TomVH: Nike Sparq Results
There was a Nike Sparq combine held in Cleveland this weekend, and the results are posted on ESPN. There are a few relevant numbers from the results. (The athletes are given a "Sparq" rating at these events, which is a score based off their results at each event)
- Ohio DE Ifeadi Odenigbo finished 5th overall with a Sparq score of 109.02. This was Ifeadi's first combine, and he placed fifth overall out of hundreds and hundreds of kids.
40 Time: 4.62 Shuttle: 4.25 Vertical Jump: 33.5
- Ifeadi's teammate, OL Benny McGowan (6'4", 300 lbs) was the first offensive lineman to ever score over 100 on the Sparq scale. Ifeadi told me that Benny was injured for most of his season, which is why there aren't more schools after him, but he's a sleeper. Benny also happens to like Michigan, and has them in his top five. You can see a clip of his film here. McGowan is going to try to get in touch with the Michigan coaches soon. Keep an eye on him.
- Michigan DB Leviticus Payne finished 13th overall with a 4.56 forty time, which was fourth fastest at the event. Greg Biggins from ESPN said Leviticus was a rising senior honorable mention winner:
Payne is a two-way standout who could end up at corner or running back in college. He had a great workout running a 4.56 40 on a slow track, with a 4.25 shuttle, 36-foot power ball toss and a 32 inch vertical jump. His 97.92 SPARQ Rating was good enough for No. 13 overall in the event and it seems only a matter of time before his offer list begins to expand. Iowa and Toeldo have offers so far and Indiana, Cincinnati, Bowling Green, Michigan State and Michigan are showing heavy interest as well.
- RB Marc Cargle from Pontiac held the top overall score with 111.3. Cargle was hurt for most of his season, which is why there hasn't been much hype around him.
February 13th, 2011 at 12:39 AM ^
UnverifiedOptimism? I think so.
Life should be good in the future.
February 13th, 2011 at 12:43 AM ^
This will be The Year of Infinite Payne.
February 13th, 2011 at 12:45 AM ^
I went to school with these two and played ball with them. Michigan made an offer to Ifaedi and took Benny up here for an official visit last year vs. UConn (i believe). I can tell you now Benny would almost certainly come here if offered, he is a lifelong Michigan fan. And Ifaedi is eyeing Stanford as #1 as of late, but things change. Hoke is from Dayton and has the home town roots that I believe could sway Ifaedi. He loves tradition, as Centerville teaches you.
Excerpt of mention:
Rising Senior Honorable Mentions
Bennie McGowan, OL, Centerville (Centerville, Ohio)
In all the years of putting on the NIKE Football Combines, there has never been an offensive lineman who scored over a 100 SPARQ Rating. That changed on Saturday lon as the big lineman lit up the event with an impressive 100.53. Bowling Green is the lone offer thus far but look for the talented lineman to see his stock soar through the roof after his standout showing.
Ifeadi Odenigbo, DL, Centerville (Centerville, Ohio)
Centerville has not just one but two elite lineman on the squad, one on each side of the ball. Odenigbo posted a 109.02 SPARQ Rating and is among the most heavily recruited rush ends in the Midwest with offers from schools like Boston College, Michigan, Northwestern, Indiana, Stanford, Syracuse and several others. He has a freakish combination of size and speed.
February 13th, 2011 at 8:52 AM ^
Thanks for the info.
FYI, only seniors can take "official visits." Underclassmen can only visit unofficially.
February 13th, 2011 at 10:12 AM ^
late night, just typing away. good eye
February 13th, 2011 at 1:12 AM ^
Given that Mattison's last Michigan defense featured names like Swett, Irons, Sword, Copenhaver, and Steele, I don't think there's any question that Leviticus Payne goes Blue.
February 13th, 2011 at 8:51 AM ^
.....if they were all in the same defense at the same time. Can you imagine facing a defense of Swett, Irons, Sword, Steele and Payne?
February 13th, 2011 at 10:37 AM ^
February 13th, 2011 at 1:34 AM ^
If that's not a typo, then HOLY FRICKIN S**t!
http://cleveland.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=114305&sport=1
February 13th, 2011 at 7:47 AM ^
...of the defined term, one could literally squat over 1000 lbs and never lift it.
Just sayin.'
February 13th, 2011 at 8:54 AM ^
5 fakes out of 5.
The world record is, I believe, around 1200 lbs.
There's no way a high school junior has almost equaled a world record.
February 13th, 2011 at 9:26 AM ^
Yea I have a buddy from high school who went on in college to win a national championship in power lifting and the most he could squat was a little over 1000 I believe. There is no way this kid is up to that.
February 13th, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^
And your buddy's squat was geared, which is as much about knowing how to utilize a triple ply suit that three bears have to help you get into as it is about strength. If McGowan is claiming a 1095 squat, it is definitely with the heaviest gear allowed by any fed and probably to a depth that is about twelve inches too high to be called a squat. The USAPL raw record for his weight class is somewhere just north of 800 pounds, which is the only sort of max squat number that would have any relation to football.
So yeah, five fakes out of five. Or maybe six.
February 13th, 2011 at 1:05 PM ^
I'd be willing to bet that is taken from one of those charts that says "If you can lift X, Y number of times, then your max is Z"
He probably has an impressive squat, and can crank out high reps, which is great too. But there is no way he's pushing 1100 pounds.
February 13th, 2011 at 10:06 AM ^
That would be some Ivan Drago Rocky IV shit right there. "Drago" is the unofficial nickname I would give him if he signs (if offered as well). "Whatever he hits, he destroys."
February 13th, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
...because it's easier to leg press than to squat.
February 13th, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^
Yeah, our kicker in high school leg pressed over 800 pounds, and he was a weakling. There's a huge difference between the leg press and the squat.
February 13th, 2011 at 1:19 PM ^
Stop ruining my one and only weightlifting-related glory.
February 13th, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^
You were really good at extra points, though. Really good. So there's that.
February 13th, 2011 at 1:45 AM ^
Benny's highlights are solid; like this kid a lot.
February 13th, 2011 at 4:47 AM ^
The more I hear about Ifeadi, the more I want to have him part of our 2012 class. He seems like he would be a menace coming off the edge.
February 13th, 2011 at 9:36 AM ^
Assuming they need a kid to play him in the movie made about Hoke's life after Hoke coaches Michigan to 3 straight NC titles? :P
February 13th, 2011 at 10:36 AM ^
1000lb squat?
That's nothin. Check out Ryan Kennelly's 1075lb bench press.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMKiBdhnYlA
February 13th, 2011 at 11:09 AM ^
I would give a High School kid the benefit of doing a 1000lb leg press, that I could believe but a 1000lb back squat. I say 5 fakes outta 5
either way, very impressive..
February 13th, 2011 at 5:31 PM ^
Interesting numbers, fastest 40 time I saw listed was 4.55, I wonder how many of these kids will have a 4.4 on rivals
February 13th, 2011 at 5:54 PM ^
Every. Single. One.
February 13th, 2011 at 6:25 PM ^
Tom - I understand I am entirely in the wrong for questioning you on this, but who is this leviticus you are speaking of? Are you sure you didnt mean LEVITICUS PAYNE ? (in all caps....)
Or does the every time his name is mentioned on MGoBlog it happens in caps only happen once he commits?
February 14th, 2011 at 1:03 AM ^
Commenting so this goes to the Tom tab.