Cadets lead at combine
National Combine participants huddle around Atom Young, a Cadet with The Citadel, as they look over performance stats among those in a group overseen by Young. Young was among several Army ROTC Cadets serving as marshals for the event.
By Steve Arel
U.S. Army Cadet Command
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Much of the responsibility for ensuring the country’s top high school football underclassmen — all 500 of them — are where they’re supposed to be while at the National Combine rests with Army ROTC.
A little more than a dozen select Cadets are spending the weekend serving as marshals for the event, shepherding prospective collegiate talent and sharing insight about opportunities in the Army through ROTC.
The three-day scouting showcase at the Alamodome, considered one of the nation’s top draws for underclassmen looking to catch the eyes of collegiate recruiters, is a welcome opportunity for the Cadets themselves to serve in a different capacity away from their campuses.
“This is different than any other training I’ve done,” said Naikeya Heath of Florida State University, shuttling students Friday to positions for the 40-yard dash on the stadium field. “This beats being out in the woods.
“It’s exciting to see all these kids out here trying to fulfill their dreams. I’m excited for them.”
The Cadets, two from each of U.S. Army Cadet Command’s eight brigades, were chosen to be part of the combine. Selections were based on recommendations from the professors of military science at their respective programs.
Paul White, a former football player at Boston College and current ROTC Cadet, speaks to students at Friday's National Combine. White commissions this spring from the University of Chicago.
Each Cadet was responsible for roughly 20 students. As the participants went through each station, including the 40-yard dash, shuttle run and vertical leap, the Cadets jotted down their scores.
Paul White, a Cadet attending the University of Chicago who commissions this spring, spoke to the participants about the need to focus on exhibiting athleticism, motivation and discipline in their lives and to consider career opportunities outside of football in the event they don’t play professionally.
White dreamed of an NFL career and had earned a collegiate scholarship until he separated his shoulder during his senior season in high school, and he ended up losing the scholarship. White wound up making the Boston College squad as a walk-on as a freshman, playing until he separated his shoulder again.
After making the team again as a walk-on sophomore, his season was cut short when he broke his wrist.
At that point, White found himself at a crossroads: continue to pursue a football career or go pro in something else. He picked to the path to become an Army officer and accepted an ROTC scholarship.
“Those nine hours a day I used to put in the locker room I put into my studies,” White said.
Through ROTC, he has been able to study overseas and will receive his master’s degree as he commissions — and with no college debt.
“The stuff I’m doing, the stuff the Army is giving me a chance to do, I can’t tell you how fulfilling that is,” said White, adding that the players ought to have a backup plan for their future.
“There are only so many (football) scholarships out there.”
But a number of participants in this year’s combine are likely to receive those scholarships. Just ask some of the Cadet marshals.
“These are a bunch of talented athletes,” said Atom Young of The Citadel. “I’ll remember a lot of these names, especially if they go onto the NFL. I’m not going to forget this.”
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