NIKE Camp set to kickoff
2006 marks the ninth year of the NIKE Football Training Camp, which returns to Northern California on Saturday, May 13th. Currently over 90 NIKE Camp alums dot NFL rosters, and that number is sure to grow in the next six months as current college stars that attended a NIKE Camp like Matt Leinart, Jimmy Williams, Marcedes Lewis, Rodrique Wright and Jason Allen get ready for the NFL Draft. The NIKE Football Training Camp is where the best go to compete and get better.
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(Q)Who attends the NIKE Football Camps and what is their purpose?
(A) Elite high school players with college potential are taught position-specific drills designed by some of the top NFL football players and sports performance specialists in America, and it is all FREE for the athletes. These specialists work with stars such as Walter Jones, Michael Vick, Warrick Dunn, Derrick Brooks, and many more.
(Q)What exactly happens at a camp?
(A) Athletes who come to the NIKE Football Training Camp will register, where they will pick up their NIKE Pro workout shirt, and get their photo taken. After height and weight are measured, the NIKE Football Training Camp is broken down into four parts:
1. OPTIONAL TESTING: After a proper, supervised "dynamic warmup," participants have the option to be tested in the 40-yard dash, bench press (185 lbs), vertical jump and 20-yard shuttle, which will produce a SPARQ Rating*.
2. SPARQ TRAINING: SPARQ trainers work participants through specific drills designed to improve athletic ability, speed and explosiveness. Here, athletes have the opportunity to tap into the secrets of proper workouts that have helped players make it to the NFL, including cone and ladder drills. This period educates participants on how to improve football-specific speed, agility and quickness movements.
3. POSITION SPECIFIC DRILLS: Participants are separated into position groups (QBs, RBs, WR/TEs, OLs & DLs, LBs & DBs) to work individually on football skills and techniques with top-notch position coaches.
4. ONE-ON-ONES: The NIKE Camp concludes with one-on-one passing and non-contact line drills, which many say are the highlight of the camp.
(Q)Are there other benefits?
(A) Definitely! The NIKE Football Training Camps provide the best opportunity for national exposure that a camp can offer. The testing results and top performers in drills are delivered each week to Division I college football programs all over the nation, and college coaches themselves come out and evaluate at certain camps. Video and action photos for Student Sports and other national media will be taken. Participants will also be part of the in-depth coverage by Student Sports, NorCalPreps.com and Rivals.com.
(A) Yes, the camps are known for the quality of football players they attract and one benefit to you will be seeing how you rate with your peers. Consider these numbers:
Here's a look at some of the current NIKE Camp alums in the NFL:
LB Lance Briggs (Bears)
DT Tommie Harris (Bears)
QB Kyle Orton (Bears)
QB Carson Palmer (Bengals)
LB David Pollack (Bengals)
QB J.P. Losman (Bills)
RB Willis McGahee (Bills)
WR Josh Reed (Bills)
LB Jashon Sykes (Broncos)
LB D.J. Williams (Broncos)
WR Antonio Bryant (Browns)
RB William Green (Browns)
RB Cadillac Williams (Buccaneers)
DT Darnell Dockett (Cardinals)
WR Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
DB Antrel Rolle (Cardinals)
DE Marcus Spears (Cowboys)
DE Jerome McDougle (Eagles)
RB T.J. Duckett (Falcons)
WR Brandon Lloyd (49ers)
TE George Wrighster (Jaguars)
LB Jonathan Vilma (Jets)
DT Shaun Cody (Lions)
RB Kevin Jones (Lions)
RB Najeh Davenport (Packers)
WR Keary Colbert (Panthers)
DB Ricky Manning (Panthers)
DB Randall Gay (Patriots)
DB Phillip Buchanon (Raiders)
QB Kyle Boller (Ravens)
RB Clinton Portis (Redskins)
WR Andre Johnson (Texans)
DE Kenechi Udeze (Vikings)
(Q)Can a bad performance at the NIKE Camp hurt my stock?
(A) History has shown that, no, you will not hurt your "recruiting stock" for several reasons.
1. Participants DO NOT have to test! This is not a combine—doing the 40s, bench, etc. is optional.
2. If an athlete tests and does not like a particular mark, the time or mark may be scratched from the results.
3. College coaches put more emphasis on how players perform in pads. A disappointing time in the 40 will not lead to colleges dropping a player. At past NIKE Camps, running backs and wide receivers have run 4.8's and linebackers run 5.2s and still sign with major D-I programs - current New York Jets standout linebacker Jonathan Vilma clocked a 5.0 40 at a NIKE Camp!
Don't let someone tell you NOT to go to a NIKE Camp without calling us at 800-660-1334 to put your concerns to rest. Student Sports has been serving student-athletes for 20 years because we always place your best interests first!
For more information regarding the 2006 NFTC, if you are a coach recommending a player, or to submit an all-state or all-area team with nominees on it, please contact Brian Stumpf or Greg Biggins at the following: Brian@studentsports.com or Greg@studentsports.com.
*Taking the standard measurements of the football combine, the SPARQ Rating weighs and combines the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, vertical jump and bench press into a single number that measures an athlete's overall athleticism. Thus, football players can track the progress of their training, through occasional tests, and compare SPARQ Ratings with teammates, training partners and competitors.
To learn more about the SPARQ Rating, go to sparqtraining.com.