New research from Georgia Southern University suggests that college football players’ physiological responses to preseason training vary significantly depending on their position on the field. A study published in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance examined how physical workload during preseason camp relates to heart-rate variability (HRV) in NCAA Division I football players.
Led by Andrew Flatt, Ph.D., associate professor in Georgia Southern’s Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, along with collaborators from the University of Alabama including John Allen, M.Ed., Clay Keith, and Michael Esco, Ph.D., the research tracked 27 players from a Division I national championship-winning program. HRV measures the variation in time between heartbeats and indicates how the body responds to physical stress. When HRV remains stable from day to day, it signals that an athlete is adapting well to increased training loads.
The study found distinct patterns across position groups. Skill position athletes, including wide receivers and defensive backs, tended to show more stable heart-rate patterns as their workloads increased. These players are typically smaller and more aerobically conditioned, which may help them better tolerate the intense running demands and heat of preseason camp. In contrast, hybrid positions requiring highly versatile skills—linebackers, running backs, and tight ends—who experienced the highest workloads showed greater day-to-day fluctuations in HRV. The researchers suggest these athletes, often larger with lower aerobic fitness levels, could experience greater cardiovascular strain and dehydration during intense training in hot conditions.
The research team also examined injury effects. Players categorized as “full go” could participate without limitations, while those “go as can” were practicing while managing minor injuries. While minor injuries did not significantly reduce on-field workload, they did affect physiological recovery, with the “go as can” group showing moderately lower HRV levels than fully healthy teammates. This suggests even minor injuries place additional stress on the body.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/2026/06/01/new-research-examines-how-position-and-injury-affect-heart-rate-variability-in-ncaa-football-players-during-preseason-training