Young athletes from the Maple City and the surrounding area have an upcoming opportunity to take part in a high energy youth football camp and receive insights and practice tips from a current NFL player.
Coach Ridge’s Elite Combine will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Sunday, May 3 at the Hornell High School football stadium. The combine for is both males and females, ages 6-16.
At Coach Ridge’s Elite Combine, athletes will work on football drills, take part in skill competitions, learn from an NFL player and have the opportunity to get an autograph and a photograph with a pro.
Buffalo Bills tight end Keleki Latu has signed on and will be a special guest at the combine.
Youth do not have to be Hornell residents to take part. The combine will welcome young athletes from all the surrounding areas as well.
Registration for Coach Ridge’s Elite Combine is open until April 30, but organizers suggest registering soon. Just 30 more registrations will bring Buffalo Bills linebacker and special teams ace Sam Franklin Jr. to the combine along with Latu.
The registration cost is $100.
Organizers say they hope to make Coach Ridge’s Elite Combine a yearly event in Hornell.
A University of Washington product, Latu signed with the Bills in 2025 and was added to the active roster in November. He caught four passes for 35 yards during the 2026-26 season.
Franklin played college football for the Temple Owls and was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He joined the Bills last August and appeared in all 17 regular season games, racking up 13 tackles. The Bills resigned the defensive back and special teams standout to a three-year contract extension in February.
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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Youth football combine bringing Buffalo Bills player to Hornell
Reporting by Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
