Best of the Midwest Combine: Top 2026 Performances

The Best of the Midwest Combine was started in 2010 to provide high school football players the opportunity to prove their football abilities, improve their skills, and gain the needed exposure to advance their playing careers to the next level. The proof of the talent that turns out at this combine is undeniable and is made crystal clear by raw facts. For example, 23.6% of athletes who have attended the BOTMW Combine have went on to attend a Division 1 school and 56.8% of athletes have advanced to play at the collegiate level, in general. The combine is designed for high school athletes, but each year there are a few current middle schoolers who attend. This year was no different as there were 14 athletes from the class of 2026 who made the trip to the nationally recognized combine. Here’s a look at the top eighth grade performances: <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><u>The Big Dog</u></strong></span> <img class="alignleft wp-image-293228 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/02/JaedenRicketts-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />If you’re a firm believer in results, which I am, then there should be no surprise that <strong>Jaeden Ricketts</strong> earned the Big Dog status at the BOTMW Combine this year. Ricketts had a banner eighth grade season for Watkins Middle School in Ohio, as he was clearly the go-to threat and lined up at a myriad of positions including Wide Receiver, Running Back, Defensive Back, Punt Returner and Kick Returner. That said, at the BOTMW Combine he locked in as a wide receiver and was borderline elite. He checked in with good size at 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, but it was his testing times and scores that really opened eyes. Ricketts finished at, or near the top, in every drill. Using his best time or measurement, his day was special: 4.54 in the 40-yard dash, 4.45 in the Pro Shuttle, 7.18 in the L-Cone and a 9’8” in the broad jump. If you’re in the greater Columbus, Ohio area next fall, I’d recommend checking him out on Friday nights. <span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>The Next Best</strong></span> <img class="alignleft wp-image-293300 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/02/JaylenEdwards-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />If you're a follower of prep football in the state of Ohio, I'd be shocked if you hadn't heard the name of Ginn Elite. The program is funded by former NFL athlete, Ted Ginn Jr. Wide Receiver <strong>Jaylen Edwards </strong>of said program, had a great day at the combine. Despite being obviously one of the smaller athletes in attendance (scratched his height and weight) he put on quite the show from a numbers standpoint. Impeccable quickness earned him the quickest Pro shuttle with a 4.41 on the day in addition to a second-best 4.8 in the 40-yard dash. <img class="alignleft wp-image-254208 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/Silhouette-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Another prospect from the aforementioned Ginn Elite, <strong>Chris Newell Jr.</strong> had a good showing. Only two months after seeing him play in the FBU National Championship tournament, the Running Back performed better than I expected during the combine drills. He finished with a top three output in the Broad Jump and Pro Shuttle. &nbsp; &nbsp; <img class="alignleft wp-image-293328 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/02/Jamyan-Theodore-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />One of two Canadian middle school prospects, <strong>Jamyan Theodore</strong> certainly opened up some eyes at Wide Receiver. Doesn't matter what country he's from, Theodore showed he could play. The College Bourget prospect measured in at 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, then put up a pair of top three finishes in the Pro Shuttle (4.55) and L-Cone (7.18) &nbsp; <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-293336 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/02/CincereJohnson-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Cincere Johnson</strong> of Ginn Elite looked just as good as when I saw him a few months during FBU. I didn't realize how big he was, as the Linebacker measured in at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds. Also saw time during the regular and post season as a defensive end, for good reason with that size. Most impressive stat for Johnson was his 5.38 in the 40-yard dash, which was quicker than some of the quarterbacks and skill position athletes in attendance. &nbsp; <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Other Notes</strong></span> <ul> <li>Ohio Quarterback <strong>LaMarques Greenwood </strong>recorded a top three and position-best, 4.47 in the 40-yard dash</li> <li>Defensive Back <strong>Chad Woodfork II </strong>put up a top three and position-best score of 8'3" in the Broad Jump</li> <li>The biggest 2026 prospect in attendance was another Canadian athlete in Quentin Dorsainvil at 6-foot-3, 250 lbs.</li> <li>Linebacker <strong>Javion Lewis</strong> also flashed ability at 5-foot-11 and 185 solid pounds.</li> </ul> &nbsp;