Frigid weather gives prep gridders chance to improve collegiate status

By MIKE HERNDON - Sports Reporter

Many coaches might consider frigid temperatures a drawback at a scouting combine. But instructors at the Under Armour/scout.com combine Sunday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium took the chilly weather as a opportunity to share a lesson with the 143 high school underclassmen participating in the event.

"Today, the conditions weren't ideal, but that's life. That's football," said Todd Durkin, personal trainer for San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson and one of the instructors brought in for the combine. "Mental toughness is a key part of your success."

With a high of only 49 degrees Sunday, times in the 40-yard dash suffered dramatically with only three players running better than 4.6. One of those was Davidson defensive back Gerald West, who turned in a 4.53.

"With the conditions and the wind, the times aren't going to be good," said scout.com's Andrew Bone. "If a wide receiver is out here and ran between a 4.65 and a 4.75, it's a good time."

The invitation-only combine, one of 13 held by scout.com around the country and the first of its kind in Mobile, was about more than 40 times and vertical leaps, however. A significant portion of the four-hour program was reserved for position drills and 7-on-7 competition, allowing instructors to challenge the players and gauge their competitiveness.

"We do a lot of football work, because that's what it's all about," said scout.com's Scott Kennedy, who directed the event. "My main goal is that a player who comes to one of my events would want to come back."

Many players found catching the ball a difficult proposition. "The ball hit your hands and you couldn't feel it because it was so cold," said Daphne linebacker Willie McCrary, one of many local players invited to the event. "But when you adjusted to it, it got pretty good."

Among those who impressed at the combine was St. Paul's quarterback AJ McCarron, who was almost forced to miss it with an eye infection. His passes were crisp and accurate, though many were dropped by receivers battling the conditions.

"I'm sure it stung a little bit, but I had a blast," said McCarron, expected to be one of the top quarterback prospects in the country next year. "I didn't know earlier in the week if I was going to be able to come. I got poked in the eye in a basketball game and it got infected. But it healed up and I'm glad I got a chance to come out, have fun and enjoy this experience."

Among the other standouts were Tupelo (Miss.) quarterback Chris Garrett, a Mississippi State commitment; Mansfield (La.) defensive tackle Chris Davenport; Destrehan (La.) defensive lineman Darrington Sentimore; and Foley defensive tackle D.J. Fluker, who worked mainly on the offensive line.

"He went up against our No. 1 defensive tackle in the country, Chris Davenport, and held his own," Bone said of the 6-foot-7, 325-pound Fluker, who played at McGill-Toolen as a sophomore and Biloxi (Miss.) High last year.

Bone said local receivers Lavoyd James of Williamson and Rafael Poellnitz of Murphy were also impressive. So was Sparkman defensive end Anthony Orr.

The state's No. 1 prospect for 2009, Gadsden City cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, missed the event due to a basketball game scheduled for today, and another top prospect, Andalusia linebacker Nico Johnson, did not make the trip due to an illness.

"It was cold and you were tight," Kennedy told the players. "Use this as a benchmark to get better every day."