HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Four Indiana athletes are preparing for the NFL’s upcoming Combine with the help of Huntington University’s BOD POD.
Over the last week, four athletes, Darius Willis (Indiana University), Austin Coleman (University of Saint Francis), Dre Muhammad (Indiana University) and John Goodman (University of Notre Dame), have been on campus to use the university’s state-of-the-art BOD POD for body composition measurements. With this information, the athletes will begin an eight-week training session to improve their chances of going pro. At the end of that time, they will return to HU for their final measurements to see if they have improved.
The athletes are working with AWP Sports Performance in Fort Wayne, an organization that aims to serve athletes with professional sports training while encouraging character development and Christian values.
AWP began working with Huntington last year which led to Tyler Palmer, a senior, earning an internship with the company. That relationship grew after Dr. Matthew Ruiz, HU’s associate professor of
exercise science, suggested that AWP use the university’s BOD POD to more accurately test their athletes.
“Dr. Ruiz suggested partnering together with AWP for the BOD POD because of what a great piece of equipment it is — accuracy, efficiency, etc. — rather than having the physician at AWP take skin folds for percent body fat. It also gives a more accurate picture of percent body fat which is important to the athletes,” said Palmer, a
sport and exercise studies major.
The university purchased the BOD POD in 2011 to offer students the most advanced means possible for measuring body composition. The equipment helps to prepare students for further educational experiences and training after graduation.