Under Armour Football Combines: The Top Performers in Miami and Phoenix

The 2011 Under Armour Football Combines are under way which marks the starts of the precious camps and combines circuit in the college football recruiting world. The UA Combines are among the most prestigious off-season events for a recruit to attend. Light it up at an event like this, chances are college coaches will be lighting up your phone and mailbox.

As we move forward through the 2012 recruiting cycle, we at B/R will be increasing our coverage of off-season events and will be giving previews and reactions of upcoming Under Armour combines through the spring and summer.

Today, let's start with recapping the top performers from the Miami and Phoenix Under Armour combines.

Best 40 Time

In Miami, Seminole High School (FL) running back Gary Holmes came in and blazed an incredible 4.39 40 time that took top honors of the day. Holmes checked in a about 5'8", 170 pounds and followed up his blazing 40 time with a 7.08 3-cone drill and 14 reps on the bench press.

Just'N Thymes took home the top 40 time in the Phoenix Under Armour combine, posting a solid 4.6 40 yard dash time for a receiver. Thymes also leaped 32.5 inches in the vertical jump, showing solid leaping ability and explosion.

Top Bench Press

6'0", 290 pound defensive tackle Gabe Porras was the strongest man at the Miami combine, putting up the bench press 25 times. Porras edged out OL Daniel Isidora and LB Marquel Holmes, who threw up 24 and 23 reps, respectively.

Blake Martinez, a 6'1", 242 pound big linebacker prospect from Canyon del Oro (AZ), threw up the bar 24 times at the Phoenix event. Martinez topped Austin Matthews and Ben Kullos, who tied for 2nd place at 23 reps a piece.

Best 3-Cone Drill

St. Thomas Aquinas is one the top high school football programs in America, and saw Marcus Roberson sign with Florida in 2011. Now comes DB Marcus Francis, a 5'10", 160 pounder who showed his transition quickness and agility by posting the top 3-cone drill in Miami at 6.48 seconds.

Phoenix saw receiver prospect Diandre Harding, a 5'11", 170 pound playmaker, shake out a 7.33 3-cone drill time. The Willow Canyon receiver displayed solid agility, quickness and change of direction skills.

Top Short Shuttle

Seminole (FL) high school strikes again here as Brandon Maitalnd, an undersized but extremely quick and agile linebacker, blazed a 4.0 flat 5-10-5 drill. Folks, there are NFL players who can't move like that. 5'7" and 165 pounds, Maitland plays LB right now, but clearly has the athletic ability to make the move to defensive back down the road.

Glendale Centennial (AZ) defensive back Zach Hauffpauir, a 5'10", 195 pound back end defender, ran a 4.28 short shuttle time in Phoenix, which marked the best time of the day. Hauffpauir also jumped nearly 30 inches in the vertical jump and posted 11 reps in the bench press.

Best Vertical Jump

The Miami Under Armour combine featured four top leapers in WR Garrett Johnson, ATH Nico Shephard, QB Kedric Bostic, and DL Joseph Conti Jr., who all leaped 29.5 inches and showed good explosion, leg strength and jumping ability.

Phoenix saw a quartet of its own with DB Daalim Brown, DL Alex Barett, QB Justin Sanchez, and RB Denzel Pittman all jumping and reaching the 27 inch mark in the land of cactuses and heat.

Top Performers In Miami

Jelani Hamilton, a 6'5", 247 pound defensive end from powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, took part in the Miami combine and showed out well. The big time edge rusher put up the bench press 17 times and jumped 28 inches. Florida, Florida State, Miami, Illinois, LSU, and  Texas Tech have all offered.

Hamilton showed off his elite pass rushing ability in one one drills, capped off by beating Pat Miller, one of the top offensive linemen in Florida, with a combination of speed and quickness.

Pedro Sibiea, a defensive lineman with offers from Florida, UCF, South Florida and North Carolina State, also had a good day. At 6'2" and 265 pounds, Sibiea look like a player that could develop into a solid defensive tackle in the middle.

Gar Holmes Jr. who had the top 40 time of the day, also showed quick feet, change of direction and a great burst through drills on the day. Holmes is hearing from Florida, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Floria State.

Top Miami Performers Part Two & Sleepers

Miami commit Randy Johnson, who can play and excel at both corner and running back, came to the UA Combine and blazed a 4.4 40 along with a 4.3 short shuttle. Johnson shows the break away speed and agility to be a playmaker on the offensive side, and the athletic ability and transition quickness to plant and drive on balls as a corner.

Herb Waters measured in at about 6'0" and played receiver mostly at the combine, though he's listed as an ATH. Waters is a name to keep an eye as we move forward. He has tremendous ball skills, showing good leaping ability to high point throws as a receiver and the quickness to get off the hashes as a deep safety.

Dami Ayoola showed why he is among the most elite runners in the Sunshine State. He posted 21 reps on the bench press and a 4.22 short-shuttle. Ayoola has the foot and lateral quickness to side to holes, the burst to get through and jump on top of linebackers in run alleys, and the elusiveness to make defenders miss. Miami and FSU have already offered and more are on the way.

Keep an eye on Deon Bush, a 6'1", 180 pound safety from Columbus (FL) high school. Bush flashes the play speed, range, toughness and 4.4 speed to become a great combo safety. He can patrol the back end and deep third, but also man up on a receiver in the slot.

Top Performers In Phoenix

6'1", 180 pound safety Reggie Daniels stole the show in Phoenix. Aside from broad jumping 9'2", Daniels flashed elite play-making ability in the one on one portion of the day. He comes out of his backpedal well, understands how to drop is weight on transition, rarely circles to close and has great ball skills.

Daniels even flashed the ability to be used as a goal line defense corner on bigger receivers. Arizona State has offered and TCU has early interest.

As much as Daniels is a great free safety prospect, Zach Hauffpauir is a great strong safety prospect. 5'11", and nearly 200 pounds, Hauffpuir has solid speed and plays with great instincts.

He's not afraid to pull the plug and go, and attacks the run game with toughness. He also showed solid coverage skills and excelled in press-man at the line, re-routing very well.

Denzell Dotson impressed in the trenches. The 6'1", 310 pounder looks like a future OC/OG type. He fires out of his stance, drive blocks well and has a mean streak. He's solid in short area pass protection and always looks to get a good clamp on rushers. Montana has offered.