Landon Lengfelder

Landon Lengfelder — a Powell High School junior who quarterbacked the Panther football team last season — was one of more than 500 prep athletes selected to participate in the National Underclassmen Combine last month. The event was held Jan. 2-4 in conjunction with the Army All-American Bowl, a high school all-star game held in San Antonio, Texas.

Combine participants are nominated throughout the year, with Lengfelder tabbed by an unidentified college coach.

“I’m not sure where the nomination came from, but I was extremely honored,” Lengfelder said in a news release. “I spoke to my parents and they were able to make it happen.”

There is a “nominal fee” for participating, event organizers said, and each athlete is responsible for their own travel expenses. Each participant gets a swag bag and the opportunity to compete with the best in the country.

The first day consisted of getting measurements — height, weight, hand span, arm span and reach. Day two required each athlete to participate in an NFL combine, minus the bench press. Each player was timed in the 40-yard dash, pro agility, three cone, plus vertical and broad jumps.

The camp included one-on-one competitions in which the 50-plus quarterbacks took turns throwing to wide receivers, tight ends and running backs matched against defensive backs and linebackers.

“I absolutely loved this part of the event. I am throwing to the top wide receivers in the country going up against the most athletic DBs you’ve seen,” said Lengfelder. “I am confident that in five or six years I will be watching an NFL game and be able to say that I threw a TD to that guy in the Alamo Dome.”

“The talent level at this event was incredible,” he added. “I received a lot of compliments on my arm strength and accuracy, so I think I did a pretty good job representing Wyoming.”

On Jan. 4, all the combine participants attended the Army All-American Bowl, which featured 100 of the top high school players in the country.