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Better freak jump: Keith Eloi or Jarron Gilbert?

You may remember the pre-draft video of Bears’ rookie DT Jarron Gilbert jumping out of a pool, which received over 1 million hits on YouTube, and raised eyebrows of even the most jaded football fan with his impressive display of athleticism.  Well, Redskins’ undrafted rookie WR Keith Eloi tries to do Gilbert one-better in this video clip by jumping off the ground into the back of a Ford F-150.  In his slippers. Check it out:

Wow. Dude floated.

The Washington Post reports on what made Eloi decide to attempt such a stunt:

But desperation can make a young athlete do a lot of mindless things in the name of getting noticed and after a San Jose State defensive tackle named Jarron Gilbert gained instant fame before this spring’s draft by posting a video of himself leaping from a swimming pool, the players working out with Eloi suggested he do something to show off his vertical leap, which has been measured at 44 inches….

He has been told that Redskins owner Daniel Snyder and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Vinny Cerrato had seen the YouTube video, though he has no idea if it made an impression on them. All he knows is that on the morning of the final minicamp practice, as he walked between fields, Cerrato pulled him aside and said, “We really like what we’ve seen of you, and we’re going to sign you this week.”

I don’t know.  Clearly, I would hurt myself just trying to clear the bumper on that truck, but for my money, the Gilbert pool jump is a bit more impressive. I’m not sure, but I think the physics involved of jumping out of water make it more difficult.  That, and he’s just a much bigger guy.  This seems like a case for Sportscience!

AFTER THE JUMP, VIEW THE JARRON GILBERT POOL JUMP