By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the 15th time over the past 16 years, Topeka area high school football players got the opportunity to show off their talents for college coaches in Tuesday's Junior Combine at Shawnee Heights.
Ninety-seven players, most who will be seniors in the 2022 season, were on hand for the Combine while right at 20 colleges had representatives on hand.
"The sole reason why we do this is to give great football players in our area a chance to get exposure and allow college coaches to kind of eye test them and see what they look like,'' said Shawnee Heights coach Jason Swift, Combine organizer.
Seaman's Logan Cox goes through a drill during Tuesday's Junior Combine at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West quarterback Malachi Berg runs a 40-yard dash during Tuesday's Junior Combine at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Participants took part in a variety of drills/tests, including a 40-yard dash (electronically timed), standing long jump. vertical jump, pro-agility 5-10-5 shuttle, bench press (maximum reps at 185 pounds), 3 cone L drill and 1 on 1 route running and lineman agility drills.
Swift said the Junior Combine is a chance for college coaches to get an up-close look at prospective recruits, some for the first time.
After the Combine high school coaches also got the chance to meet with the NCAA Division II, NAIA and junior college coaches in attendance.
"I know we've had several kids where a coach says, 'Yeah, I remember them from the Combine,' and that allows them to follow them through the fall and the recruiting process,'' Swift said. "This is great for that. The other reason why I love this is we piggyback the college night right on top of this so these coaches are allowed to meet with a lot of our area high school coaches and talk about our players and our prospects.
"It's really beneficial for colleges and the players.''
