Kennedy/CES Combine Brings In Georgia's Speed

The third annual Kennedy/CES Combine took place on Sunday bringing the best players in the new class of 2008 and beyond. Many new prospects started to emerge and several known players really opened some eyes with how much they improved, but there was no question that the Peach State has a ton of speed and talent.

Kennedy/CES Results - 2007

The MVP on the day may go to Heard County's Dontavius Jackson, one of the top running backs in the state. Jackson came in at 5-11 and just under 200 pounds, but he posted two blistering forty times at 4.44 and followed that up with a forty inch vertical jump. He looks like he actually lost some weight in the offseason because he will easily play over 200 pounds in college. Jackson holds offers from Kentucky, Auburn, Florida, and Georgia Tech.

A.J. Harmon

Normally, linemen have trouble in a true combine setting making a name for themselves, but A.J. Harmon blew us away for several different things. First, and probably foremost, he is about two inches taller and much bigger than where he was in Atlanta last year at the Scout.com Combine. Measuring in at 6-5.5 and just over 328 pounds, there is no question that he is an offensive tackle in college. Running a 4.75 shuttle time, he is very agile to become a force as a tackle.

Several big men also looked great on the day moving well in the different agility drills, including Trevino Woods from Clarke Central, Toney Key and David Noel from Monroe in Albany, Nick Craig from Carrollton, and Aaron Hawkins from MLK. Noel, a 6-foot-1, 300-pounder who wants to play offensive tackle certainly looked like a defensive tackle with his surprising and explosive 33-inch vertical jump. Fullback Tim McGill also ran surprisingly well with a 4.66 forty and a 33 inch vertical with a frame that has a ton of room to add more muscle.

James Searcy

One of the bigger surprises of the day took place when James Searcy from Northgate rumbled down the forty yard dash in 4.66 after checking in at 6-4, 245 pounds. He ran the surprising forty time just after posting a 4.50 shuttle time and still has room to grow as a defensive end prospect. Searcy is without an offer as of yet, but lists his favorite schoosl as South Carolina, Auburn, and Georgia Tech.

Watching some of the players, one of the guys with a smile on his face all day was Bernard Smith. At 6-3, 205 pounds and running a 4.71 forty time, though with proper technique he would be closer to a low-4.5 runner, and a 32 inch vertical, it was surprising to hear that he plays defensive end and even a little defensive tackle in college. If film backs him up, Smith could easily be an early offer prospect out of Mays High.

Darrell Simmons lowered his forty time from the cold day at the U.S. Army Combine, where the safety from Banneker posted a 4.81 forty. On Sunday, Simmons ran a 4.65 forty and had even better times in the pro shuttle. Currently, he holds offers from Auburn, Virginia Tech, and Florida.

Malcolm Beyah

The speed of the combine really surprised everyone, as four players ran sub-4.4 forty times including a 4.32 posted by wide receiver Malcolm Beyah from Chamblee. Coming in at 5-11 and 187 pounds, he is very light on his feet and should be a major target this spring.

Several big wide receivers also stood out, but we would love to see what they could do in one-on-one drills, including Jamon Fortson from Carver High in Columbus, Ga. He looked great at the Atlanta Combine last year, and hopefully his film will back up what we saw at the combine this year. Other good looking receivers included Tejuan Brown from Lovejoy, Brice Butler from Norcross, and Devonta Bolton from Norcross.

Braxton Lane

The class of 2009 stole the show with two rising juniors posting times in the 4.3 range, including running back Henry Dixon from East Coweta posting a 4.36 and wide receiver Braxton Lane from Sandy Creek posting the day's fastest time of 4.31.

While Toby Jackson had to look on after injurying his ankle in a basketball game the previous night, the Scout100 member looked on as his younger brother, defensive tackle Kentorious Jackson, had an excellent day.