D1 Training: Preparing Athletes for the NFL Combine

By David Oglesby

FRANKLIN, TN — In a town better known for its country music roots than for producing pro-caliber athletes, D1 Training has quietly become a launching pad for players chasing NFL dreams. Founded by former NFL player Will Bartholomew, D1 has grown into a national network of more than 170 facilities, serving over 100,000 athletes a year. Its mission: to deliver college- and pro-style strength and conditioning while building the mental resilience and professionalism necessary for athletes seeking to make the jump to the next level.

The D1 model pairs elite training environments with a values-driven culture — discipline, accountability and teamwork — and that combination is central to the program’s approach to NFL Combine preparation. With the league’s pre-draft events looming each year, D1’s specialized prep programs emphasize three pillars: offseason strength and skill work, precision nutrition and recovery, and combine-specific testing and interview readiness.

From Offseason to Showcase

D1’s offseason regimen sets the foundation. Athletes follow individualized strength programs to add functional mass and power while engaging in sprint mechanics, agility ladders and position-specific drills to hone sport-ready quickness. Coaches stress that the offseason isn’t merely about lifting heavier; it’s about teaching athletes how to move efficiently under load and recover effectively so they can withstand the grind of a pro season.

Nutritionists on staff build tailored meal plans, and recovery protocols — from targeted physical therapy to cryotherapy and tailored mobility work — aim to reduce injury risk. In the weeks before pro days and the Combine, training becomes hyper-focused: 40-yard dash technique, shuttle times, vertical and broad jumps, bench press mechanics and position drills that replicate what scouts measure. Mock interviews, too, are routine: NFL front offices weigh character and communication as heavily as raw athleticism.

“A lot of guys can run and jump, but the ones who can articulate their process, take coaching and show consistency stand out,” said Cliff Marshall, D1’s national director of co-athlete training. Marshall, who said he has trained roughly 400 NFL players across all 32 teams and worked inside NFL strength programs, emphasized that the Combine is the “biggest job interview of their life.” At D1’s Franklin facility, he oversees a concentrated group of 25 prospects preparing for that very test.

Bridging the Gap: What NFL Teams Want

Marshall outlined the central gap many prospects face: pure, repeatable speed and position-specific movement. “What NFL teams are looking for is guys that can run fast,” he said. “They’re training to run the 40-yard dash, the pro agility, the air drill, the vertical jump, broad jump and the bench press. After those six drills, they go to position work, where teams look at how the athletes move specific to the position they want to play in the NFL.” Beyond physical metrics, Marshall stressed the intangible: professionalism. “How to be a pro — show up on time, be coachable, be a good teammate — that’s what helps guys stick in the league.”

Marshall also pointed to D1’s infrastructure and staff as differentiators: a 30,000-square-foot facility with integrated physical therapy, athletic training, strength and speed areas and recovery resources, plus coaches with NFL experience. Those resources, he said, create a pro-like environment that helps athletes acclimate to the expectations they’ll face at the next level.

Voices from the Field

For many athletes, D1’s support is more than physical preparation — it’s transformative. Defensive End Zaydin Wood of Vanderbilt described his experience succinctly: “Working out here is great…we got the drills: air cones, core agility, broad jump, 40, vertical, bench press. Those drills are most important. You work eight weeks to perfect those skills.” Wood credits D1 with making him more explosive and refining his prep for combine testing. He also spoke about legacy beyond the field: mentorship and giving back to youth as a long-term calling.

Tim Coutras, a defensive back from Tennessee Tech and Nashville native, echoed the sentiment. Coutras traces his football identity to family roots — a father who played college football and a grandfather who coached locally — and says D1 has given him confidence entering the draft process. “They’re getting me ready for the draft interviews, getting my body right for nutrition…in a way I’ve never felt my body feel like this before,” he said, praising coaches like Clif Marshall for translating experience into measurable results. Coutras also shared long-term career aspirations: he wants to work in an NFL front office someday, contributing to roster-building and organizational strategy.

A Deep Roster of Participants

This season’s D1 combine group reads like a cross-section of college football talent — from small-school standouts to Power Five contributors: Eli Blakey (Miami OH), Jordan Brunson (Miami OH), Caleb Francl (Washington State), Theron Gaines (Tennessee Tech), Tim Coutras (Tennessee Tech), Nate Glantz (Lindenwood), Derrick Graham (Tulane), Jordan Guerad (Louisville), Parker Hughes (Middle Tennessee State), Quincy Hughes (Wofford), Rohan Jones (Arkansas), Jayden Loving (Wake Forest), Landon Robinson (Navy), Tamon Lynum (Pitt), JaMichael McGoy (UT Martin), Pete Nygra (Louisville), Jadon Pearson (Fresno State), Maximus Pulley (Wofford), Daniel Rickert (Virginia), Shakur Smalls (Arkansas), Elijah Tau-Tolliver (Michigan State), Keaton Wade (Colorado), and Zaydin Wood (Vanderbilt), among others. Coaches say a diverse group helps push each athlete’s limits in a competitive, supportive environment.

The Numbers Game

The realities of the NFL talent pipeline sharpen the urgency of preparation. Across all NCAA divisions, roughly 73,000 college football players compete; about 15,000 are Division I athletes. Each year the NFL draft selects roughly 250–300 players, and estimates place the D1-to-NFL transition at approximately 2–3% of Division I players when counting drafted and signed undrafted free agents. Across all divisions, about 1.6% of college players make it onto NFL rosters. Those slim percentages underscore why elite, comprehensive preparation — on the field, in the weight room, and in interview rooms — matters.

Culture, Character and Career Planning

D1’s advantage, coaches say, is its holistic model. Players aren’t simply drilled for measurables; they are coached on leadership, film study, and mental skills like visualization and mindfulness. That preparation helps athletes perform under pressure and present well in front of scouts. Marshall reiterated that care for the athlete as a person is fundamental: “Coaches here at D1 care about the players as people first and NFL prospects second, and I think that’s what makes all the difference.”

Looking Ahead

D1 Training is positioning itself as a national destination for athletes seeking pro-level development. Marshall said this year’s crop of prospects is especially hungry: because he joined the program with limited recruiting time, the roster skews toward late-round or priority free-agent types who are “humble” and “grateful” for the opportunity — traits Marshall calls invaluable. He expects future classes to include even higher-caliber players as the program’s reputation grows.

As the pre-draft process unfolds, the work being done in Franklin and at D1 sites nationwide is a reminder that the path to the NFL is more than talent alone. It’s refinement, resilience and readiness — a combination D1 Training aims to instill in every athlete who walks through its doors. For many players like Wood and Coutras, that training is more than a checklist: it’s a lifeline to opportunity and a foundation for future impact, on the field and in the communities they plan to serve beyond their time on the gridiron.