October 25, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
DCHS Senior Quarterback Axel Aldino has been selected to participate in the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Combine in December.
This event replaces the East-West All-Star game this year due to the COVID-19 virus. It will take place at Oakland High School on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020.
Aldino has led the Tigers in compiling a 6-3 record and the program’s first ever regular season region championship at 3-0. Aldino has rushed for 10 touchdowns and thrown for 21 TD’s this season.
The All-Star Combine, in the NFL-styled combine, is designed to help high school football seniors showcase their talents on the gridiron, and is the latest project developed by the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association. The day-long event is scheduled to take place at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, Dec. 9. No less than 100 of the state’s top senior players will be selected by high school coaches this fall to participate in the event.
TSSAA’s COVID-19 regulations and guidelines will play a major role in the combine.
Every measure will be used to help ensure the safety of both coaches and players throughout the experience.
“For many years, our organization (T.A.C.A.) has sponsored the state’s premier all-star game,” explained Bill Marbet, TACA’s Executive Director. “We’ve hosted 88 of the state’s top senior football players at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville at our annual East-West All-Star Classic,” added Marbet.
This year’s corona virus, however, has made it extremely difficult to host an all-star game. But the virus has not stopped the high school coaching organization from doing all it can to help senior football players gain a college education through the game they all love.
“Most of the camps and combines that generally give high school players an opportunity to show off their abilities on the football field were not held this past spring and summer,” continued Marbet.
“We plan on having some of the most highly sought after players in our state in attendance at this event,” Marbet went on to say. “But the combine will also have in attendance several other players who all-to-often slip through the cracks where the recruiting game is concerned. It’s our goal to showcase as many of the state’s top seniors as possible,” he added.
Marbet went on to say that the organization looks forward to returning to Clarksville and Austin Peay State University next year for the 2021 East-West All-Star Classic. “We’re also excited about providing a new event to showcase our state’s top football players. Our goal all along has been to assist these athletes in furthering their education through athletics.”
College coaches from multiple states and multiple levels are expected to be in attendance at the day-long event. Coach Ingle Martin of Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville will head up the West staff. Leading the East staff will be Trey Perry, head coach at Mt. Juliet High School.