Gators travel to Dallas for Nike Combine
Published 10:01 pm Friday, March 13, 2015
The palatial confines of Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium are just a little different from the home field Vicksburg High runs onto during football season. But Saturday, 32 Gators will get a chance to see what it feels like to play in Jerry Jones’ palace as a part of the 2015 Nike Combine.
Vicksburg coach Marcus Rogers is always looking to showcase his roster’s talent, and this year that mission landed him and a host of chosen players and coaches in the home of this year’s 13-5 NFC East champions.
“It’s a type of event where the kids will get national exposure. There will be kids from everywhere,” Rogers said. “There will be at least 2,300 kids from all over the southeast region. It’s just going to be good exposure. It’s one of those field trips that you go on that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”
The Nike Combine is a chance for seventh- through 12th-grade players around the country to run drills and get live one-on-one reps against each other. Rogers was hoping to get his players to the March 28 combine at Joe Brown Memorial Park in New Orleans, but that particular camp was already full. So the second-year Vicksburg head coach searched the upcoming schedule and landed on the date in Dallas.
“I said why not try and go there. It would be a nice opportunity for the kids,” Rogers said. “Some of these kids will never go to Dallas, Texas, let alone be in the Cowboys’ stadium working out on the field where the Cowboys play at.”
Familiar faces like Tedarius Brown, Roderick Williams and Antonio Brown are among those who will be in attendance, along with newcomers like upcoming sophomore quarterback Joe Johnson.
The players will complete drills like the 40-yard dash, vertical leap and hammer throws as well as one-on-one competitions.
“I told them to get as many reps as possible, especially in the one-on-one (drills). Step up to the front. You’ve got to fight for reps,” Rogers said. “When you get to that level, that type of ball, guys fight for reps. They want to get to the front and they want to be seen. Do what you’ve got to do and show up and show out.”
Nike will tape the combine, with film on the camp distributed to FBS and FCS coaches throughout the country. It will also give the Gators a chance for both extra time in practice and with each other as the 2015 season slowly approaches.
“I think it does wonders for us. We’ve been working hard in the offseason getting everything together in year two of my tenure with the guys. I’m using it as a team-building exercise also. I’m using it to boost moral,” Rogers said.
“I think the best part is just the camaraderie of the coaches, as well as players. Just the camaraderie of us fellowshipping together for six, six-and-a-half hours on the bus and talking, getting on the same page before this big season starts. Once we report back, it’s going to be a grind.”