WHAT: The PSFCA Big 33/RSFA will kick off their first 5 Star Combine of the season on Friday, April 28th at Cumberland Valley HS Chapman Field.
Leading this Combine will be a star-studded group of Coaches and Staff:
- Garry Cathell, Executive Director, Big 33 and PSFCA
- Ron Johnson, Former Philadelphia Eagle, Rising Stars Football Academy & 5 Star Combine Director
- Josh Oswalt, Cumberland Valley HS Head Coach
- Lance Deane, CD East HS Head Coach
- Jordan Hill, Former Seattle Seahawk, Super Bowl Champ, Trinity HS Head Coach
- Joe Headen, Susquehanna Twp HS Head Coach
- Mike Mauti, Former Minnesota Viking, Trinity HS Assistant Coach
Top Performers from the Regional Combines are invited to participate in the Elite Showcase on Saturday, May 27th at Bishop McDevitt HS’s Rocco Ortenzio Stadium.
WHEN/WHERE: Friday, April 28th at 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. / Cumberland Valley HS Chapman Field, Mechanicsburg, PA
Ron Johnson, 5 Star Combine Director explains, “We are excited to kick off our 2023 5 Star Regional Combines at Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley High School this Friday, April 28th. We are excited to see some of the top talent from Central PA, and across the state, as they come out and compete at the combine. We are also excited to have some of the top coaches in the state who have played at every level, from the NFL to all NCAA Divisions (I, II, and III). We do this for the kids to give them a unique opportunity to showcase their talents and skills in front of college coaches. College coaches like attending our combines because they can get an up-close look at many of the participants that are on their recruiting list, but they also sometimes have the opportunity to see kids they have not seen or heard of before and these participants catch their attention.”
In 2021 the PSFCA Big 33/RSFA 5 Star Regional Combines were launched. The April 28th Combine at Cumberland Valley HS kicks off the 2023 Combine schedule! The 5 Star Combines are for athletes in 9th-12th grades and are designed to give these athletes the opportunity to showcase their talents and testing skills in the 40-yard dash, 5-10-5 shuttle run, L-Drill, Broad Jump, and Vertical Jump.
In addition to the testing portion, participants get the opportunity to work with coaches during the individual offense, and individual defense sessions. At the end of the combine, participants compete in 1 on 1’s, and 2 on 2’s by their positions. We invite college coaches from DI, DII, and DIII, and recruiting services to attend our combines to evaluate talent.
At the end of the combines, each athlete is given their individual scores and scores can be sent to college coaches. Top performers from our Regional Combines are invited to participate in our Elite Showcase during the weekend of the BIG 33 Football Classic.
“We are excited to kick off the PSFCA Big 33/RSFA 5 Star Combines for 2023. We are looking forward to seeing the up-and-coming talent from the state of Pennsylvania and being able to provide a platform to create opportunities for players to get exposure for playing football on the next level” said Garry Cathell, executive director of PSFCA and the Big 33 Football Classic.
The 5 Star Combines are organized by Rising Stars Football Academy and the PSFCA Big 33. The 66th Big 33 Football Classic will take place on Sunday, May 28th at 7:00 p.m. at Rocco Ortenzio Stadium (Bishop McDevitt HS, Harrisburg PA.)
Some well-known Big 33 alumni and NFL greats include: Joe Namath, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Ricky Waters, Ben Roethlisberger, Kyle Brady, Jordan Hill, and Damar Hamlin. The Big 33 Football Classic is more than just a game and also involves the Big 33 Buddy Program, which is designed to partner youth with special needs with a Big 33 cheerleader or football player. Cheer buddies participate in the halftime routine. All buddies enjoy time with their players and cheerleaders during Big 33 weekend.
For more information, go to www.big33.org or follow them on Facebook @Big33FootballClassic, Instagram @PFSCABig33FootballClassic or on Twitter @psfcabig33. Money raised from the game helps support all PSFCA Big 33 programs, including the Big 33 Buddy Program which connects individuals with special needs with all-star athletes in football, cheerleading and beyond. Proceeds also assist in supporting military appreciation aspects of the Memorial Day Weekend.