Bradenton Gladiators To Hold Combine Sunday At IMG Academies

BRADENTON -- The Bradenton Gladiators football team will hold a tryout and combine session at IMG Academies on Sunday October 3rd beginning at 3 p.m. The Gladiators are Bradenton’s minor league football team that plays in the Florida Football Alliance in a winter/spring schedule which kicks off in January 2011.

The Gladiators are one of eighteen teams that make up the FFA, a league which provides players an opportunity to showcase their talents for both colleges and other professional leagues. Since the players are not paid, college eligibility is retained.

The Bradenton Gladiators Football, Inc is a Federal Non-profit 501(c)3 Organization whose mission statement is to bridge the gap between youth and young adulthood by instructing and playing top quality football and positively developing the neighborhoods and communities in the Manatee and Sarasota County area. Edrick Sweeting and Eddie Starling run the Gladiators as president and vice-president.

The roster is made up of primarily former high school players from Bradenton and Manatee County including standout wide receiver Bon Bean who played for Joe Kinnan at Manatee High and quarterback Edrick Sweeting who played for Southeast. Former South Florida Bulls running back Mike Ford played several games for the Gladiators last season.

Bradenton was 8-2 last year in the FFA and has been a perennial playoff and championship contender since the team’s inception. Sunday’s tryouts at IMG are required for both returning and new players for this season. The combine will include running and jumping drills and bench press testing.

The FFA schedule is still being finalized and is expected to be released by the end of October.