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

Sam Stejskal

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 signee Miles 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