MOBILE, Ala. -- The Yellowhammer State will play host to the sixth Nike Football SPARQ Combine of the 2012 season. Close to 900 athletes attended the 2011 Mobile Nike Combine, with one player punching a ticket to Nike's "The Opening" in Oregon. On Sunday, we will see if another lucky player will earn an invite to the elite event.
Loranger (La.) ATH Jeryl Brazil is looking to showcase the world-class speed that has made him a household name in the track and field community. Brazil recently set the 55-meter Louisiana state record with a time of 6.25, edging out former LSU football and track star Trindon Holliday. The 176-pound speedster, a Class 3A Honorable Mention All-State selection last fall, has already committed to the Tigers and will look to pick up where Holliday left off on the track and the gridiron.
O.J. Howard of Autauga Academy (Prattville, Ala.) showed well at last year's event, posting a 99.12 SPARQ Rating. The Alabama pledge tossed the power ball 41 feet and clocked an ultra-quick 4.37 shuttle. The 6-foot-5, 213-pound tight end broke his school's record for touchdowns and receptions as a sophomore. The ESPNU Watch List prospect is the top tight end in the state and ranks among the best nationally at his position. Howard was selected to the AISA All-State team as a junior.
Another Alabama commit expected to compete in the combine is Fultondale (Birmingham, Ala.) ATH ArDarius Stewart. Stewart verbally committed to the Crimson Tide in January and reminds some of Bama WR Marquis Maze. He is great in the open field and a tough matchup for defensive coordinators. The smooth athlete lines up at quarterback and defensive back for the Wildcats, but he figures to make an immediate impact in college at receiver and in the return game. He racked up over 4,000 yards of offense and fifty touchdowns during his junior season, earning him first team all-state honors.
Louisiana native Noel Ellis out of Edna Karr (New Orleans) is a feisty corner with offers from Auburn, Cincinnati, Colorado, FSU, Pittsburgh, and Texas A&M. Ellis collected 55 tackles and five interceptions during his junior year. If he impresses at the combine and other camp performances this spring he could be looking at double-digit offers by the time spring ball starts.
St. Paul's (Mobile, Ala.) LB Tre Williams and Edna Karr (New Orleans) DE Gerald Willis are a pair of 2014 prospects on the rise and are both garnering national attention. Williams has picked up early offers form Alabama, Auburn, and Florida State.
As the half-brother of Bama commit Landon Collins, Willis is no stranger to the recruiting process. He is making his own name on the field and college programs have taken notice. Alabama, Florida, LSU, and TCU have already offered.
Check out ESPNHS.com and Nike Football SPARQ Combines on Sunday for reporting from the event as well as top results and photos.
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