SP Combine features top performers from across Kansas

Athletes from around the state poured into the Salina Fieldhouse for the Sharp Performance Combine Series on March 19th to put their abilities on display. The event came at no charge for the participants due to the generous support of sponsors like Salina Sports Medicine. (Apologies for the late release, completion of our Spring Edition took top priority the past week.)

Kansas Pregame profiles some of the top performers below. College coaches can find their Twitter handle next to each athlete's name/team/height/weight info to access even more information about each prospect.*

Jeremy Colbert Jr., Field Kindley, 5-6, 150, RB/CB, 2024 (@Jeremycolbertjr): Colbert showed off the fastest 40 time of the day after clocking in at 4.44 to go with a 9-4 broad jump, and a 35-inch vertical. The speedy back used that exposiveness last fall to the tune of 1,212 all-purpose yards and 15 TDs for the 6-4 Golden Tornado. Colbert is part of a strong group of athletes that made the long journey to Salina on Sunday. The group appears poised for a solid season under coach Deonta Wade.

Braylen Hoobler, Eudora, 5-9, 198*, WR/LB, 2024: Hoobler showed all-around athleticism posting a 4.79 40, 9-foot broad jump, and nearly went into orbit with a 37.7-inch vertical. To top that off he had one of the highest 225 bench rep counts of the day with 19. Hoobler also put his strength on display at the 4A State Powerlifting competition in early March winning the overall state championship in the 198-pound class on the strength of a first place finish in the bench press and third place in both the squat and clean. These measurables show why the junior is a multi-year starter for the Cardinals who recorded 99 tackles last season and is also a versatile weapon in the running and passing games for the Cardinals. *Hoobler did not record a weight at Sunday's combine but competed in the 198 pound class at state powerlifting.

Ian Kresin, Lakeside, 5-8, 183, RB/OLB, 2024 (@IanKresin): At 5-8, 183 pounds, Kresin is built like a tank, but a surpisingly mobile one at that. His 36.8-inch vertical was one of the best of the day, while his 4.77 40, 8-10 broad jump, and nine reps of 225 on bench were also impressive. Coming off a junior season with 1,889 all-purpose yards and 24 total TDs offensively and his third-year as a starter on defense, 2023 could be a big year for Kresin.

Jameer Moore, Salina Central, 6-3, 162, WR/CB, 2024 (@jameer_moore): It's likely no one had a better all-around day at Sunday's combine than Moore. The rangy 6-3 defensive back from Salina Central consistently ran 4.5 in the 40, hit 9-8 in the standing broad jump, and showed off incredible hops with a 36.7-inch vertical. Moore plays primarily corner – where he recorded 40 tackles, five pass breakups, and two interceptions a season ago – but could also play safety at the next level. K-State has shown interest, along with other DI, DII, and junior college programs.  A college training table will help Moore add needed weight.

Lucas Dickman, Eisenhower, 5-7, 159, RB/CB, 2024 (@lucas_dickman): Dickman showed off a nice mix of speed and strength running 4.57 in the 40, with a 9-7 broad jump and 34.4-inch vertical. He also powered out eighth reps at 225 on the bench press. Dickman rushed for 644 yards and six touchdowns a season ago and also caught seven passes for 63 yards. He added 225 kickoff return yards including two for touchdowns in an Eisenhower upset win over Salina Central.

Cooper Jay, Augusta, 6-1, 312, OL/DL, 2024 (@CooperJay20): Jay is a multi-time participant at Sharp events and the first thing to strike observers regarding the Augusta big man is just that, his massive size. With arms like Hulk Hogan and Twitter videos showing off a legit 500 pound squat, 315 pound bench, and 285 pound incline press, Jay passes the eye test. At Sunday's SP Combine, Jay moved his 312 pounds through 40 yards in 5.69 seconds, leapt seven feet in the standing broad jump and 23.2 inches in the vertical, and pumped out 19 reps at 225 on bench. Picked as a first team All-Butler County offensive linemen by Butler County Times-Gazette sportswriter Charles Chaney, Jay will combine with standout Oriole 2024 QB Gavin Kiser to help send Augusta to new heights this fall.

Jackson King, Bishop Carroll, 6-0, 180, QB, 2024 (@Jackson_King10): King, who split time at QB to start the season before holding down the job full-time part way through the year, picked up his first DI offer from the Air Force Academy just three days after an excellent performance at the SP Combine. King ran a 4.7 in the 40 – but reports his PR as 4.56 – and looked explosive with a 9-2 broad jump and a 34.7 inch vertical and strong with eight reps of 225 on the bench. King is an impressive dual-threat QB who recorded 1,280 passing yards with nine touchdowns and 952 rushing yards with 15 touchdowns for a consistently successful Golden Eagle team. His efforts earned him All-State and All-GWAL honors.

Linkon Cure, Goodland, 6-5, 201, WR/TE, 2025 (@CureLinkon): Cure is part of an incredibly athletic family from Goodland with an older brother, Leyton, playing football for Fort Hays State, and an older sister, Lindsey, who is about to wrap up an outstanding high school athletic career before heading off to play volleyball at Regis University. Linkon is long and athletic with numerous high-flying dunking highlights in basketball. That explosiveness was on full display at Sunday's combine as Cure posted a 4.79 40, a 9-foot broad jump and a 30.1 inch vertical as well as eight reps at 185 on bench. A reminder, Cure is currently just a sophomore in high school and those numbers are sure to improve in the months ahead. With that mix of height, size, and athleticism, Cure could fit in a lot of spots on the field. His role with the Cowboys this fall will continue at tight end/wide receiver – like his brother Leyton at FHSU – and he could play defensive back or linebacker as well. Cure may have options to play college basketball as well. Either way, he's a 2025 to watch.

Ian Smith, Hoisington, 5-10, 183, RB/LB, 2024 (@SmithIan_8): Smith showed off explosiveness in the form of a 35.3 inch vertical jump and strength for his size with five reps of 225 on bench press at 5-10, 183, and though he didn't display blazing straight line speed with a 5.06 second 40, additional reps on the challenging turf surface at Salina Fieldhouse would almost certainly yield a result in the 4.9 range. Smith also has a proven track record on the field where he was the second leading tackler on the team a season ago as well as the fourth leading rusher and scorer. His coaches give him high marks for hard work and character as well.

Agustus "Gus" Thuston, Chanute, 6-3, 288, OL, 2024 (@AugustusThuston): Gus has the length, size, and mobility of an elite level offensive lineman for a team, that despite the graduation of a few outstanding seniors, should again be among the best in 4A this fall. The two-time All-League and All-State selection posted an 8-foot standing broad jump, a 23.9 inch vertical jump, 12 reps of 225 on bench, and moved his 288 pound frame through 40 yards in 5.67 seconds, all great numbers for a dude his size. A college training table will turn this Blue Comet into an elite man mover.

Aiden Amrein, Hill City, 6-0, 187, QB/LB, 2024 (@aamrein7): One of the very best football players and wrestlers in Kansas in the Class of 2024, Amrein showed why, running a 4.83 40, posting a 9-7 broad jump, 33.2 inch vertical jump, and 13 reps at 225 on bench at 187 pounds. He accounted for over 3,300 yards passing and 57 total passing touchdowns with just 15 total interceptions over the past two seasons. He added 2,113 rushing yards with 31 total rushing scores in that span. Amrein likely projects as a linebacker at the next level and for good reason after posting 146 career tackles with 22 tackles for loss in his career.

Kainen White, Coffeyville, 6-0, 282, OL/DL, 2024 (@kainen_white): Perhaps one of the most under-the-radar prospects in the class of 2024 in Kansas, White is one of the top defensive linemen in the state and yet another key piece returning for a Field Kindley team that could be ready for a big season this fall. White recorded an incredible 119 tackles in 19 games over the past two seasons including a whopping 41.5 for loss. At Sunday's SP Combine White ran a 5.41 40, jumped 7-9 in the standing broad jump and 26.6 in the vertical, with 11 reps at 225 in bench, all at 6-foot, 282.

Talen Neel, Derby, 5-9, 163, WR, 2024 (@talen_neel): Neel showed off blazing speed with a 4.56 second 40 and explosiveness with a 34.9 inch vertical and had the look of an athlete that could help Derby with an expanded role as a runner and receiver this fall after the graduation of Dylan Edwards and Brock Zerger leaves the Panthers looking for offensive firepower to go along with potential breakout senior back Derek Hubbard. In limited action a season ago Neel caught nine passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns and also carried the ball three times for 16 yards. 

Tucker Harrell, Pittsburg-St. Mary's Colgan, 5-10, 167, QB/DB, 2024 (@TuckerHarrell9): Harrell is one of the top players back in Class 1A for what should be a very good Colgan team this fall. The 2024 QB passed for 508 yards with six TDs and two interceptions and rushed for 601 yards and 16 more scores. On defense his 44 tackles were fourth best on the team and his four interceptions tied for second. He suffered a collarbone injury in the final game of the season but appeared to show no ill effects at Sunday's combine posting a 4.65 40, a 9-6 broad jump, a 36.5 inch vertical and eight reps with 185 on bench.

Cole Webber, Ellsworth, 6-2, 191, WR/TE/LB/DB, 2024 (@cole_webber15): Ellsworth has not had this much excitement and anticipation heading into an upcoming football season in many years, and Webber is just one of the reasons why. The 2024 athlete caught 29 passes for 541 yards and posted 49 solo tackles with three interceptions last fall. Webber showed off a good mix of size, strength and athleticism with a 4.8 40, 30.4 inch vertical, and eight reps of 185 on bench. Together with Will Cravens and Loden West and other key pieces in the Class of 2024 the Bearcats will enter the season with the potential to challenge for the North Central Activities Association championship and make a 2A playoff run.

Gunnar Gross, Salina Central, 6-1, 205, QB/LB, 2024 (@GunnarGross9): Gross showed off all-around athleticism with a 4.99 40, 8-8 broad jump, and six reps of 185 on bench, but where Gross really makes his mark is on the field The All-State junior has already shown his effectiveness after producing 2,843 combined rushing and passing yards and 36 total TDs for the 8-3 Mustangs a season ago. The multi-sport athlete was also an All-State designated hitter as a sophomore for the Central baseball team.

Brody Hayes, Clay Center, 5-11, 188, RB/S/ATH, 2024 (@BrodyHayes257): Hayes was part of an exciting Clay Center state semifinals run that included unexpected blowout victories over Collegiate and Cheney. Hayes was a key part of the Tigers’ success both during the playoffs and regular season with 1,499 all-purpose yards resulting in 14 rushing and three receiving TDs, as well as 105 tackles out of the defensive backfield. The junior further impressed at the combine, posting a 4.84 40, 8-3 broad jump, and 32.4 inch vertical, with seven reps of 225 on bench. Hayes and the Tigers have a buzz around them coming off the strong finish last fall with multiple top players back for the team this fall.

JC Heim, Washburn Rural, 6-2, 213, RB/LB, 2024, (@heim_jc): Heim, a regular at SP events, showed an excellent combination of size, speed and strength at the combine, with a 4.7 40, an 8-11 broad jump, and 12 reps of 225 on bench. The 6-2, 213 pound junior linebacker recorded 73 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss, and five sacks for a Rural team that finished 8-3 and made a 6A semifinals appearance. A tick faster and Heim would be one of the top linebacker prospects in Kansas, and he may end up there regardless because he gets it done where it counts, between the white lines.

Porter Jones, Spring Hill, 6-0, 172, DB, 2024 (@Porter_Jones24): Jones was forced to miss a large portion of his junior season with a shoulder injury, but averaged seven tackles per game over the five he played in. The junior’s performance at the combine included a 4.8 40, 9-4 broad jump, and a 31.1 inch vertical for a player that coach Jason Feeback described a “feak athlete with a nose for the ball” who appears poised to breakout this fall. The Broncos slid to 5-5 last fall after an 8-2 2021 season and will be glad to have Jones back on the field.

Jamond Lane, Washburn Rural, 5-9, 274, DT, 2024 (@Lane3Jamond): Athletes don’t come more powerfully built than junior defensive tackle Jamond Lane, who at 5-9, 274 pounds is a problem for interior offensive linemen. Lane showed impressive explosiveness at the Combine with a 31.2 inch vertical leap, 5.19 40,  and 8-9 broad jump, and also cranked out 18 reps of 225 on bench. The junior is coming off a 44 tackle, six sack, six tackle-for-loss season, and also recorded a pick six for the 8-3 Junior Blues.

Kamden Longacre, Andover, 6-1, 176, QB/DB, 2024 (@LongacreKamden): Longacre impressed at the combine with a 4.65 40, a 33.3 inch vertical, and 8-0 broad jump to go with 12 reps of 185 on bench. Longacre saw limited action last fall and went 14 of 33 with 79 yards passing and an interception and six carries for 13 yards rushing. The current junior could be a key player for the Trojans going forward as they try to improve on a 3-6 mark this fall.

Garrett Love, Chanute, 5-10, 237, G/DT, 2025 (@garrettlove59): Love was a key cog up front for a Chanute offense that helped the Blue Comets win nine straight games before finally losing in double OT to Piper in the second round of the playoffs. The compact block of granite who is surprisingly quick and mobile for his size, posted 20 reps of 225 on bench to go with a 5.17 40, 8-7 broad jump, and 28.9 vertical. Love's combination of power and explosiveness make him a devastating pulling guard.

*The Salina Fieldhouse surface made executing the pro agility difficult for many of the athletes. Kansas Pregame opted not to report those results in this article. The 40s were hand-timed and the result of two attempts averaged from four stopwatches. Heights were taken without shoes.