New York, NY—With the Covid-19 crisis derailing football programs across the country numerous schools are trying various ways to get their student-athletes affiliated with major college recruiting boards.
Each athlete at the Combine was measured with four events, which have been modeled after the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. These events include the Mondo Dash, a 55-meter dash with a 40-yard split time, the standing long jump into the sand pit, the 3kg medicine ball throw, and the traditional 5-10-5 agility drill. The Armory’s fast Mondo track surface enabled the athletes to reach their top speed, and the facility’s state-of-the-art timing and measurement systems ensured accurate and precise marks that the recruiters can rely on.
Aquinas Institute William Benjamin running back ran 6.87 in the preliminary and was competitive in the other events.
“This was a great event for a lot of kids who couldn’t play this year. It was great to meet and compete with some of the top athletes throughout New York. All of us are trying to do the same thing, we are trying to recruited and go to college for free.” Benjamin said.
The Combine is also a chance to introduce football players to track and field, marketing the sport to a broader audience. Many football coaches believe that track and field is ideal for their athletes to keep in shape and increase their speed and strength during the off season.
Some Notables For Saturday’s Event:
Irvington senior Max Forte, who’ll run for the Duke Bluedevils next year, won the wide receiver 55m final at 6.78.
Harrison teammates Peter Fischer (6.79) and Joe Cardascia (6.85 final, 6.82 preliminary) finished second and third, respectively.
Maxwell Forte, Fischer, and Joseph Cardascia are part of Zanot’s training group outside school. Fischer, who was also second in the wide receiver standing long jump at 9-6.25, will end up in Cambridge, Mass and run for Harvard next year.
Harvard, Cornell, and a few other football programs have been reaching out to John Jay-East Fishkill junior wide receiver Brayden Rossi.
Suffern’s Clevmer Lubin, a 6-3, 225-pound running back and defensive end, who has received offers from West Point, Kent State, Fordham, UMass, and Stony Brook,
Brewster senior defensive lineman Franco Milano has already committed to playing for Stony Brook University next year.
New Rochelle’s Gary Phillips III takes part in The Armory Football Combine at The Armory Track & Field Center in New York on Saturday, December 5, 2020.
