Olympian's NFL Combine Preparation Camp Trains Top Running Back for Second Straight Year

DALLAS, April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- As the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft drew to a close today, Olympic Gold Medalist and World Record Holder Michael Johnson had reason to be proud. His nationally ranked NFL Combine and Pro Day training camp produced a program best five first-round picks, including the Draft's overall No. 10 pick, Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers). And for the second straight year, Johnson trained the Draft's No. 1 running back - Georgia's Knowshon Moreno, selected 12th overall by the Denver Broncos. (Last year, Johnson trained Arkansas' Darren McFadden, selected fourth overall by the Oakland Raiders.)

"Michael's approach to training was different from anything I'd experienced before, and it clearly paid off for me today," Moreno said. "Having someone of his stature working with me hands-on, every day is an amazing experience, and I really appreciate his support and faith in me. I know the things I learned there will continue to benefit my career for many years to come."

Other Johnson "alumni" selected in today's first round were tight end Brandon Pettigrew (Oklahoma State, No. 20 by the Detroit Lions); offensive tackle Michael Oher (Ole Miss, No. 23 by the Baltimore Ravens); and defensive tackle Peria Jerry (Ole Miss, No. 24 by the Atlanta Falcons).

"Preparing these young men for the NFL Combine and the Draft is a complex process crammed into a few short weeks," Michael Johnson said. "These guys worked hard and entrusted us to prepare them for one of the most important moments in their career. Our entire staff is proud and gratified to know that we were all successful and that all of our hard work has paid off."

Each January, the Michael Johnson Performance Center (MJPC) welcomes an elite group of college football players for a 6-week training program that prepares the athletes for the physical and mental tests they will face at the NFL Scouting Combine and/or their university's respective Pro Days. In addition, the MJPC staff offers interview skills training, physical therapy and nutrition counseling.

Octagon Sports NFL agent Sean Howard, who represents Brandon Pettigrew, suggested Johnson's program to his client because of its training expertise, facilities and location. He also stressed that because of increased NFL evaluation of Combine performance - both physical and mental - specialized training programs like the one offered by MJPC are a must for any top prospect.

"I had complete confidence in Michael and his staff because they understand that it takes more than great football skills to succeed in the NFL." Howard said. "While their training program targets Combine preparation, they also train these young men for life as a professional athlete on the national stage."

About Michael Johnson Performance

Since his retirement from competitive track and field in 2001, Olympic Gold Medalist and World Record Holder Michael Johnson has used the training and competition philosophy he developed during his career to help more than 50 top draft prospects prepare for the NFL Scouting Combine including Ladainian Tomlinson, Tony Romo, Roy Williams, Eli Manning, Alex Smith, Mark Colombo, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. In 2007, Johnson founded the Michael Johnson Performance Center, a state-of-the-art sports performance training center at Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. The center, sponsored by Nike, helps both aspiring youth athletes and elite/professional athletes reach their athletic potential by improving speed, power, agility, strength and conditioning. For more information, visit www.michaeljohnsonperformance.com