Free football camp offered

High school football coaches are known for stretching the truth when it comes to either the physical dimensions or raw speed of their troops.Players who are 5-foot-11 magically become 6-2 on a roster. And players who run a 4.6 40-yard dash suddenly are world-class sprinters worthy of Olympic consideration. - College Football -
But there is no such fudging in high school combines conducted by Recruits Unlimited. The officials have no personal interest in the proceedings, therefore the accomplishments -- often measured by state-of-the-art equipment -- are completely legitimate and accurate."I like it because you get a real accurate time on the 40," Jefferson High School coach Pete Euzarraga said. "There are some coaches who have a quick finger and (their players) have a real low time. But this equipment is something else. - College Football -
They have a fully automatic Infrared Sensor Timing System. As soon as the athlete moves, the time starts, and you get a real accurate time with that."Jefferson High School will host a free Recruits Unlimited combine Monday.Besides the 40, the combine will test athletes in the 10-yard dash, pro agility, vertical jump and bench press (for reps using either 150, 185 or 225 pounds). The athletes' height and weight will be measured as well.Athletes who are looking to get a little more bang for their buck can sign up for packages, which include everything from academic information to video clips. - College Football -
But even without the packages, athletes will get their times sent directly to their high school coaches, and a free t-shirt, at no cost.The combines were the idea of Mike Minter, a safety for the Carolina Panthers, who grew up in a small town in Oklahoma."He wanted to know what he could do for kids that came from his background," said Greer Montersatelli, president of Recruits Unlimited. "He wanted to see what he could do for kids who didn't have mom and dad writing them checks to go down to College Station for Texas A&M's team camp."So Minter established the combine, offered it for free, and made sure it was well-circulated."It doesn't do a kid any good if you have one camp in the entire state, because (the athlete) doesn't have the means to get to the event," Montersatelli said. "Initially, when we first started, we had rural events and then realized we had to bring it to the kids."Four years into it, the camp is teaming with school districts and coaches associations. - College Football -
"Local coaches and their organizations tend to be behind it more," Montersatelli said. "The turnout in reflection to that ends up being much better. Our goal is to give as many kids an opportunity as we can."Last year, the camp also was at Jefferson and drew about 75-100 athletes. This year, Euzarraga is expecting about 300."I'm hoping one of these days some kid might get a scholarship somewhere (because of the camp)," Euzarraga said. "Maybe somebody will see that this guy had a real good time in the 40, and that they might be able to produce at the next level."

Matthew Aguilar
El Paso Times