SuperDraft

UConn, Maryland defenders lead the way in MLS Combine performance tests

2017 MLS Player Combine performance testing

CARSON, Calif. – A pair of players shone brightly in the performance tests at the 2017 adidas MLS Player Combine on Saturday, with UConn defender Jakob Nerwinski and Maryland defender Chris Odoi-Atsem finishing in the top five in the speed, agility and power tests at StubHub Center.


Nerwinski finished first in the speed test with a 3.87 second 30-meter dash, fourth in the agility test with a 4.25 5-10-5 shuttle run and second in the power test with a vertical leap of 34.5 inches. Odoi-Atsem performed similarly well, tying for fourth in the speed test with a 3.89 second 30-meter dash, placing third in agility with a 4.22 second shuttle run and winning the power test with a 36.5 inch vertical jump.


Boston College forward Zeiko Lewis and Colgate forward Ethan Kutler tied for first in the agility test with a 5-10-5 shuttle run time of 4.20 seconds. Other than Nerwinski and Odoi-Atsem, Kutler was the only player to finish in the top-10 in all three categories.


Syracuse defender and Generation adidas signeeMiles Robinson also impressed, finishing second in both the 30-meter dash (3.88 seconds) and vertical jump (34.5 inches). Other players who performed well on Saturday include New Mexico forward Niko Hansen, (8th in speed, T-11 in agility, 4th in power), Ghanaian youth international Dominic Oduro (6th in speed, 5th in agility, 11th in power) and USF forward Marcus Epps (10th in agility, 5th in power).


A total of 73 players were invited to the Combine, though two – Jeremy Ebobisse and Austin Ledbetter – did not participate in any of the performance tests.


Here are the top 10 finishers in each performance category:  


Speed Test (30-meter dash)

Name
School
Position
Time (seconds)
1. Jakob Nerwinski
UConn
D
3.87
2. Miles Robinson
Syracuse
D
3.88
Guillermo Delgado
Delaware
F
3.88
4. Zeiko Lewis
Boston College
F
3.89
Chris Odoi-Atsem
Maryland
D
3.89
6. Dominic Oduro
[Int'l Invitee]
D
3.90
Brian Wright
Vermont
F
3.90
8. Niko Hansen
New Mexico
F
3.91
9. Abu Danladi
UCLA
F
3.92
Ethan Kutler  
Colgate
F
3.92

Agility Test (5-10-5 shuttle)

Name
School
Position
Time (seconds)
1. Zeiko Lewis
Boston College
F
4.20
Ethan Kutler
Colgate
F
4.20
3. Chris Odoi-Atsem
Maryland
D
4.22
4. Jakob Nerwinski
UConn
D
4.25
5. Dominic Oduro
[Int'l Invitee]
D
4.28
6. Eddie Sanchez
Portland
M
4.30
7. Daniel Johnson
Louisville
M
4.31
8. Robby Sagel
Penn State
D
4.32
9. Julian Gressel
Providence
M
4.33
10. Marcus Epps
USF
F
4.34

Power Test (vertical jump)

Name
School
Position
Height (inches)
1. Chris Odoi-Atsem
Maryland
D
36.5
2. Miles Robinson
Syracuse
D
34.5
Jakob Nerwinski
UConn
D
34.5
4. Niko Hansen
New Mexico
F
33.5
5. Marcus Epps
USF
F
32.5
Nick Depuy
UCSB
F
32.5
Jonathan Lewis
Akron
M
32.5
8. Guillermo Delgado
Delaware
F
32
9. Aaron Jones
Clemson
D
31
Ethan Kutler
Colgate
F
31