FORT MYERS, Fla. — The future of the NFL is in Southwest Florida. Some of the top prospects for the upcoming drafter are right here in our own backyard training with X3 Performance and Physical Therapy.
“It’s really a well-rounded program to make sure that we get them ready for the biggest interview of their life,” X3 founder and co-owner Jordan Luallen said.
X3 began its football draft program years ago in Nashville, TN. Back then, Luallen only had one player he worked with. If you fast forward to today, the Fort Myers gym now attracts big-name players from all over the country.
“Just to be able to see where we’re at now and the quality of players we have, it’s very humbling,” Luallen said.
This year, X3 is training 45 athletes. They previously played at some marquee schools such as Michigan, USC, Notre Dame, and more. 25 of the players have earned an invite to the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine, which is X3’s most in an individual year.
The program takes eight to ten weeks, depending on the player’s timeline. The gym has some short-term rental units where they put the athletes during that time. Almost every day Luallen and his partner, X3’s Performance Director Lawrence Barnett, work with the players on the evaluation process basics.
“We try to build a program for them to peak at the right time and reach those goals that they need,” Barnett said.
The program focuses on preparing them for the NFL Scouting Combine and individual pro days. They attempt to perfect the players’ skills for tests like the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, and more. While those are the main goals, Luallen and Barnett specially construct each individual player’s plan, tailoring it to their specific needs.
“We come out here and we really care about the training,” Barnett said. “It’s a passion for us. Our biggest thing is just try to help people reach their goals.”
Twenty-five of X3’s athletes are heading up to Indianapolis next Week for the NFL Scouting Combine, which starts on Thursday. Then, some of the players will return to Fort Myers to continue training for their pro days and other pre-draft workouts.