FRANKLIN, Tenn. — November 1, 2026 — Some of Tennessee's most promising young football players gathered at D1 Training Franklin on Sunday to compete for an opportunity to represent FBU at the national level.

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The FBU National Team Tryout Combine, powered by EndZoneIntel, brought together 39 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade athletes from schools across Tennessee. The event provided an opportunity for players to showcase their speed, explosiveness, agility, and physical attributes as part of the national team evaluation process.

And the performances did not disappoint.

From a remarkable 4.69-second 40-yard dash to seventh-grade linemen weighing more than 220 pounds, the combine offered an impressive look at the next generation of Tennessee football talent.

Every timed athletic performance test was conducted using D1 Training's electronic timing systems—not handheld stopwatches—providing consistent, objective measurements.

Elite Speed Steals the Show

Perhaps the biggest story of the day was the exceptional speed displayed by several middle school athletes.

Eli Harris of LaVergne Middle School led the entire field with a blazing 4.69-second electronically timed 40-yard dash.

For a middle school athlete, breaking the 4.70-second barrier with electronic timing is an extraordinary accomplishment. It's the kind of speed that stands out even when compared with many older high school athletes.

Harris also recorded a 1.50-second flying 10-yard sprint and a 4.25-second 5-10-5 shuttle, leading the event in all three timed speed and agility categories.

His performance demonstrated more than just straight-line speed. The combination of acceleration, top-end speed, and change-of-direction ability made Harris one of the event's most impressive all-around performers.

And he wasn't alone.

Top Electronically Timed 40-Yard Dash Performances

8 athletes recorded electronically timed 40-yard dash performances under 5.00 seconds, with four breaking 4.90 seconds.

These are exceptional results for athletes still in middle school, many of whom have several years of physical growth and speed development ahead of them.

Size Meets Speed: Max George Delivers a Standout Performance

One of the most intriguing athletes at the combine was Max George of Lakeway Christian Academy.

At 6-foot-2 and 178 pounds, George recorded a remarkable 4.83-second electronically timed 40-yard dash.

He also posted a 26.8-inch vertical jump and measured a 75-inch wingspan.

For an eighth-grade athlete, that combination of height, speed, and explosiveness is particularly noteworthy.

George's performance demonstrated that impressive physical size doesn't have to come at the expense of speed.

Another standout was Sam White, an eighth-grade quarterback from Lawrenceburg who measured 6-foot-1 and 158 pounds with a 77-inch wingspan.

White recorded a 4.99-second 40-yard dash and a 27.2-inch vertical jump, displaying an intriguing combination of length, mobility, and explosiveness.

The Big Men Make Their Presence Felt

While speed dominated the headlines, the combine also featured some physically imposing young offensive and defensive linemen.

Makhi Shelton of Brentwood Academy was the largest athlete recorded at the event, measuring 5-foot-10 and 283 pounds with an impressive 80-inch wingspan.

Shelton's 6-foot-8 reach was the longest recorded at the combine, making his physical measurements particularly noteworthy for an eighth-grade lineman.

The seventh-grade group featured several athletes already weighing more than 200 pounds.

Notable Offensive and Defensive Line Measurements

One particularly interesting young prospect was Liam Dahlstrom, who measured 6-foot, 205 pounds, with a 77-inch wingspan and 11-inch hands.

For seventh-grade athletes, these measurements offer an early look at the physical development taking place along the offensive and defensive lines.

While size alone doesn't determine football potential, height, reach, movement, technique, and continued physical development are important traits as these athletes progress toward high school competition.

Explosive Athleticism and Agility Standouts

The 40-yard dash wasn't the only test where athletes turned heads.

Jaxon McCoy of Brentwood Academy recorded the event's highest vertical jump at 28.7 inches and longest broad jump at 8 feet, 11 inches.

McCoy also posted a 4.40-second electronically timed shuttle, demonstrating an impressive combination of lower-body explosiveness and change-of-direction ability.

Other notable vertical jump performances included:

• Bernard Fischer — 27.3 inches

• Sam White — 27.2 inches

• Caeston Casey — 27.0 inches

• Max George — 26.8 inches

• Beckett Brown — 26.6 inches

Caeston Casey of Oakland Middle School was another impressive all-around performer, combining his 4.78-second 40-yard dash with a 27-inch vertical jump.

For young football players, these measurements provide valuable insight into the athletic traits that can translate to success on the field.

Why Electronic Timing Matters

One of the most important distinctions of the D1 Training FBU Combine was the testing methodology.

All timed athletic testing at D1 Training uses electronic timing systems. No handheld stopwatches.

Manual stopwatch timing introduces human reaction-time differences that can influence recorded results.

Electronic timing reduces those inconsistencies and provides athletes with objective performance measurements they can use to track development.

That distinction becomes especially important when athletes record times like 4.69, 4.78, and 4.83 seconds.

These are electronically measured performances, not estimates based on someone manually starting and stopping a watch.

For athletes pursuing national team opportunities and eventually college football, establishing credible athletic measurements early provides a valuable foundation.

Competing for an FBU National Team Opportunity

The athletes attending Sunday's combine weren't simply participating in another workout.

They were competing for the opportunity to represent FBU at the national level.

That opportunity brought together talented young football players from different schools, communities, and positions.

The combine gave athletes an opportunity to demonstrate their physical abilities while providing objective measurements as part of the evaluation process.

From explosive skill-position athletes to physically impressive offensive and defensive linemen, the event highlighted the variety of talent developing throughout Tennessee.

EndZoneIntel: Turning Verified Results Into Long-Term Development

While the immediate focus was FBU National Team consideration, the combine also provided something valuable for every participating athlete: verified athletic performance data.

EndZoneIntel is built around the belief that athletes and families should have access to objective information about athletic development and the college recruiting process.

By combining verified athletic testing, physical measurements, game film, and recruiting analytics, the platform helps athletes understand their abilities, monitor improvement, and eventually identify college programs that fit their athletic profiles.

For a sixth-grader, that might mean establishing an initial 40-yard dash time and setting goals for improvement.

For an eighth-grader preparing to enter high school, it could mean identifying the physical traits that need further development.

And for an athlete already running a 4.69-second 40, it means having an exceptional foundation to build upon.

The goal isn't simply to identify who is fastest or biggest today. It's to help every athlete understand where they stand and create a path toward reaching their full potential.

Tennessee's Football Future Looks Bright

The FBU National Team Tryout Combine at D1 Training Franklin offered an exciting glimpse into the next generation of Tennessee football talent.

With multiple middle school athletes recording exceptional electronically timed 40-yard dash performances, impressive size among young linemen, and outstanding results in explosive athletic testing, the event demonstrated the athletic potential developing across the state.

For some participants, the combine could be an important step toward representing FBU on the national stage.

For every athlete, it provided an opportunity to compete, establish verified performance benchmarks, and continue developing.

The talent is young. The speed is real. The potential is exciting.

Learn more about EndZoneIntel and create a free athlete profile at EndZoneIntel.com.