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Nike SPARQ combine rankings from The Opening 2014, topped by Kirk Merritt

Want to know who are the best athletes in the 2015 college football recruiting cycle? Here are the answers.

The best high school football players are at Nike's The Opening in Oregon this week, and the attendees just finished their SPARQ testing. The Opening's Twitter account has the top 10 scores (pending the Tuesday night championship competition between these 10 athletes). [Update: And we've added the full breakdown of scores below, via Student Sports.]

The SPARQ test, developed by Nike, accounts for a player's weight (to normalize results), 40-yard dash time, 5-10-5 test, kneeling powerball toss, and vertical jump. SPARQ shows how quick athletes are for their size and speed, and it also measures explosiveness, power and agility. For reference, a score above 130 puts an athlete in an incredibly elite group:

Every year, Nike holds SPARQ Combines across America in various cities, inviting high school athletes to come out and "get tested". About 1,000-1,500 athletes visit these events per city, and the highest rated athletes attend a final combine in Beaverton, Oregon (deep in Nike territory). The highest SPARQ scores per year, after tens of thousands of athletes are measured, are in the 130 to 150 range. At some camps, only a handful of players score above 100.

Here's a closer look at this year's pre-championship top five:

  1. Kirk Merritt is a four-star all-purpose back/wide receiver from Destrehan, Louisiana. He is uncommitted and has offers from LSU, Texas A&M, Alabama and Oregon, among others. Right now, 247's Crystal Ball predictions have him landing at either LSU or Texas A&M.
  2. A five-star linebacker from Mesquite, Texas, Malik Jefferson ran an incredible 4.39-second 40-yard dash as part of his SPARQ test. That would be the fastest 40 by a front-seven defender at the NFL Combine since 2006. The fact that he can run that fast at 6'2, 255 pounds really isn't fair. He has an impressive offer list, and the 247 Crystal Ball predicts he will land at Texas A&M.
  3. Clemson commit Chad Smith was named the MVP at the Washington, D.C., Rivals camp this spring, and while he is only considered a three-star recruit according to the 247 Composite ratings, he has some impressive physical tools at 6'3, 200 pounds.
  4. A native of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Tyler Phillips recorded what was, at that point, the nation's best SPARQ score earlier this year at the Nike Camp in Arlington, Texas, beating out Merritt's previous time. A great athlete, his only offer right now is from Ouachita Baptist, but that could change after another great performance.
  5. The second overall prospect in the nation, defensive end recruit Josh Sweat ran a 4.46-second forty-yard dash at The Opening — all 6'4, 230 pounds of him. That's an incredible time for a player his size, and it was enough to put him in the top five at the camp. He has a massive offer list, with Ohio State, Florida State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Georgia all in the mix.

First Last Pos Year Team HT WT 40 20 KPB VJ SPARQ
Kirk Merritt WR 2015 Vapor Carbon 5-11.0 203 4.43 4.06 41.0 45.5 147.60
Malik Jefferson LB 2015 Apocalypse 6-2.5 215 4.39 4.19 42.0 39.7 145.65
Chad Smith LB 2015 Land Sharks 6-3.5 213 4.69 4.00 42.0 39.7 140.97
Tyler Phillips DB 2015 Apocalypse 6-1.5 208 4.73 3.94 42.5 41.6 140.34
Josh Sweat DL 2015 Alpha Pro 6-4.5 240 4.46 4.25 47.0 39.1 140.01
C.J. Sanders WR 2015 Mach Speed 5-8.5 175 4.32 3.80 39.0 38.6 139.26
Taj Griffin RB 2015 Alpha Pro 5-9.5 169 4.31 3.97 32.0 45.8 136.56
K.J. Hill WR 2015 Land Sharks 6-1.0 192 4.65 3.88 40.0 40.1 133.95
Porter Gustin LB 2015 Apocalypse 6-4.0 238 4.63 4.13 44.0 34.0 130.44
Minkah Fitzpatrick DB 2015 Mach Speed 6-1.0 194 4.51 3.81 39.5 35.7 130.41
Bryce Love RB 2015 Fly Rush 5-10.0 180 4.47 3.90 40.0 36.9 129.75
Christian Kirk WR 2015 Vapor Carbon 5-10.0 191 4.47 4.25 41.5 39.0 129.30
Justin Dunning DB 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-3.5 204 4.59 4.19 41.0 38.9 129.00
Damien Harris RB 2015 Apocalypse 5-10.0 208 4.48 4.00 35.5 37.9 126.93
Justin Hilliard LB 2015 Land Sharks 6-0.0 225 4.72 4.21 42.0 37.1 126.57
Marvell Tell DB 2015 Mach Speed 6-2.0 184 4.55 4.19 41.0 39.3 125.16
Shaun Crawford DB 2015 Mach Speed 5-8.5 170 4.48 3.94 38.0 38.8 124.80
Derwin James DB 2015 Mach Speed 6-1.5 200 4.50 4.21 41.0 35.8 124.35
Alize Jones TE 2015 Fly Rush 6-5.0 220 4.67 4.03 37.5 37.1 123.75
Brandon Wimbush QB 2015 Elite 11 6-1.0 212 4.62 4.09 44.0 32.7 123.03
George Campbell WR 2015 Alpha Pro 6-3.0 190 4.36 4.34 39.0 39.0 122.70
Jordan Scarlett RB 2015 Land Sharks 5-10.5 207 4.30 4.31 35.0 38.1 121.71
Ryan Newsome WR 2015 Alpha Pro 5-8.0 168 4.50 4.07 40.0 37.3 120.63
Stephen Johnson DB 2015 Fly Rush 5-10.5 187 4.37 4.09 36.5 35.2 119.94
Mark Fields Ii DB 2015 Apocalypse 5-10.0 175 4.33 4.19 37.0 37.4 119.37
Jacques Patrick RB 2015 Apocalypse 6-1.5 231 4.66 4.25 41.0 32.8 118.44
Saquon Barkley RB 2015 Vapor Carbon 5-11.0 208 4.63 4.06 35.0 38.0 116.79
Kemah Siverand WR 2015 Land Sharks 6-1.0 187 4.47 4.19 38.0 36.8 116.34
Neville Gallimore DL 2015 Fly Rush 6-3.0 311 4.96 4.40 42.5 28.4 116.31
Byron Cowart DL 2015 Fly Rush 6-3.5 258 4.89 4.56 41.5 34.1 113.34
Austin Bryant DL 2015 Land Sharks 6-4.0 249 4.99 4.31 41.0 32.3 109.80
Rashan Gary DL 2016 Vapor Carbon 6-4.0 287 4.74 4.38 36.0 32.1 109.17
Ja Mycal Hasty RB 2015 Mach Speed 5-9.0 185 4.47 4.22 36.0 36.0 108.93
Osa Masina LB 2015 Alpha Pro 6-4.0 233 4.81 4.18 40.0 30.9 108.60
Preston Williams WR 2015 Mach Speed 6-4.0 192 4.60 4.22 39.5 33.7 108.39
Jashon Cornell DL 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-3.0 263 4.76 4.50 40.5 30.0 107.61
Deionte Thompson DB 2015 Land Sharks 6-1.0 175 4.77 3.98 37.0 35.8 107.40
P.J. Mbanasor DB 2015 Land Sharks 6-1.0 183 4.64 4.09 32.5 39.7 107.04
Torrance Gibson QB 2015 Alpha Pro 6-3.5 207 4.47 4.38 38.0 32.5 107.01
Justin Reid DB 2015 Apocalypse 6-0.0 193 4.64 4.32 35.0 40.1 106.74
Adonis Thomas LB 2015 Mach Speed 6-3.0 219 4.61 4.65 40.5 34.5 106.47
Rasheem Green DL 2015 Apocalypse 6-4.5 290 4.94 4.62 40.0 33.4 104.43
Noah Green OL 2015 Alpha Pro 6-4.0 274 5.08 4.50 40.5 31.1 104.28
Soso Jamabo RB 2015 Land Sharks 6-2.5 203 4.61 4.28 37.5 33.1 103.59
Terry Godwin WR 2015 Fly Rush 5-11.0 165 4.60 4.15 37.5 34.4 103.17
Donte Jackson DB 2015 Land Sharks 5-10.0 165 4.47 4.19 34.0 35.7 102.45
Derrick Dillon WR 2015 Alpha Pro 5-11.0 169 4.41 4.19 29.5 38.1 101.94
Quarte Sapp LB 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-1.5 200 4.76 4.44 38.0 38.0 101.43
Kahlil Mc Kenzie DL 2015 Alpha Pro 6-3.5 341 5.27 4.75 42.5 26.8 101.04
Arthur Mc Ginnis LB 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-2.5 226 4.77 4.31 39.5 30.1 100.47
Jordan Cronkrite RB 2015 Vapor Carbon 5-10.0 196 4.58 4.28 33.5 35.8 100.44
Jerry Tillery OL 2015 Alpha Pro 6-5.5 317 5.17 4.53 39.5 28.2 100.14
Deontay Anderson DB 2016 Land Sharks 6-1.0 191 4.79 4.03 33.0 35.4 99.93
Darrin Kirkland LB 2015 Fly Rush 6-1.5 228 4.80 4.21 37.0 30.6 99.33
Keenan Walker OL 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-5.0 282 5.11 4.31 40.0 26.4 99.27
Will Sunderland DB 2015 Alpha Pro 6-2.0 190 4.58 4.29 38.0 30.8 99.09
Deddrick Thomas WR 2015 Apocalypse 5-9.0 170 4.55 4.25 35.0 35.5 99.06
Kevin Toliver DB 2015 Land Sharks 6-1.0 193 4.61 4.25 32.0 37.1 99.03
Chuma Edoga OL 2015 Fly Rush 6-3.0 283 4.91 4.53 36.0 35.0 98.85
Natrez Patrick DL 2015 Mach Speed 6-3.5 254 4.96 4.59 41.0 30.3 98.76
Sheriron Jones QB 2015 Elite 11 6-2.0 188 4.71 4.40 36.0 38.9 98.70
Javon Patterson OL 2015 Land Sharks 6-3.0 313 5.06 4.44 39.0 24.4 98.61
Jackson Harris TE 2015 Land Sharks 6-5.5 245 4.90 4.40 38.0 31.8 97.98
Jarrett Stidham QB 2015 Elite 11 6-2.5 185 4.74 4.31 38.0 34.4 97.26
Roquan Smith LB 2015 Fly Rush 6-1.0 203 4.55 4.29 31.0 35.3 97.20
Tyrek Cole DB 2015 Fly Rush 5-11.0 168 4.61 4.34 36.0 37.1 97.20
Josh Rosen QB 2015 Elite 11 6-3.5 206 4.99 4.25 40.0 32.0 96.90
Duke Shelley DB 2015 Vapor Carbon 5-9.0 163 4.64 4.34 37.0 36.6 96.51
Andre James OL 2015 Land Sharks 6-4.5 278 5.34 4.69 44.0 29.0 95.73
Montrell Custis DB 2015 Land Sharks 5-11.0 170 4.59 4.29 34.5 35.1 94.41
Mitch Hyatt OL 2015 Mach Speed 6-5.0 274 5.38 4.59 43.0 28.3 94.11
Holton Hill DB 2015 Mach Speed 6-3.0 180 4.62 4.28 32.0 36.4 93.78
A.J. Turner RB 2015 Alpha Pro 5-10.0 181 4.59 4.22 31.0 35.3 93.39
Calvin Ridley WR 2015 Apocalypse 6-0.0 169 4.54 4.15 32.0 32.0 92.70
Tarvarus Mc Fadden DB 2015 Alpha Pro 6-2.0 198 4.60 4.34 33.5 32.0 91.86
Calvin Brewton DB 2015 Fly Rush 5-11.0 173 4.66 4.19 33.5 33.1 91.56
Jonathan Ledbetter DL 2015 Fly Rush 6-3.5 276 5.04 4.69 40.0 28.0 91.47
De Andre Johnson QB 2015 Elite 11 6-0.0 173 4.67 4.37 36.5 32.9 90.00
Daylon Mack DL 2015 Land Sharks 6-1.0 330 4.98 4.81 35.0 28.1 89.25
Mark Walton RB 2015 Alpha Pro 5-9.0 182 4.63 4.34 35.0 31.3 88.86
Lester Cotton OL 2015 Apocalypse 6-4.0 328 5.39 5.03 43.5 22.0 88.71
C.J. Conrad TE 2015 Alpha Pro 6-4.0 225 4.93 4.38 35.0 32.8 88.68
Drew Lock QB 2015 Elite 11 6-4.0 204 4.84 4.35 36.5 31.3 88.38
Jovon Durante WR 2015 Mach Speed 5-11.0 158 4.50 4.50 35.0 34.0 88.17
Jaquan Johnson DB 2015 Alpha Pro 5-10.0 182 4.75 4.28 34.0 33.0 87.78
Daron Payne DL 2015 Apocalypse 6-2.0 348 5.29 5.09 39.0 26.6 87.12
Larry Pryor DB 2015 Vapor Carbon 5-11.5 196 4.76 4.28 35.0 29.9 86.91
Michael Barnett DL 2015 Apocalypse 6-4.5 251 5.11 4.69 40.5 28.0 86.88
Dru Samia OL 2015 Mach Speed 6-6.0 295 5.48 4.94 41.5 25.6 86.70
Nick Brossette RB 2015 Vapor Carbon 5-11.0 209 4.77 4.43 34.0 32.4 86.46
Da Vante Phillips WR 2015 Mach Speed 6-1.0 202 4.60 4.56 35.0 30.7 86.10
Quarvez Boulware OL 2015 Mach Speed 6-2.5 284 5.54 4.63 41.0 24.6 85.80
Ryan Brand QB 2015 Elite 11 5-8.5 189 4.89 4.34 37.0 31.0 84.75
Keisean Lucier South DL 2015 Land Sharks 6-4.0 211 4.81 4.19 31.0 29.8 84.39
Drew Richmond OL 2015 Fly Rush 6-5.5 320 5.44 4.97 40.5 22.4 83.85
Brady White QB 2015 Elite 11 6-1.5 180 4.80 4.38 36.0 32.1 83.82
Brian Lewerke QB 2015 Elite 11 6-2.5 192 4.71 4.44 33.5 31.1 81.75
Martez Ivey OL 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-6.0 271 5.27 4.66 34.5 29.3 78.15
Ben Hicks QB 2015 Elite 11 6-1.0 194 5.05 4.29 37.0 27.3 77.85
Chauncey Rivers DL 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-1.5 252 5.09 4.56 37.0 25.1 77.04
Tristen Hoge OL 2015 Mach Speed 6-4.5 291 5.15 4.78 35.0 25.8 76.74
Kendell Jones DL 2015 Land Sharks 6-4.0 248 5.28 4.69 37.0 29.4 76.44
Terry Beckner DL 2015 Mach Speed 6-3.5 298 5.26 4.84 37.5 23.6 76.35
Tim Settle DL 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-2.0 339 5.35 5.06 31.5 23.6 73.17
Sam Darnold QB 2015 Elite 11 6-3.5 202 4.96 4.47 35.0 26.9 71.25
Dallas Warmack OL 2015 Fly Rush 6-1.0 301 5.64 5.00 36.0 22.8 66.27
Richie Petitbon OL 2015 Land Sharks 6-4.0 313 5.57 4.87 35.0 20.3 65.49
Darryl Williams OL 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-1.5 312 5.79 5.03 31.5 22.0 58.41
Adam Mc Lean DL 2015 Alpha Pro 6-1.0 293
Alex Malzone QB 2015 Elite 11 6-1.0 203 4.50 35.5 27.3
Auden Tate WR 2015 Mach Speed 6-4.5 206 4.31 36.0 30.8
Ben Humphreys LB 2015 Mach Speed 6-1.0 201
Blake Barnett QB 2015 Elite 11 6-4.5 200 4.41 37.0
Breiden Fehoko DL 2015 Mach Speed 6-2.5 290
Cameron Smith LB 2015 Mach Speed 6-2.5 235
Cecil Cherry LB 2015 Alpha Pro 6-0.0 230 4.53 35.5 29.0
Cordell Broadus WR 2015 Alpha Pro 6-2.5 192
Da Markus Lodge WR 2015 Fly Rush
Darius Slayton DB 2015 Alpha Pro 6-1.0 180 4.06 32.0 36.7
Dechaun Holiday DB 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-2.5 208
Deon Cain WR 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-1.0 187 4.19 32.0 32.3
Deondre Farrier WR 2015 Apocalypse 6-0.0 175 4.12 31.0 33.7
Deondre Francois QB 2015 Elite 11 6-1.5 193
Desean Holmes WR 2015 Apocalypse 5-9.0 151
Dexter Williams RB 2015 Fly Rush 5-11.0 195
Equanimeous St. Brown WR 2015 Apocalypse 6-5.0 191
Frank Buncom DB 2015 Apocalypse 6-1.0 188
Fred Ulu Perry Jr. OL 2015 Apocalypse 6-2.5 295 4.75 43.5 26.8
Iman Marshall DB 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-2.0 195
Isaiah Langley DB 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-0.0 165
Jaylon Lane DB 2015 Apocalypse 6-1.5 172 4.35 30.0 34.0
John Burt WR 2015 Land Sharks 6-2.5 180 4.00 36.5 36.3
John Houston Jr. LB 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-3.5 207
Jordan Davis TE 2015 Apocalypse 6-4.5 254 4.41 43.0 30.3
Josh Mc Millon LB 2015 Apocalypse 6-3.0 239
Josh Smith LB 2015 Fly Rush 6-3.5 220 4.31 32.0 27.1
Juwan Johnson WR 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-4.5 212 38.5 31.3
Kendall Sheffield DB 2015 Fly Rush 6-0.0 181
Kendrell Mc Fadden DB 2015 Fly Rush 6-2.0 189 4.50 35.0 32.7
Kris Boyd DB 2015 Fly Rush 6-0.0 181
Kyler Murray QB 2015 Elite 11 5-10.0 178
Lawrence Cager WR 2015 Fly Rush 6-4.5 195 3.94 35.0 39.1
Levonta Taylor DB 2016 Mach Speed
Maea Teuhema OL 2015 Alpha Pro 6-5.0 346
Marcus Lewis DB 2015 Land Sharks
Matt Burrell Jr. OL 2015 Apocalypse 6-4.0 291
Mike Weber RB 2015 Mach Speed 5-9.0 210
Mook Reynolds DB 2015 Apocalypse 5-11.0 171
Ray Ray Mc Cloud Iii RB 2015 Mach Speed 5-9.0 174
Ricky Town QB 2015 Elite 11 6-3.0 202
Rico Mc Graw DB 2015 Alpha Pro 5-11.0 200
Ross Bowers QB 2015 Elite 11 6-1.0 175 4.28 30.8
Shawn Burgess Becker WR 2015 Land Sharks 6-0.0 200
Sherrod Pittman LB 2015 Land Sharks 6-0.5 220
Te Von Coney LB 2015 Alpha Pro 6-1.0 222
Tommy Hatton OL 2015 Fly Rush 6-2.0 278
Travis Waller QB 2015 Elite 11 6-3.0 194
Trent Irwin WR 2015 Fly Rush 6-2.0 191
Tyler Green DB 2015 Alpha Pro 6-2.5 180 4.06 36.0 34.0
Tyron Johnson WR 2015 Land Sharks 6-0.5 185
Van Jefferson WR 2015 Fly Rush 6-2.5 172 3.97 33.0 30.1
Will Gragg TE 2015 Vapor Carbon 6-4.0 252
Xavier Lewis DB 2015 Apocalypse 5-11.5 180