Overall MVP-
TE Andrew Jones Smithville, Mo.
It all came down to the decision between Andrew Jones and Spencer Ladner for camp MVP. Ladner was a real freak physically, but when it was time to decide it was Jones who just made a few more plays and put up slightly better times on this one day. Jones was everything that we had hoped he would be. He checked in at 6-foot-5, 234-pounds, and did not disappoint in the timed drills. He posted a solid 4.78-second forty and a 7.38 in the L-Cone drill, but he did not stop there. He then went on to shine on the one-on-one drills, and made quite possibly the top play on a tremendous diving catch in the corner of the end zone. Jones was a real treat to have and worked hard to prove himself for this honor the entire day.
Offensive Co- MVP-
TE Spencer Ladner, Pembroke Hill, Mo.
Pembroke Hill’s Spencer Ladner, a 6-foot-7, 240-pound tight end has exploded on to the national recruiting scene over the last month, and when he walked through the doors it is easy to see why. He looks like he could start taking snaps in college tomorrow, and out of all the tight ends I have seen this year he looks like a legitimate NFL prospect physically. He now holds 15 official scholarship offers, the latest being from the Michigan Wolverines. Although he is massive he still turned in a solid forty time when he ran a 4.81. It is not that often that two tight ends would be the two strongest contenders for combine MVP, but these guys were just that good.
Offensive Co- MVP-
WR Steven Staggs Oskalooosa, Ia.
Oskaloosa wide receiver Steve Staggs was simply amazing all day long. The 6-foot-2, 183 pounder, ran a 4.43 forty-yard dash and a 4.22 pro-shuttle, and the rest of his times stacked up favorably against the top results. I think that it would be fair to say that he had one of the day’s best performances in the one-on-one drills as well. He glides in and out of his breaks very smoothly and has tremendous balance. He has the skills to make amazing plays on the ball while it is in the air. His junior season was cut short due to injury, but with similar results at team camps this summer it should only be a matter of time before he begins to pull in some solid offers.
Defensive MVP-
DB James Caraway Highland Park, Ks.
Highland Park’s James Caraway is one of the biggest surprises of the entire combine season. He came in to the combine as a virtual unknown, but really grabbed everyone’s attention by running a 4.35 forty-yard dash. He had a nice frame and long arms that allowed him to make some nice plays on balls thrown in his area. He is a raw talent, but has the skills to be a tremendous prospect in the defensive backfield on the next level. In addition to running a blazing fast forty he had the event’s top vertical ump when he climbed to 38’8.
Top Individual Results-
Top 40:
Bentonville WR Keon Rucker, 4.34
Top Shuttle:
Bentonville WR Keon Rucker, 4.06
Top Vertical Jump:
Highland Park DB James Caraway, 38’8
Top Standing Broad Jump:
Waynesville Senior QB Lyle Cox and Lathrop QB Dillon Stonum, 9’6
Top L-Cone:
Russell RB Devin Gfeller and Cedar Falls RB Andrew Tindall, 7.03