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2012 NFTC Video Trailer

Sights and sounds, plus what to expect on the 2012 NFTC tour.Tags: ESPNHS, Football, Boys Football, Football Recruiting, NFTC

2012 NFTC Video Trailer

Nike Football Training Camp FAQs

Here are the most frequently asked questions from the Nike Football Training Camp tour.

The 12 stops for the 2012 Nike Football Training Camp tour will run from March to to June. The schedule for the tour can be found on the event homepage.

Important Note: There is no testing (40-yard dash, vertical jump, etc.) at the Nike Football Training Camps due to NCAA legislation passed five years ago. Any player attending a Nike Camp will need to go to a Nike Football Combine first if they want to be tested and get a SPARQ Rating. Information on the 2012 Nike Football SPARQ Combines, including online registration, can be found here.

Do you have questions about the 2012 tour? We have answers.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions concerning the Nike Football Training Camp tour.

Q: Who attends the Nike Football Training Camps and what is their purpose?

A: The NFTCs are designed to help elite high school players with college potential advance their football and training knowledge in order to maximize their ability. Participants are taught position-specific and athletic performance drills designed by some of the top NFL football players and sports performance specialists in America, and it is all FREE for the athletes. The players will have an opportunity to work with SPARQ Trainers that have molded stars such as Chris Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Derrick Brooks, Tim Tebow and many more. In addition, top performers will have a chance to qualify for a spot at "The Opening", Nike's four days of dynamic competition for the country's most elite high school football prospects in July.

Q: How does a player get registered to attend a NFTC?

A: The NFTCs are free but space is limited in order to maximize the experience for all involved. Registration information is sent out to top players/recruits who are in the Class of 2013 as well as top underclassmen. Players can be recommended by their coach as a high level recruit to pre-register for the camp. If a recommendation is not possible then a player may send in a five-minute video highlight DVD so he can be evaluated. A third way to get registered is to test well at a Nike Football SPARQ Combine.

Coaches can send in recommendations as soon as the season is complete; please include 2011 statistics, height, weight, position, honors/accolades, etc. with DVD highlights if possible.

For more information regarding the 2012 NFTCs, if you are a coach recommending a player or wanting to work the camp, or to submit an all-state or all-area team with nominees on it, please contact:

Brian Stumpf - National (brian.stumpf@espn.com)
Kynon Codrington - Southeast (kynon.codrington@espn.com)
Michael White  Midwest/Northeast (michael.white@espn.com)
Nick Ekbatani  Linemen (nick.ekbatani@espn.com)

ESPNHS Attn: Nike Camps
23954 Madison St.
Torrance CA 90505

Q: What exactly happens at an NFTC?

A: Athletes who come to the NFTC will register, where they will pick up their NFTC Nike Pro jersey, and get their photo taken. After height and weight are measured, the NFTC is broken down into four parts:

1. SPARQ training: After a proper, supervised "dynamic warmup," SPARQ trainers work participants through specific drills designed to improve athletic ability, speed and explosiveness. Here, athletes have the opportunity to tap into the secrets of proper workouts that have helped players make it to the NFL, including cone and ladder drills. This period educates participants on how to improve football-specific speed, agility and quickness movements, and also how to train specifically for the needs and requirements of their individual positions.

2. Position specific drills: Participants are separated into position groups (QBs, RBs, WR/TEs, OLs, DLs, LBs and DBs) to work individually on football skills and techniques with top-notch position coaches with college and NFL experience.

3. Position competitions: The offensive line and defensive line come together for a Lineman Challenge, while the QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, LBs and DBs participate in half-field, 3-on-4 passing drills.

4. One-on-ones: The NFTC concludes with one-on-one passing and line drills, which many say are the highlight of the camp.

Q: Are there other benefits?

A: Definitely. The NFTC provide the best opportunity for national exposure that a camp can offer. Reports on the top performers in drills are delivered each week to Division I college football programs all over the nation. Video and action photos for ESPN and other national media will be taken. Participants will also be part of the in-depth coverage on ESPN.com and ESPNU, as well as other top recruiting websites. Also the Nike Football Training Camp is a great opportunity to be evaluated and potentially qualify for ESPNHS' many elite events that take place later in the summer such as the "The Opening" and Elite 11.

Q: Can a bad performance at the NFTC hurt my stock?

A: No, definitely not. The NFTC is about getting better and competing. Participants DO NOT test! This is not a combine -- doing the 40s, bench, etc. is not a part of the event.

Bottom line, this is a top-of-the-line, well-organized event that top players can come to compete with and learn from the best. Don't let someone tell you not to go to a NFTC without calling us at 800-660-1334 to put your concerns to rest, as there is a lot of misinformation out there and it's important to go to the source with questions. ESPNHS always places your best interests first.

Q: I've heard one benefit of the camp is seeing and competing with other great players. Is that true?

A: Yes, the camps are known for the quality of football players they attract and one benefit to you will be seeing how you rate with your peers. Consider these numbers:

- Every year, about one of every three NFTC attendees signs with a D-I college, and this past year, 47 percent of high school seniors who signed a football scholarship attended a NFTC.

-The consensus No. 1 player in six of the past nine classes  Florida's Ronald Powell (Class of '10), USC's Matt Barkley (Class of '09), New York Jet Joe McKnight (Class of '07), Tennessee Titan Myron Rolle (Class of '06), Detroit Lion Derrick Williams (Class of '05) and Indianapolis Colt Ernie Sims (Class of '03) felt it important enough to attend one of the NFTCs.

- Every top college football program evaluates and signs recruits who come to NFTCs: for example, every one of the 120 Division I college football programs currently has a NFTC alum on the roster. Also, in the past, major programs like Oklahoma, USC, Florida and Ohio State have signed more than a dozen NFTC attendees in one class!

-Here's a look at some of the biggest names from the NFTC's past. Current NFTC alums in the NFL:

LB Lance Briggs (Bears)
QB Jay Cutler (Bears)
RB Matt Forte (Bears)
WR Devin Hester (Bears)
WR A.J. Green (Bengals)
CB Leon Hall (Bengals)
LB Rey Maualuga (Bengals)
LB Keith Rivers (Bengals)
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bills)
WR Steve Johnson (Bills)
DE Elvis Dumervil (Broncos)
RB Willis McGahee (Broncos)
LB Von Miller (Broncos)
QB Tim Tebow (Broncos)
LB D.J. Williams (Broncos)
DB Joe Haden (Browns)
RB Peyton Hillis (Browns)
WR Greg Little (Browns)
OL Alex Mack (Browns)
QB Colt McCoy (Browns)
WR Arrelious Benn (Buccaneers)
DE Adrian Clayborn (Buccaneers)
LB Mason Foster (Buccaneers)
QB Josh Freeman (Buccaneers)
DT Gerald McCoy (Buccaneers)
DT Darnell Dockett (Cardinals)
WR Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
RB Ryan Mathews (Chargers)
OL Marcus McNeil (Chargers)
RB Mike Tolbert (Chargers)
DB Eric Weddle (Chargers)
DB Eric Berry (Chiefs)
QB Matt Cassel (Chiefs)
WR Austin Collie (Colts)
RB Felix Jones (Cowboys)
RB Demarco Murray (Cowboys)
OL Tyron Smith (Cowboys)
LB Kevin Burnett (Dolphins)
CB Vontae Davis (Dolphins)
OL Mike Pouncey (Dolphins)
RB LeSean McCoy (Eagles)
WR Desean Jackson (Eagles)
QB Vince Young (Eagles)
WR Julio Jones (Falcons)
DB Antrel Rolle (Giants)
LB NaVorro Bowman (49ers)
LB Ahmad Brooks (49ers)
OL Anthony Davis (49ers)
DB Dashon Goldson (49ers)
LB Aldon Smith (49ers)
QB Blaine Gabbert (Jaguars)
TE Marcedes Lewis (Jaguars)
OL Eugene Monroe (Jaguars)
LB Paul Posluszny (Jaguars)
WR Santonio Holmes (Jets)
TE Dustin Keller (Jets)
QB Mark Sanchez (Jets)
DT Nick Fairley (Lions)
DT Ndamukong Suh (Lions)
WR Titus Young (Lions)
LB Desmond Bishop (Packers)
DB Morgan Burnett (Packers)
LB Clay Matthews (Packers)
LB Jon Beason (Panthers)
OL Ryan Kalil (Panthers)
QB Cam Newton (Panthers)
RB Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)
DB Patrick Chung (Patriots)
RB Steven Ridley (Patriots)
DT Vince Wilfork (Patriots)
DE Lamar Houston (Raiders)
RB Darren McFadden (Raiders)
QB Carson Palmer (Raiders)
WR Brandon Lloyd (Rams)
DT Haloti Ngata (Ravens)
RB Ray Rice (Ravens)
WR Torrey Smith (Ravens)
TE Fred Davis (Redskins)
LB Ryan Kerrigan (Redskins)
LB Brian Orakpo (Redskins)
DE Cameron Jordan (Saints)
LB Jonathan Vilma (Saints)
OL James Carpenter (Seahawks)
RB Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks)
DT Brandon Mebane (Seahawks)
TE Zach Miller (Seahawks)
WR Sidney Rice (Seahawks)
OL Maurkice Pouncey (Steelers)
LB Lawrence Timmons (Steelers)
WR Mike Wallace (Steelers)
LB LaMarr Woodley (Steelers)
TE Owen Daniels (Texans)
WR Andre Johnson (Texans)
QB Matt Leinart (Texans)
LB Brooks Reed (Texans)
RB Ben Tate (Texans)
LB Akeem Ayers (Titans)
DB Michael Griffin (Titans)
LB Chad Greenway (Vikings)

Over 300 NFTC alums currently dot NFL rosters, and that number is sure to grow in the next six months as current college stars that attended a Nike Camp complete their senior seasons and get ready for the NFL Draft.

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