Female will compete at NFL regional combine for first time

The NFL holds a regional scouting combine giving players who would normally not get a chance to showcase their talents a platform to get noticed by scouts.

This year, 10 cities are holding regional combines and those players with the best skills will go to a super-regional in Dallas in April. The NFL has held the regional combines since 2011.

A female player will compete for the first time when the New Jersey regional is held in March. New York City resident Lauren Silberman, 28, will participate as a kicker.

“I was not aware that I was the first female registrant,” Silberman said to NFL.com. “I was actually hoping that the 2012 historical milestone rule, to allow women to play, would prompt more women to attend tryouts this year. But for me, what’s important is to finally have a chance to fulfill my dreams by trying out to play in the world’s most competitive football league.”

It is not at all far-fetched that a player from the regional combine will make it to the NFL.  Chicago Bears cornerback Isaiah Frey, Detroit Lions cornerback Jonte Green, Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Christo Bilukidi, and St. Louis Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein all attended a regional combine and were drafted in the sixth round last year.