NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – The Best of the Midwest Combine returned to the Indianapolis area on Monday’s Presidents Day, with top prospects from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and even Canada making their way to the Indianapolis-area to showcase their skills.
This was the 15th year of the camp put on by Greg Brookey and his staff, an event that has been a showcase for the likes of Marshon Lattimore, Jaylon Smith, Denzel Ward, Aidan Hutchinson and Terry McLaurin in the past.
Who are the stars of today? 247Sports takes you inside the event.
The Alpha Dog
Indianapolis (Ind.) Lawrence Central 2026 quarterback Terry Walker III was a dart thrower. The rising junior was in rhythm with his pass catchers, he put a tight spin on the football, he had the right pace on his throws and was as accurate as anyone in the facility. The 6-foot-4, 178-pound Walker threw open his receiver in tight spots, and after showing nice fluidity during position footwork drills, he was consistent during 1-on-1s often times putting the ball only where his guy could make a play on it.
“Walker was the most consistent of the bunch, while also throwing with terrific accuracy and velocity,” 247Sports National Analyst Tom Loy said. He watched every quarterback, receiver, defensive back rep during 1-on-1s. “He took a ton of reps and put the ball where it needed to be on nearly every one. The lack of an offer under his name at this time remains surprising but that is absolutely going to change this fall if not sooner.”
The backup signal-caller as a sophomore, Walker appeared in five games completing 52 percent of his passes for 749 yards and five touchdowns to just two interceptions, playing against some of the state’s best competition. This camp performance shows he has the traits to make a huge jump as a junior, and as Loy alluded to, start landing scholarship opportunities.
Several schools do have Walker on the radar and he took recent visits to Indiana, Purdue and West Virginia. The Mountaineers program caught his eye.
“They had a lot of stuff outside of football that was interesting,” Walker said.
Curt Cignetti and the new Indiana staff is making a fast impression, calling them “enthusiastic.”
Purdue is the place Walker has been the most and says he has a “good connection” with Ryan Walters and company. Walker added his parents like the Boilermakers too.
Walker will make the rounds to camps this summer. Loy has video of his performance atop the article.
Next Five Offense
-With a combination of good feet, quickness and strong hands, Louisville offensive line commit 2025 Gradey Anthony controlled the point of attack, taking on speed rushers and bull rushers just the same winning the majority of his reps. At 6-foot-5, 271-pounds, Anthony is still developing physically but we like his athleticism at the position.
-Pataskala (Ohio) Watkins Memorial 2026 receiver Jaeden Ricketts ran a couple 4.4 40-yard dashes to get his day started, and the combination of speed and quickness made him a near impossible cover during 1-on-1s. He got open a variety of ways and had a productive afternoon. Bowling Green has offered with Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson and Georgia places he aims to camp at. The Boilermakers and Buckeyes have shown the most interest from that group.
-Somerset (Ky.) Pulaski County 2027 center prospect Brady Hull was tough, physical, strong, could bend and with that dominant during 1-on-1s. He also cruised through position drills and was one of the more exciting young prospects in attendance.
-Cincinnati (Ohio) Purcell Marian 2025 receiver Carlyun Neal was a problem with his shiftiness, easily creating space. He also tracked the ball well and showcased soft hands.
-Indianapolis (Ind.) Ben Davis 2025 all-purpose back Alijah Price torched linebackers in 1-on-1s showing why he was pivotal in helping lead his team to a state championship as a junior.
Top Five Defense
-Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban’s coveted 2026 cornerback Elbert Hill ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4, broad-jumped over 10-feet and in the few reps he did take in 1-on-1s broke up a pass and showed what he was capable of in coverage. Overall, the most talented prospect in the building. Ohio State and Penn State have impressed early with Hill having visited both several times. He’ll get back to Columbus for a spring practice. The new offer from Oregon is exciting and Texas could also get a visit this spring.
-Leo (Ind.) High’s 2025 cornerback Landin Hoeppner is one of the Hoosier State’s top two-way players and in this setting was outstanding in coverage. “Was as close to a completely lockdown corner as you’ll find,” Loy said. “He went against all the top receivers, ones that took home (MVP) and won the majority of his reps. Instinctive, technically-sound, tested well and turned it up a notch during the 1-on-1s.” Hopper had 21 pass breakups and five interceptions as a junior so no surprise he was terrific in this setting.
-Frankfort (Ky) Franklin County 2025 defensive end Luke Toothaker has blossomed from a lean tight end prospect to a bonafide Division-I edge player, a force rushing off the perimeter in this camp. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Toothaker has a Yale offer to date. He had 72 tackles including 17.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks as a junior.
-Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban 2026 linebacker Ace Brown held up well in coverage against both running backs and tight ends. A former tight end himself, he’s still getting comfortable as a second-level defender but he has exciting upside. Kentucky among others have offered.
-Remember the name Quinn Vanneste, a 2027 prospect out of Gridiron Academy in Canada who was a space eater at linebacker, a smooth cover guy with major closing burst. Had the look of a future FBS recruit.
Around the Facility
Carmel (Ind.) High edge rusher Uchenyo Ojata ran a 4.6 40-yard dash showing why he’s got a few schools coveting him at this point in the process. West Virginia is recruiting him the hardest and he’s looking forward to returning to Morgantown after a couple good experiences already.
There is a lot of excitement around Louisville (Ky.) Trinity freshman quarterback Zane Johnson who threw for 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns as a freshman en route to a championship. There were times when he was matching Walker throw for throw. Accurate with plenty of zip, Johnson will certainly be one of the nation’s most prolific passers in his class.
Mansfield (Ohio) High 2025 receiver Bodpegn Miller had one of the top broad jumps at the camp a 10-2, he laid down a low 4.4 40-yard dash and had some nice plays in 1-on-1s including getting behind the defense for an easy chunk play.
It was a nice tight end group including Louisville (Ky.) DuPont Manuel’s Cameron Jessee who is a two-way stud on Fridays that in this setting used his good size (6-2, 228) and burst to get open. Flora (Ind.) Carroll’s 2025 Brady Rhoad is a shifty tight end that also positioned himself well against the defense with his size (6-4, 215) and catch radius. Rhoad has a few offers. Mahomet (Ill.) Seymour’s Trey Peters had the highest upside of the group, exciting size (6-6, 205) he was raw but made several splash plays because of his length, speed and ability to drop his hips and change direction.
Other pass catchers that made plays included Fort Wayne (Ind.) Northrop’s Jerquaden Guilford, a big, explosive, sure-handed receiver and Fort Wayne (Ind.) Wayne’s Harold Mack who ran 4.5 today and is also a smooth route runner that caught the ball well. The camp staff really liked 2026 Jaiden VanPelt out of Fort Wayne (Ind.) Carroll.
Fort Wayne (Ind.) Bishop Luers defensive back Jaylen White has that coveted length at the position.
Dayton (Ohio) Chaminade Julienne 2026 Elijah Berman and Brentwood (Tenn.) Ravenwood 2025 Elliot Hampton impressed the camp coaches with their consistency during 1-on-1s. Berman is a powerful player on the interior.
Indianapolis (Ind.) Lawrence Central 2026 offensive lineman James Williams is a thick, powerful road-grader. Other offensive linemen that impressed were Isiah Stoudemire and Dustin Coldrey out of Canada, a 6-foot-5, 280-pound 2025 prospect college programs should try and get in camp.
Similar to Hoeppner, Maple Heights (Ohio) High cornerback Kindall Brown took on some of the top receivers in attendance and more than held his own, showing why he has several MAC opportunities early in his process. He is an exciting Nickel prospect.
Atherton (Ky) High 2025 Jeremiah Parker and Mississinewa (Ind.) High 2025 Jaxon Ott were two other standout linebackers. Ott could blossom into a defensive end when all said and done.
Dunlap (Ind.) Concord running back Jaron Thomas is a first off the bus type, one of the more impressive looking specimen’s at the event. He was dominant in 1-on-1s. Indianapolis (Ind.) Lawrence Central 2026 Caron Parks flashed a bunch as well.
Atherton (Ky.) High 2025 running back Michael Curry Jr. had a good day catching the football including postering a linebacker downfield.
Other eye-catchers included Fort Wayne (Ind.) Northrop 2026 quarterback David Callison, Versailles (Ky.) Woodford County 2025 quarterback Justus Jon Wertzler, Leo (Ind.) High 2026 quarterback Grayson Esguerra, Padua Franciscan running back Roderick Love, Fort Wayne (Ind.) Carroll 2026 Mason Baughman, Mundelein (Ill.) Carmel Catholic 2026 receiver Kai Owens, Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville 2025 receiver Layvon Reed, Indianapolis (Ind.) Cathedral 2026 receiver Jackson Harvey and Atherton (Ky.) High 2026 defensive back Quil-Shaun Baines.
247Sports Tom Loy and Mick Walker contributed to this report.
