USC commits Barkley and Presley at USC Nike Camp, Tom Hauck

People might tell you differently, but the truth is Nike’s football camps are to college, as the NFL combine is to the pros. Okay, maybe it’s not that extreme. Nike is no longer allowed to test its athletes at the events. There’s no longer any 40-times or bench press at the events (Nike holds separate events for test scores). And although negative performance might not hurt you as badly as it would at the combine, a fantastic performance at a Nike camp could grab you the national attention, press and the scholarship offers that come along with it.

And at USC’s Nike Camp this past Sunday there were some very strong performances. Not surprisingly, it was the number, size and skill of the ’09 USC commits that seemed to leave the biggest impression.

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As reported on ESPN and LA Times’ Varsity Times Insider, this year’s USC Nike Camp looked more like a Trojan football orientation than anything else. It seemed every other athlete in camp attendance on Sunday was a Trojan commit. The future Trojans practicing drills included Mater Dei quarterback Matt Barkley, Agoura o-lineman Kevin Graf, Carson tight end Morrell Presley, Compton outside linebacker Chris Metcalf, Centennial inside linebacker Vontaze Burfict, St. Bonaventure athlete Patrick Hall and Dominguez’ outside linebacker Marquis Simmons.

Of those commits it was quarterback Matt Barkley, the projected number one overall for 2009, who shared the camp’s co-MVP with Mission Viejo quarterback Allan Bridgford. Future USC linebacker Vontaze Burfict was named the most outstanding linebacker at Nike. And as quoted on Varsity Times Insider “at least one event organizer considered Burfict the best linebacker he has seen at a workout this spring”. And that’s saying something, since the camp has already moved through defensive breeding grounds in Florida. And Tailback-U might just become Tight-end-U with all the high praise for Morrell Presley:

Presley demonstrated exceptional feet during the agility drills and was just as smooth running patterns. That ability, along with his soft hands, makes him one of the more athletic tight ends in high school football.

If the Nike camp is any indicator of performance in the college level, which I assure you it is, USC looks to be pretty well stocked through 2011.

To see more photos of USC Nike Camp 2008 via Rivals.