior phenom Jemarcus Russell. If
there was any questions going in to today about whether or not Russell was a
legit 6-6 and one of the top prospects in the entire country, they were put to
rest today. Russell throws the ball absolutely effortlessly, and it will be fun
to compare him with Chris Leak at the camp in Athens.
Jemarcus Russell warms up.
With the wealth of talent on the field, it was hard for any one
player to stand out at the wide receiver position, but Rosedale, MS receiver
Chris Johnson sent a buzz through the crowd several times as he made one
acrobatic catch after another.
Cedar Bluff, AL quarterback Cole Peace gets a drink. Peace
showed patience and a strong arm during the individual drills.
Corey White of Bessemer, AL stood out in the RB drills. Tall and
muscular, could play linebacker as well.
QB Curtis Taylor of Franklinton, LA is tall and has a smooth
release.
Davious Gillespie of Tupelo, MS is compact looking, until one
stand next to him and realizes he is a solid 6'0 and 210 pound running
back.
The 2 time Georgia State Champion Parkview Panthers were well
represented today. They lose only 5 starters from a 30-0 team. From Left: David
Overmyer, Joseph Sturdivant, Todd Brooks, Dustin Wade, and Zeb McKinzey.
Parkview's Dustin Wade did everything well today. Not the
flashiest of quarterbacks, but easily one of the steadiest.
Hands down the best defensive back in the camp on this day, Eric
Gray of Trinity, AL made play after play after play in the one on one drills. On
consecutive plays he showed his make up speed on a deep ball, and he showed his
anticipation and quickness to come from behind and knock away a skinny post.
The biggest argument on the way to Tuscaloosa wasn't whether
Ernie Sims was a #1 player in the south, it was whether to list him #1 at LB or
RB. For the record, Ernie Sims and his 2 friends, left bicep and right bicep,
went through drills a LB today.
Still not convinced? Ernie Sims runs the stride check. One high
school coach has said that "He's an NFL Linebacker right now. Another, said
today, "That's the next Bo Jackson or Herschel Walker." That's a lot
of pressure, but if there is anyone physically able of meeting those
expectations, it's Ernie Sims.
Offensive line may be one of the hardest positions on the field
to come in and play as a true freshman, but River Ridge, LA product Jerry Sevin
looks like he just came over from the Alabama practice field as a 5th year
senior. At 6'3 290, he moved effortlessly through the agility drills. Some have
called him the #1 center prospect in the entire nation.
Jerry Sevin and Zeb McKinzey look to go through the ladder
drills. It's this drill that trips up most players, especially the linemen.
Sevin and McKinzey were exceptional with their footwork.
Lexington Catholic athlete John Logan's 4.32 forty time on a
notoriously slow surface sent shockwaves through the camp. A muscular 6'0 and
170 pounds, the soft-spoken Logan's stock just shot through the roof.
Johnny Daniels of Vicksburg, MS made sure the defensive linemen
were well represented as well. He looked every ounce of 6'2 and 270 pounds, and
he wasn't soft.
3 of the best looking defensive linemen in the camp went through
drills together, from left: Xavier Mitchell of Long Beach, MS, Quontin Groves
of
Greenville, MS, and Devrick Hampton of Greenville, MS. The only battle better
than the one on one drills was the argument that teammates Hampton and Groves
had in the parking lot on who is the better defensive end (all in good fun of
course).
WR Matt Caddell did not disappoint at the camp today. He had
been touted as one of the top WR's in the south. Caddell, from McCalla, AL proceeded
to have the best vertical jump at 39.4 and finished second in the shuttle. Oh
yeah, he caught everything that was thrown near him as well.
Another player that looked physically ready for the NFL was the muscular 6-1 and
205 pound WR Chad Jackson from Hoover, AL. Exceptionally strong, he also turned
in a 4.46 40 time.
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