Valley players invited to combine

Harlingen South’s Sky Tatum and Rio Hondo’s Erik Pizarro have been invited to attend the annual Blue-Grey All-American Super Football Combine this season.

The combine is a two-day event that features athletes from 32 states that will also serve as pool to select the squads for the three Blue-Grey All American Bowl games.

This season the combines will take place at various locations across the United States including the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, AT&T Stadium in Dallas, the Washington Redskins training facility in Richmond, Virginia, Spec Martin Municipal Stadium in Deland, Florida, and Laney College in Oakland, California.

Tatum and Pizarro were invited to the southwest super regional set to take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on June 24-25.

Pizarro’s invitation came as no surprise as Rio Hondo head football coach Rocky James expects him to be a key contributor and one of the top receivers in the Rio Grande Valley in the upcoming 2017 season.

“Erik is a phenomenal athlete and one of our top students,” said James. “He’s one of the top students in his junior class and we’re very proud of him, and we’re very happy with what he’s done. I think this next year he will be the best receiver in the Valley, which is saying a lot with all these teams we have out here.

“Whatever Erik can exceed at or excel in he’s going to. He’s got a good mind and a very intelligent kid and the sky’s the limit for him.”

Pizarro is ranked in the top 10 in his class and was also recently inducted into the National Honor Society.

The 5-foot-10 junior is also excited about the challenges that lie ahead and the opportunity to show what he can do on the field. Last season, Pizarro had 43 receptions for 794 yards in nine games played.

“I feel great about the invitation and I think it will be a great experience for me to have,” said Pizzaro. “I’m extremely excited about going and getting the opportunity to show them what I have and prove that people from the Valley can play.”

As for Harlingen South’s Tatum, the 6-foot-3 junior defensive end and defensive tackle was a presence for the Hawks this past season with 10 sacks.

“I’m pretty excited to be able to show case my abilities,” said Tatum. “The opportunity to play against some of the best is going to be exciting; to size up and compete against elite athletes will make me better.”

ABOUT BLUE-GREY FOOTBALL:

-Blue-Grey Football was established in 1989 and the founders were Gus Bell and his son Erik Bell. Together, they established the brand to help prep prospects from all over the country receive national exposure and increase their chances to secure scholarships to a college, whether that be at the NCAA Division I level, or II, III, NAIA or Junior College.

-Blue-Grey Football proudly hosts close to 20 All-American Combines (Regional and Super levels) at venues all over the country with most taking place inside stadiums and practice facilities that are home to teams from the NFL.