Football Talent Advisors

Posted by Mark Branstad

A few weeks ago I posted a brief spreadsheet with several football players having early standout indoor track performances.  In particular I mentioned UNC’s linebacker, Zach Brown and Michigan’s quarterback, Denard Robinson. 

But this week specifically I should mention Florida running back Jeff Demps and his NCAA best 6.59 / 60 meter time at the Tyson Invite.  Demps just might end up being the fastest football player of all-time (he’s already got the fastest 100 meters).  A few other outstanding indoor sprint performances worthy of mention include: Texas receiver, Marquise Goodwin, who dropped a 6.69 / 60 meter time last week and another Florida running back, Chris Rainey, ran 6.70 / 60 meters at the Virginia Tech Elite Meet a few weeks ago. 

Ohio State transfer, Lamaar Thomas, surfaced quickly for University of New Mexico track team running 6.84 / 60 meters at the Air Force Invite.   

The ACC and Pac-10 appear to have the most football players partcipating in indoor track this season with the University of Miami having six or more players on the track team.  Kind of the like the good ole’ days if your a Miami Hurricane fan. 

And hey, University of Louisville football coaches, ahem Coach Strong…the U of L track team has FIVE athletes long jumping over 24’06 this season and three reaching 25-feet plus.  Might want to consider talking to the track coach there about getting a few of those guys out for the football team?  Couldn’t hurt after that 4-8 season.   

With all this crossover action from the gridiron to the track lets breakdown the activity by event:  Data compiled from athletic.net among other sources.