The 2009 NFL Prep Program at Ignition
By: Clif Marshall
The program for twenty NFL hopefuls whom reported in early January will end this week at the last of the NFL Pro Days. My staff and I are wrapping up the most rewarding NFL Prep Program at Ignition in the company’s five year history. Ted Borgerding (Coordinator) Ben Creamer (Specialist) and Rick Danison (Specialist) and I, Clif Marshall (Director) make up the team of performance coaches who trained these college standouts twice a day for eight weeks.
After days that turned to weeks of hardcore training form nine to five, players from such universities as: Cincinnati, Louisville, Purdue, Indiana and Kentucky are reaping the fruits of their labors as they run, jump and lift in front of scouts and coaches across the Midwest. Many of the players who trained at Ignition are creating a buzz among NFL personnel with outstanding numbers from the Combine in Indianapolis and Pro Days at the respected universities. Some of our players shaved up to three tenths off of their forty times and increased their vertical leap by five inches.
The following players are moving up on draft boards and opening eyes with great workouts: Ignition takes pride in being the facility in the Midwest that can take a player and work them into a fine tuned machine that will move up draft boards for sure after posting awesome numbers during workouts!!!!
Connor Barwin: UC Bearcats - Connor has been by far one of the most talked about prospects in the nation after finishing first in four categories for Defensive Lineman at the NFL Combine and then running a 4.4 forty yard dash at 251 pounds on his Pro Day on March 19th on the campus of UC. Prior to training at Ignition, Connor was expected to go somewhere in the third to fourth round. Now as we approach the Draft in April many experts agree that he will sneak in the late first rounds. Take a look at these impressive numbers posted by Barwin after training at Ignition: 4.47 in the forty, 40 inch vertical and a 10.8 broad, 6.80 in the L Cone drill, 4.18 in the Pro Agility Drill. These times would be phenomenal for a defensive back, Barwin as a defensive lineman may go down in history as one of the best to ever test in that position.
Eron Riley: Duke Blue Devils- Eron who did not get an invite to the scouting combine shocked scouts at his Pro Day at Duke when he ran as fast as a 4.27 on one scouts watch in the forty. Most NFL personnel expected Riley to be more of a 4.6 guy. He also notched a 40 inch vertical and an amazing 11.2 broad. If you questioned his change of direction ability, his L Cone drill was a 6.70 and the Pro Agility drill at 4.06. Those numbers with Eron’s size (6.3’ and 206) have scouts checking out the game film on the Duke Blue Devils, where he was awarded a second team all ACC performer. Prior to Ignition, Eron was considered as a Priority Free Agent, but now he is considered as early as a fourth round pick.
Andrew Means: Indiana Hoosiers- Andrew didn’t disappoint in his performance and is now going to be considered by many teams as a draftable prospect. Means at 215 pounds and 6.1’ ran a 4.33 and a 4.36 in the forty and then showed off his agility in a 6.85 L Cone drill. Todd McShay of Scouts Inc. said after the NFL Combine that Means was the sleeper of the wide receiver group. Andrew also repped out 18 reps in the bench to show off his strength as a receiver. Means, another prospect who was flying under the NFL radar, is currently at Spring Training with the Cincinnati Reds and is hoping his name is called on draft weekend.
Mike Mitchell: Ohio University – Mike Mitchell is big guy for a safety at 6.05 and 222 pounds. Mitchell at that weight ran a 4.43 on his Pro Day last week in thirty degree temperatures. Mitchell also jumped a 37.5 inch vertical and a 10.03 broad after benching 225 for 22 reps. Mitchell was not invited to the combine but after his performance at OU Pro Day, he has three teams that have scheduled private workouts. Mike is another prospect that was said be a Free Agent. Experts now see him coming off the board in the later rounds of the draft.
Mike Mickens: UC Bearcats – Mickens was getting a lot of negative feedback in January after weighing in at 175 pounds for scouts and being sent home from the Senior Bowl due to a knee injury. After packing his backs, he called me (Coach Marshall) on the plane ride home to say he was reporting to Ignition to begin prepping for his most important workout he would ever have on Match 19th. Fast forward six weeks and Mike is again one of the top cornerbacks in the draft. Despite having only three weeks of training because of the limitations on his knee, Mike added twelve pounds to his frame and impressed scouts on a knee that was only 85 percent at the UC Pro Day. He ran a 4.53 in the forty, a 4.18 in the Pro Agility and a 6.90 in the L Cone drill. He also looked great in the positional drills that the coaches took him through. The numbers Mike posted would have him in good standing among the cornerbacks at the NFL Combine and he is doing it on a knee that is not completely healthy. This competitive showing has teams flying Mike in for official visits and moving back up the draft broads.
This is just a few of the guys who have fared well in the workouts for NFL teams. We want to thank all of the players who trusted in the Ignition Program and we cannot wait to see where the guys end up on NFL Draft Weekend.
If you are serious about taking your game to the next level, come and train with the guys at Ignition. In the meantime, stay strong, Body-Mind-Spirit./// Clif Marshall
