Jerry Howard had a vision.
Three years ago, he started the Rocky Mountain Football Combine as a way to help high school football players have a better chance of being recruited by colleges.
“It was brought to my attention that a team that was undefeated only had one player that earned a scholarship,” Howard said. “I thought that was absurd, and decided to check into it.”
Now in its third year, the prep combine, modeled after the NFL’s annual combine in Indianapolis, is the premier way for those previously unknowns to earn scholarships.
“There are a lot of athletes out there that have Division I talent,” said Howard, who will direct the two-day combine starting Dec. 9. “This not only helps the student, but their parents with the recruiting process, and what goes into the whole deal.”
Coaches and recruiting coordinators will be on hand Dec. 9 and 10. The Friday night will be an informational meeting at the Best Western Denver Central that will coach kids and parents on the basics of what to expect from those who do it for a living, including college coaches.
On that Saturday, the players will gather at Five Star Stadium in Thornton to be tested on various agilities, including: 10-, 20- and 40-yard dashes; a pro-agility shuttle; bench press; vertical jump; and long jump.
There will also be one-on-one drills as well as seven-on-seven.
“That’s what the college coaches really want to see,” Howard said.
All of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schools will be there as well as the Air Force Academy, Northern Colorado and Lehigh. Schools such as Utah, Brigham Young, Oregon and Wyoming have made the trips in the past few years, and are expected to do so again this year.
Former Chatfield standout quarterback Zac Robinson attended the first combine and eventually ended up at Oklahoma State.
For more information, contact Howard at 303-604-6083.
Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-820-5446 or jyunt@denpost.com.
