Ooltewah receivers T.J. Warren and Mikhail Creech went to the national invitation-only U.S. Army all-star combine for junior football prospects in San Antonio. They came away with a new outlook on the 2011 season and the time they have between now and the Owls’ opener on Aug. 19.
“They went out there not knowing what to expect,” Ooltewah coach Shannon Williams said. “I also think they realized while they’re not in the top 10 percent [nationally], they weren’t out of place. Their eyes were opened and [the experience] made them realize they have work to do.”
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Warren and the 6-3, 175-pound Creech are likely to play on both sides of the ball as seniors, and each is hoping for a better season than last. While the Owls went through a 2-8 season, Warren had concussion issues that limited his playing time and Creech broke his arm the second game of the year.
Although they missed much of 2010 and didn’t gain much notoriety because of the injuries, recruiters who passed through the school last spring got a look at them and linebacker Jay Rudwalll.
“On the hoof they look the part, and I think all three will cause a little more [college recruiter] traffic through here, but each is going to have to have some good film next fall,” said Williams, a former assistant at Arkansas-Monticello and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
“The trip was a fantastic experience, but it was an eye-opener for both of us,” Warren said. “I thought, ‘Hey, this is the best in the country,’ and to be able to hang with them was big for both of us. My spring and summer plans haven’t changed. The idea, though, is working and working hard. It’s continuous. I think our goal is to share with the team the work ethic that we saw [in San Antonio].”
Creech, who also plays basketball, said he liked the idea of competing against the best, and the trip afforded him that opportunity. He said he needs to take his work effort “to the next level.”
“I have seen what I’m up against,” Creech said, “and I need to work every day, play harder on the field every play and be a leader on the field.”
Baylor offensive tackle Barrett Gouger and Cleveland quarterback Chad Voytik also made the trip to the Army combine. Voytik also attended the Under Armour combine in Orlando, Fla., the previous week.
“He did well in both,” Cleveland coach E.K. Slaughter said, noting that Voytik had a 33.5-inch vertical [leap] and a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and that he bench-pressed 185 pounds 20 times.
Voytik missed part of the 2010 season with a finger fracture but has more than 200 letters or questionnaires from the likes of Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Pittsburgh, UCLA, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado and Nebraska.