SPENCER, TENN. — May 1, 2025 — Junior wide receiver and defensive back
Ellie Grissom of
Van Buren County (Spencer, TN) is the USA Football/MaxPreps Girls High School Flag Football Player of the Week for April 21–27. Grissom led the Eagles to a 2-1 record during the week.
Van Buren County defeated Bledsoe County twice and before falling to Stone Memorial, which currently has the best record in the district.
Last week, Grissom carried the ball 11 times for 211 yards (19.2 yards per carry) and two touchdowns while making seven receptions for 132 yards and a score. She also contributed 11 flag pulls and two pass breakups on defense.
This season, Grissom leads Van Buren in rushing and receiving yards per game, flag pulls per game and total touchdowns. The Eagles are currently 7-6.
Notable stats from Grissom's week:
* Scored a pair of touchdowns in the first win against Bledsoe County.
* Carried six times for 168 yards and a score in the second win over Bledsoe County.
* Registered four flag pulls in the first Bledsoe County game and the loss to Stone Memorial
* Accounted for 13 touchdowns and more than 1,250 yards from scrimmage through Van Buren County's first 13 games.
As the Player of the Week, Grissom will receive an opportunity to be further evaluated through USA Football's National Team Development Program at a Talent ID Camp in the spring or fall. The development program is part of the premier pathway to USA Football's U.S. National Teams, which represent our country in international competitions such as World Championships and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Athletes who attend the National Team Development Program's Talent ID Camp are eligible to receive invitations to future U.S. National Teams Trials.
As the football's official National Governing Body, USA Football oversees all aspects of American football in the U.S. This includes selecting, training and leading the U.S. Men's and Women's National Teams in both tackle and flag football for international competitions, including the 2028 Olympics. USA Football partnered with MaxPreps to start the Girls High School Flag Football Player of the Week award and continue to bring attention to the exploding popularity of flag football throughout the country.
USA Football and MaxPreps will announce award winners during the fall and spring high school girls' flag football seasons based on game statistics entered by coaches into MaxPreps. This award celebrates the achievements of the athletes who are helping to drive flag football at the high school level. USA Football research shows more than 1.7 million athletes ages 6-17 played the sport in 2024, representing a 37 percent increase in participation over the past decade. Much of that growth
is being driven by girls and women. Participation among girls ages 6-12 increased by approximately 283 percent from 2015 to 2024.
Opportunities for girls and women to play flag football competitively for high school and college programs are increasing. Fifteen states sanction girls' flag football as a varsity sport for current or future seasons. Women's flag football at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) level features college scholarships and a national championship.
About USA Football: USA Football is the National Governing Body (NGB) for American Football in the United States and the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the international governing body for the sport of American football. USA Football selects, trains and leads Team USA in tackle and flag football disciplines, while delivering world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level. USA Football is committed to ensuring every athlete has access to develop and compete in the game through safer, inclusive and innovative pathways. For more information, visit usafootball.com.
About MaxPreps:
MaxPreps is the nation's leading high school sports destination, offering fans the most comprehensive coverage with the latest scores, statistics, news, rankings, photos and more. MaxPreps aspires to cover every high school team, game and player by partnering with more than 100,000 coaches throughout the country. A PlayOn Sports property, MaxPreps was founded in August 2002. For more information about MaxPreps, please visit www.maxpreps.com.
