Lumberjacks stay busy

The Brainerd Lumberjacks of the Semi-Pro Football League will hold a combine at 11 a.m. Sept. 26 at the Anytime Fitness in Baxter.

Players will be asked to run agility drills and test upper- and lower-body strength.

Lumberjacks head coach J.J. Kern stressed the purpose of lthe combine is to gauge interest and meet possible candidates to fill the Lumberjacks' roster.

"We have about 75 percent of the team coming back next year, but we want to get to know as many people as we can and learn their backgrounds," he said. "Right now, we're not concerned with numbers so players don't have to be in prime shape right now. The season doesn't start until the spring so they'll have time to get into shape."

Kern is also interested in hiring an offensive line coach, a defensive backs coach and possibly a defensive coordinator, a position he held last season.

The defending Semi-Pro champions have lined up a game against a national-ranked team from San Diego. Kern said that game, to be played in Brainerd, could be May 1.

Kern also has plans to start the Lumberjacks' season the week before with a game against the Metro Phoenix. He is also looking to schedule a tripleheader with the five other teams in the league all playing in Brainerd.