College Gridiron Showcase
The College Gridiron Showcase (CGS) is an independently operated annual post-season college football event hosted each January in Fort Worth, Texas.[1] The event consists of NFL draft prospects who have completed their eligibility in NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA. CGS also hosts the Pro Gridiron Showcase for non-draft eligible free agents. The event originated as a post-season all star game in 2015, but switched to its current drill showcase and "controlled scrimmage" format in 2016.[2]
| College Gridiron Showcase | |
|---|---|
| CGS | |
 | |
| Stadium | McNair Stadium |
| Location | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Previous stadiums | Pennington Field |
| Previous locations | Addison, Texas (2018) Bedford, Texas (2016–2017) Addison, Texas (2015) |
| Operated | 2015–present |
In addition to on-field drills, the event also features educational seminars including those on financial acumen and marketing.
History
2015
The inaugural CGS event, an All Star Game format was held in Addison, TX. Of the 104 participants, 10 were selected in the NFL Draft, 53 signed as undrafted free agents, and 22 were rookie camp invitees. The event also featured the number one overall pick in the 2015 CFL Draft, Alex Mateas.[3][4]
Notable participants
| Player | College |
|---|---|
| Josh Shirley | UNLV |
| Dyshawn Davis | Syracuse |
| Antonio Johnson | North Texas |
| Quin Epperly | Princeton |
| Ricky Collins | Texas A&M - Commerce |
| Tyree Hollins | Grambling State |
| Dominique Davis | Liberty |
| Alex Mateas | UCONN |
| Mark Roberts | Lamar University |
| Chris Reed | Minnesota St- Mankato |
| Justin Hamilton | UL- Lafayette |
| David Mayo | Texas State |
| Rick Lovato | Old Dominion |
| Harold Jones-Quartey | Findlay University |
2016
The 2016 CGS was held at Pennington Field in Bedford, Texas and was the first that featured the showcase format as opposed to all star game.[5]
Notable participants in the 2016 College Gridiron Showcase include CFL stars Juwan Brescacin, Romar Morris, Eric Temple, Robert Porter, Marvin Hall, Jr., and Reggie Begelton, NFL players Jakeem Grant, Trevor Williams, Jackson Branden, Andrew Adams, and JD McKissic, as well as the XFL's Kenneth Farrow and Jake Shenandoah.[6]
2017
The 2017 CGS was held at Pennington Field in Bedford, Texas. Lake Erie's Anthony Kukwa was named offensive MVP. Arkansas State's Chris Odom was the defensive MVP.[7]
Notable participants[8]
| Player | College |
|---|---|
| Christophe Mulumba | Maine |
| Dane Evans | Tulsa |
| Anthony Cioffi | Rutgers |
| DaQuan Pace | Eastern Michigan |
| Romond DeLoatch | Temple |
| Seth Coate | University of Saint Francis |
| Chad Geter | Gardner-Webb University |
| Samuel Williams | East Texas Baptist University |
| Drew Wolitarsky | Minnesota |
| Qadr Spooner | McGill |
| Younghoe Koo | Georgia Southern |
| Alex Armah | West Georgia |
| Rashaad Coward | Old Dominion |
| Matt Breida | Georgia Southern |
| Adam Butler | Vanderbilt |
| Jake Hollister | Wyoming |
| Bradley Seaton | Villanova |
| Christian Kuntz | Duquesne |
| Nick James | Mississippi State |
| Tyson Graham | South Dakota |
| Casey Sayles | Ohio |
| David Rivers | Youngstown State |
2018
The 2018 College Gridiron Showcase was held at Greenhill School in Addison, TX.
Notable participants
| Player | College |
|---|---|
| Julien Laurent | Georgia State University |
| David Knevel | University of Nebraska |
| David Mackie | Western (CA) |
| Godfrey Onyeka | Wilfrid Laurier |
| Jackson Bennett | University of Ottawa |
| Andrew Pickett | University of Guelph |
| Tyrone Pierre | Laval University |
| Trent Sherfield | Vanderbilt |
| Alvin Jones | UTEP |
| Michael Love | University of South Florida |
| Kaare Vedvik | Marshall University |
| Dontrell Hilliard | Tulane |
| Michael Ford | Southeast Missouri State |
| Alex Light | University of Richmond |
| Elijah Nkansah | The University of Toledo |
| George Odum | Central Arkansas |
| Matthew Adams | University of Houston |
| Tre Herndon | Vanderbilt |
| Daniel Ekuale | Washington State University |
| Sebastian Joseph-Day | Rutgers University |
| Nathaniel Wozniak | University of Minnesota |
| Ryan Santoso | University of Minnesota |
| Vyncint Smith | Limestone College |
| Craig James | Southern Illinois University |
| Emmanuel Ellerbee | Rice University |
| Darius James | Auburn |
| Austin MacGinnis | University of Kentucky |
| Tomasi Laulile | Brigham Young University |
| Logan Tuley-Tillman | UTEP |
| James Butler | Iowa |
| Chad Kanoff | Princeton University |
| Fred Lauina | Oregon State University |
| De'Mornay Pierson-El | University Of Nebraska |
| Kellen Soulek | South Dakota State |
| Ryan White | Vanderbilt |
| Jalen Tolliver | University of Arkansas at Monticello |
2019
The 2019 OTA-style format was held January 5–9, 2019 at McNair Stadium in Fort Worth.[9] In addition to the regular showcase and symposium, the 2020 event saw the addition of a "Small School Invitational Showcase" to provide a scouting forum for players from lower tier conferences.[10]
Running back AJ Ouellette from Ohio University and defensive end Kevin Thompson from Bethune-Cookman were named offensive and defensive MVPs, respectively.[11]
Notable participants
| Player | College |
|---|---|
| Cole Sears | University of Arkansas at Monticello |
| Zackary Williams | University of Manitoba |
| Samuel Thomassin | University Laval |
| Jamie Harry | University of Ottawa |
| Nate Rogers | Wayne State College |
| Delroy Baker Jr | Indiana University |
| Connor Griffiths | University of British Columbia |
| Brady Oliveira | University of North Dakota |
| Freedom Akinmoladun | Nebraska |
| Luke Gifford | Nebraska |
| Austin Fort | University of Wyoming |
| Trinity Benson | East Central Oklahoma |
| PJ Locke III | University of Texas at Austin |
| Kabion Ento | University of Colorado |
| Tim Ward | Old Dominion University |
| Jody Fortson Jr. | Valdosta State University |
| AJ Cole | North Carolina State University |
| Gunner Olszewski | Bemidji State University |
| Jake Dolegala | Central Connecticut State University |
| Derrick Kelly Jr | Florida State University |
| Kareem Orr | Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC) |
| Jonathan Harris | Lindenwood University |
| James O’Hagan | University at Buffalo |
| Jawuan Johnson | Texas Christian University |
| Durrant Miles | Boise State |
| Kirk Barron | Purdue University |
| Bruno Reagan | Vanderbilt University |
2020
CGS 2020 was held January 3–8 at McNair Stadium in Fort Worth.[12]
Notable participants
| Player | College |
|---|---|
| Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund | Southeastern Louisiana |
| Dante Brown | Fort Hays State University |
| Stavros Katsantonis | University of British Columbia |
| Cameron Lawson | Queen's University |
| Adam Auclair | Université Laval |
| Dylan Giffen | Western University |
| Noah Hallett | McMaster University |
| Marc Liegghio | University of Western |
| Jaylon Moore | UT-Martin |
| Joshua Thomas | Appalachian State University |
| Sam Franklin Jr | Temple University |
| Lachavious Simmons | Tennessee State University |
| Kendall Futrell | East Carolina university |
| Willington Previlon | Rutgers University |
| Tyler Davis | Georgia Tech |
| Austen Pleasants | Ohio University |
| Matt Cole | McKendree University |
| Bill Murray | William and Mary |
| Blake Gillikin | Penn State University |
| Corliss Waitman | University of South Alabama |
| Chase Harrell | University of Arkansas |
| Gavin Heslop | Stony Brook University |
| Elijah Mencer | University at Albany |
| Benning Potoae | Washington |
| Aaron Brewer | Texas State University |
References
- "College Gridiron Showcase & Symposium Moves to McNair Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas". College Gridiron Showcase. 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- "Press Release: College Gridiron Showcase is back for 2016". College Gridiron Showcase. 2015-11-25. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- "2015 College Gridiron Showcase". College Gridiron Showcase. 2015-11-29. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- "Calling Home: Ottawa pegs Alex Mateas first overall". CFL.ca. 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- "Press Release: College Gridiron Showcase is back for 2016". College Gridiron Showcase. 2015-11-25. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- "All-Star Roster". College Gridiron Showcase. 2016-01-04. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- "CGS Halo Neuroscience All-Star & Select MVPs". College Gridiron Showcase. 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- "2017 CGS Roster". College Gridiron Showcase. 2016-12-28. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- "Fort Worth the Ultimate Sports Destination". Sports Planning Guide. 2016-08-30. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- "2020 CGS Small School Invitational Showcase". College Gridiron Showcase. 2018-09-13. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- "NFL Draft-Eligible Seniors Shine at 5th Annual College Gridiron Showcase". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- Hunt, Emory. "On the Scouting Trail: Player notes, recaps, interviews and video from the 2020 College Gridiron Showcase". The Athletic. Retrieved 2020-10-21.