BamaOnLine.com - Stars emerge at EAC combine

May 9, 2009

Shane Youngblood
BamaOnLine.com Recruiting Analyst

While Stanhope Elmore cornerback Demarcus Milliner certainly raised eyebrows at last Sunday's Elite Action Combine held at The Sports Medicine and Fitness Institute when he ran an exceptional 4.31 40-yard dash, Milliner wasn't the only prospect who earned positive exposure at the rain-shortened event.

Perhaps the most physically impressive prospect in attendance was Gaston High School running back Demont Buice. Buice, sporting a mohawk, measured in at a ripped 6-foot-2 3/4, 220 pounds and ran a flat 4.4 40-yard dash along with a 32.5-inch vertical.

Buice has already landed a verbal offer from Ole Miss with strong indications from LSU and Tennessee that some good news may be on the way.

"I think recruiting is about to pick up. I was happy with the way I performed today and hopefully I improved my stock today," said Buice who has scored 72 touchdowns and rushed for around 4,000 yards the last two seasons. "Right now it is looking like I will focus more on the out of state schools. I am not hearing as much from the in-state programs but that is okay."

Northview running back Derrick Thomas, who has made a name for himself on the camp scene after being somewhat of an unknown due to missing his sophomore season, also finished strong with a 33.5-inch vertical and 4.58 40-yard dash.

Three 2011 backs made names for themselves at the event starting with Russellville athlete Brent Calloway. Calloway, who at 6-foot-2 3/4 and 209 pounds could play other positions, had a 9'6" standing jump and a 4.63 40-yard dash in his first combine event ever. Pleasant Grove's Anthony Gardner and Demarcus Milliner's brother Pat Milliner also impressed with Milliner's 9'11' standing jump among the best at the event.

Prattville quarterback Sam Gibson had the most impressive testing numbers among the signal callers with a 4.55 40-yard dash run demonstrating his versatile athleticism. Gibson recently picked up an offer from Virginia to go with offers from Stanford, Vanderbilt among others.

The receivers group was loaded with athletes, and Northview High School's B.J. Chitty again showed his superior skills with a 4.52 40-yard dash run and a 34-inch vertical. Woodlawn athlete Christopher Davis, a local legend in the Birmingham area, turned in an eye-popping 4.18 shuttle run.

The show-stealer for the day came in the form of Austin receiver J.J. Marshall who was the only athlete at the event to best Milliner's 40-yard dash run when he recorded a 4.3-flat time. Marshall wasn't a one-trick pony as his 4.25 shuttle run and 30.25 vertical were also among the camp's best testing numbers.

Former Alabama basketball coach Mark Gottfried's son, Brandon Gottfried, was an impressive physical prescence at the camp, measuring nearly 6-foot-7 with an 8'3" reach. Gottfried also had an impressive 4.28 shuttle time and 33.5-inch vertical.

When the one-on-one portion of the event was rained out, it appeared that the offensive linemen on hand wouldn't have a chance to shine. That wasn't the case for several prospects, however, that still turned in above-average testing numbers. Oneonta's Judd Hunt had the most impressive all-around numbers in the group with a 4.87 40-yard dash while measuring in at a little over 6-foot-5, 260 pounds. Piedmont's Seth Reedy, Minor's Mark Beard, Moody's Chad Slade and Vestavia Hill's Drew Dearman all ran sub-5.3 40-yard dash times while all measuring in well over 250 pounds.

Pelham linebacker and Auburn commit Jake Holland was the most physically impressive prospect at his position at the event, and then further impressed onlookers with a 4.63 40-yard dash, 4.34 shuttle run and 8'10" standing jump while measuring 6-foot-1 1/2, 224 pounds. Homewood's Anthony Wilson continued his torrid camp run, measuring 6-foot-4, 220 pounds while still turning in position best times of 4.12 in the shuttle and 9'6" in the standing jump.

Others impressing among the linebacker group included Decatur 2011 prospect Desmond Levelle (6.94 L-Cone), Minor's Raiques Crump (9.5 standing jump) and Mountain Brook's Adam Pounds (4.37 shuttle).

Among the defensive linemen, John Carroll's Cameron Wood put everyone on notice that he could be a 2011 prospect to watch, measuring in at 6-foot-5 1/2, 208 pounds and recording a 4.78 40-yard dash.

The secondary group was among the event's deepest and most talented. Besides Milliner, Valley 2011 safety prospect Enrique Florence and Walker 2011 cornerback Jacquese Kirk showed that the secondary class once again expects to be strong in-state next year. Both prospects were all-state selections as sophomores. Florence ran a 4.47 40-yard dash while Kirk recorded a 4.42. Going even younger, McAdory defensive back Marcus Turner had the fastest 40-time among all rising sophomores with a 4.49.

Among the rising senior defensive backs, Marbury's Pierre Warren (6.78 L-Cone), Mountain Brook's Aaron Adams (6.77 L-Cone), Minor's Twun Bonner (4.53 40-yard dash), Carver's London Pitts (4.25 shuttle) and Spain Park's Alex Walters (4.45 40-yard dash) were standouts.

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