Abstract
This study profiled junior college football players. Sixty-two subjects completed vertical jump (VJ; height and peak power), standing broad jump (SBJ), 36.58 m sprint, pro-agility shuttle, three-cone drill, and maximal-repetition bench press and front squat. The sample included 2 quarterbacks (QB), 7 running backs (RB), 13 wide receivers (WR), 1 tight end (TE), 18 defensive backs (DB), 8 linebackers (LB), and 13 offensive and defensive linemen (LM). To investigate positional differences, subjects were split into skill (SK; WR, DB), big skill (BSK; QB, RB, TE, LB), and LM groups. A one-way ANOVA determined between-group differences. LM were taller and heavier than SK and BSK players. The SK and BSK groups were faster than LM in the 0–36.58 m sprint, pro-agility shuttle, and three-cone drill (p ≤ 0.009). The SK group had greater VJ height and SBJ distance; LM generated greater VJ peak power (p ≤ 0.022). There were no between-group differences in the strength endurance tests. Compared to Division I data, junior college players were smaller, slower, and performed worse in jump tests. Positional differences in junior college football are typical to that of established research. Junior college players should attempt to increase body mass, and improve speed and lower-body power.
Highlights
College athletics in America, which is administered by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with football being the most dominant sport [1]
Players were split into SK, big skill (BSK), and LM groups to ascertain whether junior college players exhibited the same characteristics as that established for football players in the literature
Regarding the performance tests used in this study, it was hypothesized that the SK and BSK players would perform better when compared to LM
Summary
College athletics in America, which is administered by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with football being the most dominant sport [1]. The highest level of collegiate competition is Division I (followed by Divisions II and III), and there is great competition between schools with the recruitment of athletes to their respective programs. Recruiting the best players possible is incumbent on those who run athletic programs, and Division I and II schools can offer scholarships to entice athletes to their programs [2]. High-quality recruits to a football program can have a major impact for a university, on the field [3], but financially as well [4]. Most recruits to a football program will come from high schools. Acquiring junior (or community) college transfers is another method by which players can be brought into a program [5]
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