In the alt-football landscape, there are a variety of avenues for athletes to take to put themselves in a position to reach the next level. For many players, that avenue might be the UFL – a platform that can propel them to the NFL.
With that in mind, though, there’s plenty of different ways that players can take to simply make it to the UFL. For some, that path is through The College Gridiron Showcase.
The College Gridiron Showcase (CGS) is an event that’s been held independently since 2015. Across that span, the program has helped send more than 900 athletes to professional opportunities – whether that be in the NFL, CFL, UFL, or other alternative routes.
In a snippet from CGS’s website:
“The first all-star event to implement an OTA format, CGS showcases players through practices and a controlled scrimmage with professional coaches. Players will also perform individual and team drills, participate in 1-on-1s, attend meetings, and, in many cases, have the opportunity for personal interviews with scouts and executives.”
Over the past couple of years, the UFL has greatly benefited from plenty of athletes who have gone through The College Gridiron Showcase. During the 2025 UFL season, there were 31 CGS alumni, including three All-UFL selections.
In this piece, we’ll be taking a closer look at some of those players who have made an impact – primarily during the 2025 season.
*Note: We will be including teams by their names in 2025 (i.e. Michigan Panthers)
St. Louis Battlehawks
RB Jacob Saylors
OL Bradley Ashmore
DT Freedom Akinmoladun
DT Kyler Baugh
Immediately, Jacob Saylors comes to mind as the standout in St. Louis. He’s earned All-UFL honors in back to back seasons – and has now carved out a special teams role for himself in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. Saylors is a guy who, without the CGS and UFL, wouldn’t be where he is today.
In the trenches, Freedom Akinmoladun has been a strong run defender for St. Louis over the past few years. He also played for the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars in 2022. Kyler Baugh was a rookie standout, and earned an NFL opportunity with the Pittsburgh Steelers this past preseason.
Finally, Bradley Ashmore was a rookie draft pick by St. Louis, who played in a reserve role for the Battlehawks in 2025.
Michigan Panthers
QB Rocky Lombardi
RB Nate McCrary
WR Xavier Malone
DL Levi Bell
S Kedrick Whitehead
Kedrick Whitehead and Nate McCrary have both been a staple of this Michigan Panthers franchise over the last couple of years. Whitehead, a standout with the Buccaneers, earned All-UFL honors in 2025, and was also named Special Teams Player of the Year. Nate, on the other hand, was a steady offensive force, rushing for nearly 400 yards and a couple of scores in the UFL.
Levi Bell primarily saw his playing time in 2023, where was a rookie standout – which landed him a spot in Seattle with the Seahawks. Rocky Lombardi, a rookie quarterback, remains as a potential starting prospect in future UFL seasons. Finally, WR Xavier Malone made his presence known on special teams, recording an 88 yard punt return for Michigan this past season.
DC Defenders
TE Briley Moore
TE Ben Bresnahan
DE Malik Fisher
In the tight end room, the DC Defenders are sitting pretty. Briley Moore has emerged as one of the UFL’s top targets at the position, bringing energy to DC both on the field, and on the sidelines. He’s been a valuable asset in a multitude of ways offensively the last three seasons, and is currently playing the best football of his career. TE Ben Bresnahan is a younger name who saw flight in 2025, and is expected to have a larger role in 2026.
Malik Fisher is one of spring football’s best success stories so far when it comes to development. His growth from 2023 to 2025 has been notable, with a stellar 2024 campaign that earned him an NFL opportunity with the Houston Texans.
Birmingham Stallions
WR Jalen Camp
OL Barry Wesley
OL LaChavious Simmons
Offensively, the Birmingham Stallions benefitted greatly from the additions of Simmons and Wesley to the offensive line room in 2025. Wesley started games at both tackle and guard, and has since made his way back to the NFL, with the Saints. Unfortunately, LaChavious missed half of the season on IR.
Jalen Camp, albeit a few drops, was a starter for Birmingham all year long at wideout. His ability to beat defenders over the top helped open things up for the Stallions, notably in a week four win over Houston.
Dallas Renegades
WR Isaiah Winstead
OG Marcus Minor
DE Chris Odom
DB Nico Bolden
The Renegades are an organization who have seen a lot out of their CGS products. Isaiah Winstead is one of the most underrated wide receivers in the league, bringing size, route running abilities, and reliable hands to their offense. Marcus Minor is a strong asset as well, starting at guard the last two seasons for Chuck Long.
Defensively, Chris Odom is a guy who needs no introduction. He’s been with the Houston Gamblers, Houston Roughnecks, and Dallas Renegades, earning All-USFL and All-UFL honors along the way. Chris, despite his age, is coming off one of his best seasons as a spring football athlete.
Nico Bolden has spent the last couple of years as a special teams asset in St. Louis, and Dallas.
San Antonio Brahmas
WR Jacob Harris
OL Derrick Kelly
OL Greg Eiland
LB Tavante Beckett
Jacob Harris burst onto the scene for San Antonio this year, as a wideout who saw quite a few targets from Kellen Mond. He was one of the Brahmas’ leading receivers, and spent this past preseason in Tampa Bay. Derrick Kelly II and Greg Eiland are a couple of veteran offensive linemen who both contributed to the Brahmas success the last two years. Kelly, in particular, saw growth in 2025, playing both guard and tackle.
At linebacker, Tavante Beckett is one of the UFL’s finest. He earned All-UFL honors during the 2024 season, and has continued to provide San Antonio with consistent play. His high-IQ play and leadership is the oil that keeps the Brahmas defensive machine rolling.
Memphis Showboats
WR Dee Anderson
DB Eric Garror
Dee Anderson has been all over the place in spring football. The large wideout has spent time with the New Orleans Breakers, Memphis Showboats, and San Antonio Brahmas. Memphis traded Dee to San Antonio midway through the 2025 season.
Eric Garror was a fresh face this past campaign, fresh off some time in the NFL with the Titans. Eric’s a speedy slot corner, who also brings value as a specialist. He returned kicks and punts for Memphis in 2025.
Houston Roughnecks
WR T.J. Vasher
Houston’s lone CGS attendee on their 50 man roster this year was T.J. Vasher. He is also a spring veteran, spending a couple of seasons with the San Antonio Brahmas, before landing in Houston in 2025. While Vasher was a rotational/reserve piece, he impressed with his ability to get downfield, and high-point the ball despite heavy coverage.
Final Thoughts
In a world where opportunities are hard to come by, organizations such as The College Gridiron Showcase provide athletes with a legitimate platform to grow, develop – and most importantly, network. They’ve had over 150 scouts from professional leagues attend events, which speaks volumes to the quality work that they’re doing.
Michael Rittelmann, Director of Player Personnel and Scouting for CGS, had this to say about their talent that’s made its way to the UFL:
“Co-founders Jose Jefferson and Craig Redd have built something truly special with the College Gridiron Showcase. an event that has become a trusted platform for evaluation and opportunity across professional football. It has been a tremendous honor to serve as the Director of Player Personnel and Scouting, and watching our CGS alumni succeed in the UFL has been incredibly rewarding. Our mission remains the same: to provide college prospects with a premier stage to showcase their talent in front of NFL, CFL, and UFL organizations.”
To learn more about the College Gridiron Showcase, visit www.cgsallstar.com.
What are your thoughts on the College Gridiron Showcase, and the impact its had on the UFL? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
