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Union impresses at All-State Football Combine
Originally posted April 23, 2012
Union athletes impress at All-State Football Combine
BY KELLY HINESTulsa World Sports Writer
(Reprinted with Permission. This is not an endorsement.)
The most interesting fact about Union's 2012 senior class that won four Class 6A state championships is none of the players signed with a Division I school.
The same won't be true for the Class of 2013, which has three state titles and will contend for another when the season kicks off against rival Jenks on Aug. 31.
Several Redskins were among the players who shined at Saturday morning's OkVarsity.com All-State Football Combine at Broken Arrow High School. Results of the combine are sent to football programs throughout the region.
Level-headed playmaker Hunter Atyia, a quarterback being recruited as an athlete or receiver, recorded some of his best times, including 4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 4.3 in the shuttle. He also had a 31-inch vertical.
"I'm not the slowest guy out here, but I'm not the fastest," he said. "I just wanted to come out and compete."
At 5 feet, 9 inches and 170 pounds, Atyia has drawn interest from several D-I schools because of his athleticism and versatility. As a sophomore in 2010, he filled in at quarterback but also was used at receiver, defensive back, kicker and kick returner.
"I love playing quarterback, but I'm just playing where my team needs me right now," he said. "If they need me to go to corner, I'll go to corner. I'll do whatever."
Tulsa is one of the schools looking at Atyia, and the proximity to home brings major appeal.
"They're probably number one on my list right now," he said. "All my family's here and they can drive 15 minutes to come watch a ballgame."
Teammate Peter Udoumoh put up perhaps the most impressive number of the day - a 40-inch vertical.
"It was normal," he said. "I do that all the time in practice. I was just ready to try and see what I can do.
"I wanted to see where I was at compared to other athletes in Oklahoma."
Udoumoh, 6-1, 185 pounds, was moved to receiver last season and will have more of an impact in the fall, coach Kirk Fridrich said. Oklahoma State and Tulsa have expressed an interest, and Udoumoh plans to attend Oklahoma's camp this summer.
Other Union players who did not attend the combine are among the state's top recruits for 2013. Three-star prospects include defensive end Dalton Rodriguez, whose eight offers include OSU and TU, fullback Chris Hall, who also has an offer from TU, and offensive lineman Blake Mejia.
Defensive back Chase Dahlquist, wideout Kahlil Barnett and running back Kendall Holmes also are being recruited by D-I schools.
The Redskins' seniors may be trying to figure out their next destinations, but they aren't ready to look past this fall.
"I want to go play college ball, but first I have to win another state championship," Atyia said. "Hopefully (everything else) will take care of itself."
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