Last week, The Pro Showcase held their first official event down in Miami, Florida. TPS is led by Brian Woods, the former President of The Spring League and USFL.
The Pro Showcase runs a similar formula to what The Spring League used to be, before it became an official league, with games broadcasted on FOX Sports from 2020-2021. Almost 100 athletes went down to Miami, working with TPS coaches during a few practices – which culminated in an unofficial scrimmage last Thursday.
What sets The Pro Showcase apart: the use of pads. Most pro tryouts these days (i.e. UFL Showcases) don’t put players in pads, but TPS does. This allows for athletes to put together tape that actually translates immediately to gameday on the field.
The event also featured some of alt-football’s best when it comes to coaching. For instance, Bart Andrus was running the offense all week long. Additionally, there were scouts from several NFL teams in attendance.
Let’s take a look at some of the players who stood out at The Pro Showcase, with exclusive input from Founder and President Brian Woods.
Offensive Pieces
There were a few running backs who showed up, and showed out, in Miami. Rahjai Harris, the former ECU standout, was in attendance – and brought the energy all week long. TD Ayo-Durjaiye, out of Villanova, was another candidate who put together a strong performance. Trey Sanders (TCU), and D’Vonte Price (FIU, former Colts product) were others who also impressed across the board.
“Rahjai looked really good. I like him, he was strong all week. Harris has a great attitude, he’s super positive.”
At wide receiver, Justin Lockhart (San Jose) and Treveyon Pratt (Morgan State) were a couple of guys who really stood out. Rayjoun Pringle, out of Villanova, was also a smaller, speedy piece to watch. Woods had high praise for Justin, though, and expects him to land somewhere sooner than later:
“One guy who stood out was Justin Lockhardt. He can fly. I think they clocked him at like 4.37. He’s an athlete, he made some plays at The Pro Showcase. He’s a young player from San Jose State who was part of this recent draft class who should get a look somewhere.”
Former Memphis Showboats and Philadelphia Stars TE Ryan Izzo was at TPS, alongside MSU TE Paul Butler, both of whom were standouts. The Pro Showcase also had several offensive linemen who Woods believes will have the opportunity to make it to the next level.
“We had some big offensive linemen. Some guys who have been in NFL camps, and at a minimum should be on a UFL team for sure.”
A couple OL worth mentioning include Solomon Kindley, the former Georgia product who spent some time in the NFL with the Dolphins as a 4th round draft pick. Chris Chernak out of Stony Brook/Old Dominion is a giant at tackle, with a 6’8”, 320 lbs. frame. Chris Simon, who’s had experience in NFL mini-camps and recently was in the Indoor Football League, was also in attendance.
Defensive Pieces
Up front, DT Isaiah Coe left his mark. The former Sooner product, and St. Louis Battlehawks draft pick, was one of few D-Linemen in attendance. At linebacker, both Mason Cobb (USC) and Bo Spearman (Austin Peay) were a couple of guys who stood out throughout the entirety of camp. Cobb posted over 170 tackles across his final two seasons at USC and Oklahoma State.
In the secondary, there was no shortage of talent. Jeremy Lucien, who spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, locked it down the entire way. Ro Torrence is another DB worth mentioning, as his length and size – plus his recent experience on the Chicago Bears practice squad – make him a product multiple pro leagues should be looking at.
“Jeremy – he’s a guy who will get signed. He stood out all week long.”
A couple other defensive backs at TPS worth mentioning include Demetries Ford out of Arizona State, Austin McKinney out of Northwest Missouri State, and Tyrese Shakir from Portland State.
Special Teams
There weren’t too many specialists in attendance at The Pro Showcase, but kicker Jonathan Kim made the most of his opportunity. Woods tells Pro Football Newsroom that he booted a 60 yard field goal during their unofficial scrimmage, which would have been good from 65+ yards out.
Kim played his college ball at North Carolina and Michigan State. He was part of the 2025 NFL Draft class, and recently spent time with the Chicago Bears.
Final Thoughts
The pro football space has had a notable void the last few years when it comes to developmental showcases. Operations such as The Spring League don’t exist anymore, outside of GRID Camps (which has gone dormant).
With The Pro Showcase now in motion, it provides these athletes with a legitimate developmental platform. It should serve as a launching pad to the NFL, CFL, UFL, ELF/EFA, etc. for players across the country. Within 48 hours of The Pro Showcase taking place, RB Marquez Cooper was signed by the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks – a sign of things to come for TPS.
To learn more about The Pro Showcase, visit www.theproshowcase.com.
What are your thoughts on The Pro Showcase? Do any of these players belong in the UFL? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
