A trio of Cap Seven 4-A football coaches are planning an offseason combine that they hope will have an impact on their future teams.

Combines have become a major tool for college recruiters who are looking for accurate measurements to compare prospects. Players are measured and are tested in various physical drills.

In the past, recruiting services have conducted many of the national combines.

In North Carolina, the coaches for the Shrine Bowl Game of the Carolinas, a postseason all-star game, conduct a series of combines throughout the state.

The Shrine combines -- including one on April 26 at Apex -- give the Shrine coaching staff, which changes every year, a chance to see prospects in person rather than on tape.

The Shrine staff also will have their own height, weight, speed, agility and strength measurements.

The three Cap Seven coaches hope their Beltline Combine on May 17 at Enloe (www.beltlinecombine.com) will be more than a recruiting tool.

"That's part of it. We all want to do whatever we can do to help our kids get recruited," Sanderson coach Jason Tyndal said.

"But, long-term, this also could be very good for football in the area."

The Beltline event is open to players who are rising seniors, juniors and sophomores.

Tyndal, Broughton coach Chris Martin and Enloe coach Ron Clark hope the exposure to outstanding players will motivate other players to improve.

"If you are a pretty good sophomore with pretty [good] skills, you might not know how good other sophomores are," Tyndal said.

"All you know is that you are the best sophomore player at your school."

Originally, the combine was going to be open to only area players, but there has been a statewide response.

"The college recruiters are telling us they feel comfortable with working with high school coaches," Tyndal said. "The word is getting around and now we're expecting players from all over the East."

Tyndal said the Beltline measurements would be taken in a different manner than some combines.

Players will be measured and weighed without shoes. The 40-yard dash and agility drills will be done on grass instead of on the track.

"The best way for our teams to improve is for the players to improve," Tyndal said. "A combine like this can be motivation, especially for younger players."

SPARTANS PLAYER NAMED MVP: Sanderson wide receiver/defensive back Matt James was named the most valuable player in the recent National Underclassmen Combine at Durham Hillside.

The Hillside event was one of 43 held throughout the United States for freshmen and sophomores.

James is a 6-foot, 1/2-inch, 190-pound sophomore. He had a pair of touchdown receptions against New Bern but spent most of the season at defensive back because of a broken hand.

DERBYSHIRE TO AVERETT: Green Hope football wide receiver Bryant Derbyshire (6-4, 180) has committed to Averett University in Danville, Va.

Derbyshire is expected to play wide receiver at Averett.