High school combine planned Saturday

For the first time in Columbia County, an officially sanctioned Georgia High School Association combine will take place at Greenbrier on Saturday.

The combine, open to all athletes who will enroll in a Georgia high school in the fall, is one of only 10 offered in Georgia this spring.

Greenbrier coach Rodney Holder, one of the combine's directors, said it will be perfect for all local high school athletes.

"It enhances the ability to be seen," Holder said. "In the past, the closest one has been in Athens and then Atlanta. This one is all local."

Holder said the combine works just like an NFL combine, with each athlete performing several different drills throughout the day that test speed, strength and ability. The results are recorded and a positive showing can help in getting attention from colleges.

While college coaches are prohibited from attending the event, the combine does offer a level field from which scouts and college coaches can judge an athlete's potential.

"Right now it's a dead period for recruiting," Holder said. "The college coaches can't be there, but they can see what the athlete did at the combine."

Eligible high school athletes in grades 8-11 can sign up for the combine online at www.coachescombine.com for a registration fee of $25. Holder said athletes can also sign up the day of the combine for a $35 registration fee.

The combine will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Greenbrier High School football field.