If It's Springtime, It's SPARQ Combine Training Time

Click to view image

It’s off-season time for VYPE DFW area high school football teams, but players like Arlington Grace Prep defensive lineman Justin Hollins are dreaming of a scholarship offer and hoping to create a SPARQ capable of raising their profile and revealing their potential to college recruiters and coaches.

On Feb. 23, Hollins was among 1,400 players to participate in the SPARQ Houston Football Combine, and he made it count.

Since 2004, SPARQ, Nike’s standardized test combine for athleticism, has helped high school players compare and rate themselves with other prospects across the country.

The acronym spells out the measurables: Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction and Quickness. Players’ performances in the following are combined into a SPARQ score:

• 40-yard Dash – straight-line speed
• Pro Agility Drill – 20-yard shuttle tests for lateral quickness and change of direction
• Vertical Leap – explosiveness and athleticism
• Power Ball Throw – strength and explosiveness

Last year, a VYPE DFW area player significantly raised his recruiting ranking with a dramatic SPARQ performance. Woodrow Wilson cornerback Colin Spencer used the top SPARQ rating of the year to get on recruiting radars, ultimately signing with Kansas in February.

Hollins was selected to the SPARQ Houston All-Combine Team after posting scores of: 4.67 40, 4.38 Shuttle, 36.0' PB, 33.9" VJ, 96.42 SPARQ. He was described as “one of the more impressive physical prospects to come through the Houston event.”

More North Texas area athletes will have their chance to put up eye-popping numbers at Nike SPARQ Football Combines scheduled in April.

The competition will be deep and talented, so area football players should be ramping up their training and perfecting techniques to obtain their best SPARQ scores.

Cutting-edge training facilities such as Michael Johnson Performance Center in McKinney have been selected as official Nike camps geared to help high school football players give their best performance at the SPARQ combine.

MJP’s spring break combine training camps for ages 15-18 will be held March 11-14, Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

MJP’s dynamic SPARQ preparation program focuses on:

• Speed: Fine-tuning techniques designed to lower your 40-yard dash time.
• Agility: Improving lateral quickness and becoming more efficient with change of direction.
• Vertical Leap: Becoming more explosive at takeoff.
• Power Ball Toss: Coordinating strength and technique to maximize your distance.

Improvement in each SPARQ test can bring any area high school football prospect a better score and significantly improved recruiting outlook.

ARE YOU DOING MORE THAN YOUR COMPETITION?