ST. PETERS • Terek Hawkins was glad he decided to take part in the Star 33 High School Running Back Showcase.
"It's a really good event. If you missed this opportunity, I feel sorry for you," the St. Louis University High senior said. "It's worth coming out here to St. Charles and performing in front of everybody and showing everybody what you can do."
Hawkins showed what he could do by winning the MVP Beast Trophy at the event, which was Sunday morning at Gametime Sportsplex. The showcase was organized by former St. Louis Rams running back and kick returner Arlen Harris, who is now a strength and conditioning coach at CBC.
"I thought it went great considering it was the first year," said Harris, who also played for Detroit and Atlanta during a six-year NFL career. "Someone on the outside looking in might have thought we'd been doing it for a couple years. I think the kids had a great time. They came out and competed, and it was good to see all that talent under one roof."
The showcase was scheduled to have 33 of the top running backs in the area (Harris wore No. 33), but had just 32 because John Burroughs standout Ezekiel Elliott was under the weather and did not attend.
"We really wanted to see him come out and compete, but that's OK," Harris said.
Trinity coach Leon Hite, who had a pair of junior backs at the event in Marquis West and Jordan Barnes, was impressed with what he saw.
"The fact Arlen Harris is taking the time to do this is huge," Hite said. "It's something I think is good for St. Louis and good for the kids. I think preparing our kids for when they get out of the area is huge."
The showcase was broken down into two parts. One was the performance skills portion in which the backs ran the 40 and also tested their vertical jump, broad jump and pro agility. The other was an obstacle course in which the backs were tested in a variety of ways.
"It embodied some of the lateral movement, being able to catch, vision, being able to cut and different balance movements," Harris said of the course. "Those guys did a good job today."
One of the reasons Hawkins was awarded the MVP trophy was a strong showing in the performance skills portion.
"This was an opportunity to show everybody what I can do, and I came through," said Hawkins, a Washburn recruit who rushed for 1,311 yards and 18 touchdowns last fall. "It feels really good because I grew up with a lot of these guys as a young JFL player, and just to be known as the MVP of all these running backs is an honor."
Another standout was Kirkwood junior Ramon Alton, who had 1,177 yards and 17 TDs for a team that reached the Class 5 championship.
"The greatest part is I got to test my skills," said Alton, who has drawn interest from Ball State. "There were some (players) better, and there were some I beat. What it comes down to is you've got to set a P.R. for yourself and see where you're at mentally and physically."
Eureka senior Spencer Stein didn't win any awards but still found it worth his time.
"It was more fun than anything to get out here and meet all these guys that I've wanted to meet," said Stein, who rushed for 1,456 yards and 26 TDs and will be a preferred walk-on at Central Missouri. "Now that I'm a senior, I'm trying to get in as much football as possible before I leave, so this was a great experience. I felt like I could do better, but I'm actually pretty happy with some of my times. I grew as a player coming to this, finding out what I am and what I'm not."
The showcase got an extra boost with an appearance by Harris' friend and former Rams teammate Orlando Pace, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NFL draft.
"He's looking to possibly do some stuff with the linemen," Harris said. "We're just trying to bring things that aren't out there into this area. We can talk to them about the whys and the hows. We know what it takes. Some of these kids have such aspirations, and I just want to make sure they get seen."
And Harris knows of which he speaks. He was one of the top-rated players in the country coming out of high school before going on to play at Virginia and then Hofstra. That, combined with his NFL experience, seemed to resonate with those in attendance.
"When I came out, I was No. 3 in the country," Harris said. "At first, I wasn't really big on saying it, but I think it really hits home with those guys because you're not just competing with guys in your neighborhood, your district and your area, it's every kid across the nation trying to beat you for a position to get a college scholarship."
