Rancho Bernardo High grads putting on NFL-like combines for young athletes
By Michael Bower
The NFL Scouting Combine started airing on television in 2004. It was the first chance the public got to see exactly what NFL hopefuls go through a few months before draft day.
Athletes are tested in seven categories at the combine: the 40-yard dash, the 225-pound bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 20-yard shuttle, 3-cone drill and the 60-yard shuttle.
Scouts use the results to help them predict future NFL performance, which means the combine can make or break a player’s landing spot in the draft. In other words, it’s a big deal.
Chris Garnier, a 1996 Rancho Bernardo High graduate and former outside linebacker for the University of Hawaii, had his chance to compete in the combine in 2002. But like most kids at the time, he didn’t know much about it.
“I got destroyed out there,” he said with a chuckle. “I really wish that I would have known what I do now about it. After Hawaii and graduating, I got cut by every team that I tried out for.”
Garnier and some of his friends are now on a mission to make sure young athletes are aware of what the combine is and how it can help shape their future in sports; thus the emergence of Prime Time Athletics-San Diego.
The company, which Garnier is the CEO of and Rancho Bernardo graduates Dave Gorman and Charley Dehoney are partners, is an “NFL approved Youth Flag Football Organization/League specializing in athletic development through NFL caliber combines,” according to its Facebook page.
Garnier recently put on his first combine at Rancho Bernardo High School. The Broncos varsity football team went through all seven tests of the combine. Many of them knew about the 40-yard dash, but when it came to some of the other tests they were unaware.
“Half of them were asking what a 60-yard shuttle drill is,” Garnier said. “I can’t blame them because I didn’t know what any of it was until my junior year at Hawaii when people were telling me I better practice it. ... We didn’t know what the expectations were then and if you know then you have a better opportunity.”
Those kids at Rancho Bernardo know now. Senior Tyree Range, who is committed to the University of Montana, ran a blistering, team-best 4.51-second 40-yard dash. Wide receiver Devin Goodloe was tops in the vertical leap (35.5 inches) and offensive lineman Austin Lucht bested everyone in the 225-pound bench press (13 reps).
“It was a great experience,” said Goodloe. “It just showed you what you need to work on and where you are in the different areas. It is pretty cool because they have a graph that can show how much you improve with each time you do it.”
Said Range: “It was my first time doing anything like that. The great thing was everything is official. All my 40 times have been hand timed before this so now I can say my time is official.”
And that is what college suitors love to see.
“They want to know how strong a guy really is or how fast a guy really is,” explained Garnier of college scouts. “A lot of the numbers coaches just give them, but are (not official) with stopwatches. We use laser times and that is legitimate. It is what NFL and college coaches are looking for.
“Hopefully it will help some of these kids get a better look from colleges,” he added. “Sometimes a kid is not on a great team or doesn’t get much playing time, but if his numbers are great then they can show the colleges.”
The goal is to eventually test all the high schools in the area. Prime Time Athletics-San Diego will be offering full combines to the high schools in the spring. However, the combines are not limited to just high school football players and teams.
Garnier will be holding a combine on Sept. 1 at Del Norte High for ages 5 to 18. Anyone in the county can attend. The advantage to doing the combine at an early age is watching your improvement over the years and seeing how you rank with other kids. The cost is $100 per kid, which includes a Chargers jersey.
“Kids will be able to go on our website and compare scores and see how they are doing,” Garnier said. “They can compare scores to other kids in the city, state and, keep your fingers crossed, the country.”
Prime Time Athletics-San Diego will also be starting a flag football league in early January. Signups begin in September.
For more information about Prime Time Athletics-San Diego visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/primetimeathleticssandiego.