NATS Combine Gains Interest In South Florida

A Miami Dolphins Press Release

This past weekend, National Athletic Testing System (NATS) hosted their combine for all high school football players around South Florida. This is the second year NATS has tested in Florida, and both years the Dolphins have offered their facilities to the program. The NATS combine is supported and is in cooperation with the Florida Athletic Coaches Association. This is a unique program that encourages high school students all across the nation to expand their education into college. This Saturday, there were students ranging from freshmen to seniors in high school.

The players who attended the combine were measured through a series of standardized athletic tests, and were also presented with an opportunity to participate in a Princeton Review seminar to better prepare the athletes for the SAT/ ACT and college admissions. One factor that really attracts the participants is that nationally there are 459 colleges that use the NATS database for initial player evaluations. Every kid at the camp was not only trying to better themselves, but it also was an attempt to draw some attention from college coaches when their senior year comes around.

The combine began at 11:00 a.m., with all the players and parents gathering in the Miami Dolphins auditorium, where the Dolphins have their team meetings. Here, they listened to a presentation from a representative of the Princeton Review and were able to ask questions about the application process. They were also given advice on financial aid and how to prepare for the SAT/ ACT.

After the seminar, the players proceeded to the indoor practice bubble, where they began the athletic portion of the combine. The physical tests were based on three categories: speed, strength, and agility. There were five different tests, four of which were in the bubble, and the bench repetitions were held in a weight room on the NOVA campus. The four in the bubble were the 40-yard dash, short shuttle, three cone drill, and the broad jump. All these drills are intended to mimic the actual NFL combine, even to the point that every athlete had their pictures taken in order to give college coaches a visualization of the prospect's body type.

Combines like NATS are also a good way to evaluate talent for teams as a whole. If there are a number of players from one school doing well in each event, then that school can be expected to have a pretty solid team. For example, Cypress Bay was represented well at this past combine. Players present were Phil Walker (LB), who is currently being recruited by Miami, Auburn, and Rutgers. Also in attendance were Carl Miles (DB), who recorded the best time in the 3-cone drill with 7.09, and Jason Douglas (RB) who had the best 40 time of 4.49 and the best short shuttle, with a 4.29.

The players were able to walk away from this camp with not only an assessment of their physical skills, but also with a way to plan for their future. Not many camps prepare students for a fallback if their athleticism is not able to get them through college. This is evident in how the NATS Combines have grown over the years, a trend that is sure to continue.

Jarrel Woolfolk
Youth Programs
Miami Dolphins, Ltd.

This article has been re-published with the express written consent of Miami Dolphins, Ltd.