There’s a lot of crossover between the top performers in the vertical leap and power ball toss from The Lake’s spring combine. Two of the most versatile athletes at the combine were Ian VanDenBerg, a 6-1, 185 RB/WR from Paw Paw, and Muskegon Catholic Central sophomore Walker Christoffersen. VanDenBerg was second in both the vertical leap and power ball toss, after being mentioned previously for his 4.5 40 time. Wyoming junior Michael Williams had the top vertical leap, 35 1/2″ inches, after posting the fastest 40 time of 4.44 seconds.

Montague’s Jacob Buchberger will be a three-year, two-way starter for Montague who ran for 10 TDs in five games as a junior. Buchberger was in the top 10 in both as was another from a Divisoin 5 school, Grand Rapids West Catholic sophomore David Fox who was a two-way standout (and punter) for the state champions.

Brent Murray, a 5-11, 194 junior from Petoskey, had some monster games running the ball for the Northmen last fall. He was first in the power ball with a toss of 44 feet and third with a vertical leap of 34 3/4″. More powerful than quick so projects as a middle linebacker or fullback, but Murray did have his moments in pass coverage in one-on-one reps. Anthony Hum, an Alma sophomore, was one of the camp’s to underclassman performers, with a top 10 showing in both.

LMFR Combine Top 10 Standing Vertical Leap:

• 35 1/2″ Michael Williams  5-8  165  Jr  WR/DB  Wyoming
• 35″  Ian VanDenBerg  6-1  185  Jr  RB/WR  Paw Paw
• 34 3/4″  Brent Murray  5-11  194  Jr  RB/LB  Petoskey
• 33 1/3″  David Fox  6-1  201  So  DB/QB  Grand Rapids West Catholic
• 33 1/2″  Walker Christoffersen  5-9  165  So  ATH  Muskegon Catholic Central
• 33″  Christopher Chin  5-10  190  So  RB/LB  Byron Center
• 32 3/4″ Sam Matthews  6-2  180  Jr  WR/TE  East Grand Rapids
• 31 1/2″ Shane Foster  6-1  205  Jr  ATH  Gaylord
• 31 3/4″  Anthony Humm  6-0  170  So  RB/DB  Alma
• 31 1/2″ Jacob Buchberger  6-1  186  Jr  QB/WR  Montague
• 31 1/2″  Jordan Gamage  5-11  165  Jr  Sterling Heights

LMFR Combine Top 10 Power Ball Toss:

• 44’0  Brent Murray  5-11  194  Jr  RB/LB  Petoskey
• 42’6  Ian VanDenBerg  6-1  185  Jr  RB/WR  Paw Paw
• 41’2  Taylor Woodwyk  6-1  235  Jr  DL  Hudsonville
• 39’5  Jacob Buchberger  6-1  185  Jr  QB/WR  Montague
• 39’5  Jake Boonstra  6-3  285  Jr  OL  Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills
• 39’4  Sam Matthews  6-2  180  Jr  WR/TE  East Grand Rapids
• 39’0  Anthony Humm  6-0  170  So  RB/DB  Alma
• 38’7  Clay Coltson  6-1  180  Jr  QB  Hastings
• 38’5  David Fox  6-1  201  So  DB/QB  Grand Rapids West Catholic
• 38’2  Bryce Henkey  6-0  180  RB/DB  East Grand Rapids

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Wyoming junior Michael Williams, Paw Paw junior Ian VanDenBerg and Muskegon Catholic Central sophomore Walker Christoffersen dominated the speed, quickness and explosions portions of the 2015 Lake Michigan Football Report Combine. Williams, at 5-8, 165, had the top 40-yard dash time of 4.44 and highest vertical jump at 35 1/2 inches. The will just reload at Muskegon Catholic as Christoffersen, at 5-9, 165, had the fastest pro agility 3.98 seconds while running a 4.56 40 and jumpering 33 1/2″. What you liked about him, particularly as an underclassman, is that the quickness from the tests was still evident when doing it against a defender in drills. Christofferson’s teammate, running back heir apparent LaTommy Scott, was also in the top 10 in both the 40 and pro agility. Portage Central’s 5-11, 190 junior Brandon Sturgeon was also a top 10 performer in both. The most physically ready player and breakout prospect from this combine was VanDenBerg. He is Paw Paw’s school record holder in the 100 and 200 meters and showed not just the wheels but the ability to show hands on the fly in one-on-ones after running a 4.56 40 with a vertical jump of 35″. That latter was on display in drills with how he could adjust and make plays on the ball at a plane beyond the DBs. What separates him is that along with the speed VanDenBerg had the second-longest power ball toss of the combine, 42’6. Not just an “Underwear Olympics” guy, VDB had a legit junior season for Paw Paw, including a 99-yard TD run and a 94-yard kickoff return TD.

LMFR Combine Top 10 40-yd Dash:

• 4.44 seconds Michael Williams  5-8  165  Jr  RB/DB  Wyoming
• 4.56  Ian VandenBerg  6-1  185  Jr  RB/WR  Paw Paw
• 4.56  Isaac Kozak  5-9  130  So  DB/WR  Rochester Stoney Creek
• 4.60  Walker Christoffersen  5-9  165  So  ATH  Muskegon Catholic Central
• 4.62  Jamari Booker  6-0  175  DB/LB  East Kentwood
• 4.69  Tyler Bradfield  6-0  190  Jr  DB/RB  Rockford
• 4.70  LaTommy Scott  5-7  170  So  RB  Muskegon Catholic Central
• 4.71  Bryce Henkey  6-0  180  DB/RB  East Grand Rapids
• 4.71  Brandon Sturgeon  5-11  190  Jr  ATH  Portage Central
• 4.72  Jordan Gamage  5-11  165  Jr  DB  Sterling Heights

LMFR Combine Top 10 Pro Agility:

• 3.98 seconds  Walker Christoffersen  5-9  165  So  ATH  Muskegon Catholic Central
• 4.06  Jared Yarbrough  5-7  165  Jr  WR  Paw Paw
• 4.25  Sam Matthews  6-2  180  Jr  WR/TE  East Grand Rapids
• 4.29  Nolan Fugate  5-11  160  Fr  DB/QB  Grand Rapids Catholic Central
• 4.31  Jacob Buchberger  6-1  186  Jr  QB/WR  Montague
• 4.31  Evan Whitmore  6-3  187  Jr  ATH  Petoskey
• 4.33  Joshua Atwell  5-11  179  So  RB/WR  Grandville
• 4.33  LaTommy Scott  5-7  160  So  RB  Muskegon Catholic Central
• 4.33  Nathan Manthey  5-8  156  Jr  Bangor
• 4.33  Brandon Sturgeon  5-11  190  Jr  ATH  Portage Central
• 4.33  Josh Lamphere  6-1  175  LB/TE  Dowagiac

Over 100 of the Lake Area’s prospects will be at the LMFR’s combine Saturday in Grand Rapids. Many have already proven on the field to be playmakers, with or without the ball. Here are five of those future college players who we look forward to getting a closer look at 12:30-2:30 pm Saturday at the MVP Sports Spot.

Click here to come and compete against these and other top athletes.

Luke Bakker  6-0  180  ATH  West Ottawa: O-K Red linebacker who projects similarly to another recent West Ottawa prospect, Alex Zimmerman who went on to Hillsdale. May be West Ottawa’s QB in the fall. He will be the Panthers’ leading returning rusher and No. 2 returning tackler.

Tyler Bradfield  6-0  190  Jr  DB/RB  Rockford: He’ll be a three-year starter for one of the Lake Area’s perennially elite programs. The AP all-state safety went both ways for the Rams and was their leading tackler.

Jamari Booker  6-0  175  Jr  DB  East Kentwood: A prototype athlete for an EK defense built for speed. Booker’s a nasty hitter as an undersized outside linebacker at the high school level. Started on the Falcons’ Division 1 state semifinalist team and is being recruited by MAC and GLIAC teams.

LaTommy Scott  5-7  160  So  RB  Muskegon Catholic Central: As a sophomore he was already a big-play threat for MCC’s dominant Division 8 state championship team. In spot duty Scott scored four TDs while averaging over 12 yards per carry. With 2,000-yard rusher Tommy Scott matriculating to Saginaw Valley State, look for LaTommy to put up all-state caliber stats as an upperclassman.

Evan Whitmore  6-3  187  Jr  QB/DB  Petoskey: Petoskey doesn’t throw often, but Whitmore has the arm and frame to be a pocket presence, and also the athleticism to play defense. His brother is a linebacker at Hillsdale.

Here is where some past participants of the first two seasons of Lake Michigan Football Report combines signed. Who will be the next MAC, GLIAC and other prospects to emerge? The next combine is Saturday, March 21 in Grand Rapids.

• Evan Akins: Navy (Hudsonville)
• Wyatt Batdorff: Hillsdale (Forest Hills Northern)
• Danny Bauder: Northern Michigan (Zeeland West)
• Jalen Brooks: Ferris State (Cadillac)
• Jake Brown: Michigan Tech (Comstock Park)
• Ethan Campbell: Michigan Tech (Traverse City Central)
• Brandon Childress: Central Michigan (Baldwin)
• Dom Childress: Navy (Independence, Tenn.)
• Connor Conaboy: Butler (East Grand Rapids)
• Derek Diver: Michigan Tech (Traverse City West)
• Bobby Drew: Wayne State (Saugatuck/Holland)
• Andrew Duckett: Eastern Michigan (Niles Brandywine)
• Tristan Eickenroth: Ferris State (Kingsley)
• Steve Eipper: Central Michigan (Greenville)
• Zach Evans: Michigan Tech (Kenowa Hills)
• Kenneth Finley: Western Michigan (Muskegon)
• Tyler Gildersleeve: Michigan Tech (Traverse City Central)
• Landon Grove: Ferris State (Gladwin)
• Ryan Gruzka: Saginaw Valley State (Comstock Park)
• Matt Hall: Hillsdale (Grand Rapids Christian)
• Chase Harrington: Northwood (Greenville)
• Colt Harrington: Northwood (Greenville)
• Jacob Howe: Grand Valley State (Forest Hills Northern)
• Will Hunt: Ferris State (Muskegon)
• Landon Kresnak: Saginaw Valley State (Mona Shores)
• Greg Krusniak: Ferris State (Greenville)
• Elliot Jordan: Western Michigan (East Kentwood)
• Malik King: Ball State (Muskegon)
• Drew Marion: Michigan Tech (Lake City)
• Blake Mazur: Wayne State (Comstock Park)
• Caleb McNitt: Hillsdale (West Ottawa)
• Lincoln Mulder: Ferris State (Holland Christian)
• Jaylen Schoenfield: Grand Valley State (Swartz Creek)
• Logan Slaughter: Western Michigan (Mendon)
• Connor Smith: Cornell (Three Rivers)
• Derek Smith: Central Michigan (Kenowa Hills)
• Travis Smith: Wake Forest (Ithaca)
• Mitchell Stanitzek: Central Michigan (Grand Rapids West Catholic)
• Will Stecker: Northern Michigan (Gaylord)
• Trevor Sweeney: Western Michigan (Mattawan)
• Nick Swore: Malone (Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian)
• Adam Trautman: Dayton (Elk Rapids)
• Trevor VanTubbergen: Wayne State (West Ottawa)
• Jared Vuksan: Northern Michigan (Gladwin)
• David Walker: Harvard (Harbor Springs)
• Marty Ward: Tiffin (Niles Brandywin)
• Shea Whitmore: Hillsdale (Petoskey)
• Alex Zimmerman: Hillsdale (West Ottawa)