Dylan Leffingwell has been working out and spending a lot of time in the weight room for the last couple of months.
Call it exercise with a purpose.
"I've been averaging 10 workouts a week," Leffingwell said. "I do a lot of running on the high speed treadmill.
"I've also been throwing the football a lot, and doing a bunch of weight lifting."
Last year at this time, the Warren student-athlete was competing on the hardwood. But this season, he's decided to focus more on football and a trip to the 2012 U.S. Army National Combine in San Antonio, Tx., which is scheduled to kick off next Thursday, Jan. 5.
"I miss the guys on the basketball court," Leffingwell said. "But football is what I want to focus on now."
In the Lone Star State, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Leffingwell will have an opportunity to showcase his quarterback skills on the Field Turf surface at the Alamodome during the week of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Participating in the combine is by invitation only as Leffingwell was identified as one of the nation's top prep football underclassmen. He will get a chance to perform "amongst high school and college football's top scouting organizations and analysts," according to a U.S. Army National Combine press release.
"Dylan is an extremely quality young man that works hard all of the time," said Warren head football coach Andy Schob. "His consistant work ethic and determination has provided opportunities to showcase his ability on some big stages and in some unique environments."
Since last spring, Leffingwell has attended a dozen different quarterback camps at places like Top Gun Camp in Virginia, Boise State University, Kent State University, and the University of Oklahoma.
"I have had the opportunity to watch Dylan perform at some big camps, and he is the same calm yet competitive and excellent leader he is with our program at Warren High School," Schob said. "This allows him to excel in any setting."
At Warren, Leffingwell, who is currently a junior, has excelled as the starting Warrior quarterback for the last two seasons.
As a sophomore, he completed 140-of-269 passes or 52 percent of his throws for 1,936 yards and 19 touchdowns. In a 42-6 Warrior win over Morgan, he was 15 of 17 throwing for 339 yards and three TD strikes.
This past fall, despite a knee injury suffered at Parkersburg South on Sept. 30, he threw for 1,637 yards (133-232) and 13 TDs. He also ran for five scores. Against Marietta, he passed for 324 yards and four TDs in a 44-24 Warrior victory.
Last season, Leffingwell was a team captain and first team All-Southeastern Ohio Athletic League (SEOAL) honoree. In 2010, he was an honorable mention All-District pick.
At the Combine on Friday, Jan. 6, Leffingwell will be tested and going through drills, like the 40-yard dash and vertical jump. In the 40, he was timed at 4.8 seconds at Kent State.
He also has done a 31-inch vertical jump and 9-feet, 1-inch broad jump.
As far as weights go, Leffingwell has bench pressed 315 pounds and done a 405-pound squat.
The following day, Jan. 7, Leffingwell is slated to attend the pre-game pageantry and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
"When you coach players at any level, you want the players that work hard and do the right things on and off the field to have success and be rewarded," Schob said. "This honor for Dylan being invited to the U.S. Army All-American Football Combine is a great reward and recognition that only a select number of players in the nation receive. Our entire program and community is proud."
