# Select Player Capsules from the 2026 Atlanta UFL Showcase (part two)

- Author: Greg Parks
- Published: 2026-10-29T13:17:00Z
- Updated: 2026-10-29T13:17:44Z
- Categories: UFL (ufl)
- Canonical URL: https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/select-player-capsules-2026-atlanta-ufl-showcase-part-two

For the first time in the UFL era, and the first time since the lead-up to XFL 2020, a list of Showcase participants was [made available to the general public](https://x.com/Cleriga/status/2108075253775659052) for Atlanta's October 11 event. It was sent out as part of the league's press release touting some of the key players expected to attend. This is expected to be the norm going forward for the remainder of the Showcase season.

I've utilized full rosters from UFL sources to compile my profile articles for the past few Showcases, so not much will change in that regard: I've scoured and studied the list to find some of the most interesting and notable names, outside of those chronicled in the league's press release, to bring to you. In this, part two, I've profiled select defensive players from the Showcase roster. Part one, the offense, can be found here.

Once again, I'm using Dane Brugler's rankings in his yearly "The Beast" draft guide in *The Athletic,*one of the most in-depth and respected lists out there, to give perspective on how these players were viewed by the draft community coming out of college.

***DT Ahmad Bradley, SE Louisiana**: The rare college position switch brought Bradley from the offensive line to the defensive line in 2024. In two seasons at Navy, he started three times at guard. After redshirting in 2023 at Southeast Louisiana, he officially made the change across the line of scrimmage. He started 24 of 25 games played in 2024 and 2025, making 68 tackles, 7.5 for loss and five sacks. Though he attended the College Gridiron Showcase post-season workout in front of NFL scouts, he was not invited to try out at any team's rookie minicamp.

***DT Johnny Hudson Jr., Fresno State**: A strong two years at Jones College and then Contra Costa Community College led Hudson to Fresno State for 2022 and 2023. He found himself in the starting lineup pretty quickly, earning the nod in 11 of 14 games as a junior, then 12 of 13 as a senior. While his tackle totals were modest (42 in two years), 7.5 of them went for a loss. He added 2.5 sacks as well. Phil Steele honored him with a pre-season All-Mountain West Second Team selection heading into 2024, and Athlon Sports had him on the Fourth Team. He entered the 2024 NFL Draft as Brugler's 70th defensive tackle and he worked out as a tryout player at Pittsburgh Steelers minicamp.

***DT Zion Wilson, East Carolina**: Just [three days](https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/austin-reed-one-opportunity-go-impress-league---renegades-qb-three-days-baltimore) after the Atlanta Showcase, Wilson signed with the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles, a team with which he had participated in training camp as an undrafted free agent. Wilson was a victim of the confusing eligibility rules currently running roughshod over college football: He initially transferred to Virginia to play in 2026 before he was ruled ineligible late in the process. Because of this, he was not included in Brugler's draft guide. Mostly a special teamer until a breakout 2025, Wilson left college behind after a year where he had 42 tackles, 10 for a loss, and seven sacks. He started all 13 games in '25, the only starts he made in his career.

***DE Camar Kyle, Winston-Salem State:**A team captain for three seasons, Kyle stuffed the stat sheet at Winston-Salem State. He made 129 tackles in four years, including 37 for a loss and 12.5 sacks. He also knocked down nine passes and recovered three fumbles. Kyle earned Second Team All-Conference honors in 2023, making the First Team in his final year of 2024. Kyle attended the National Scouting Combine after the season ahead of his attempts to make the pros. He played for the Danube Dragons in Europe in 2025 and currently hosts a podcast focused on the NFL and college football called *4th and Focus.*

***DE Kobe Stewart, Buffalo**: A 6'2", 240-pound edge rusher, Stewart led the Mid-American Conference in sacks in 2024 with 9.5 after transferring to UB from Samford. At Samford, he was a rotational piece that did not affect the game to nearly the degree he did when he became a Bull. A two-year starter at Buffalo, Stewart finished his FBS career with 84 tackles, 19.5 for a loss and 13 sacks, along with four passes defensed and three fumble recoveries. Stewart recorded a disappointing 5.12 40-yard dash time per Brugler, which landed him as edge #82. At rookie minicamp, he tried out with the hometown [Buffalo Bills](https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/battlehawks-offensive-lineman-sincere-haynesworth-signs-buffalo-bills-final-preseason-game) as well as the Tennessee Titans.

***DE Kris Trinidad, Old Dominion**: A two-time Third Team All-Sun Belt Conference honoree, Trinidad started games in all four seasons he played at ODU. His best season was 2024, where he led the team in sacks with 5.5 in addition to a career-high in both tackles (45) and tackles for loss (10.5). In 2025, he had 34 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four sacks. Another College Gridiron Showcase attendee, Trinidad joined Stewart in trying out at Bills rookie minicamp after ranking as Brugler's 166th edge rusher.

***LB Cam Bright, Washington**: Most of Bright's college career was spent at Pittsburgh, where he was a key contributor under one of college's best defensive minds in head coach Pat Narduzzi. As a Panther, Bright played in 51 games, making 182 tackles and 20.5 for a loss. Bright was so highly regarded when he arrived at Washington that he was named a team captain for his only season. A 13-game starter, Bright made 60 tackles with 4.5 for a loss and an interception on his way to All-PAC 12 honorable mention status. The 67th linebacker in Brugler's draft guide for 2023, Bright initially signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. He was released at the end of July, signing with the Cleveland Browns until being cut at the end of training camp. Bright has kept his skills sharp by playing for the New Mexico Chupacabras of the Indoor Football League.

***LB Theron Gaines, Tennessee Tech**: Gaines put himself on the map with a giant 2025, where he racked up 92 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He added a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, an interception and two pass break-ups. That earned Gaines FCS All-American honors from numerous outlets. Gaines was a CGS participant after the season and worked out at Vanderbilt's pro day to get in front of the most NFL eyes as possible. Gaines signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent. In the pre-season, Gaines made nine tackles on defense and four on special teams before being released at the close of camp.

***LB Monty Montgomery, Ole Miss**: Real name Cornelius, Montgomery's freshman year was spent at Tulane as a redshirt. From there, it was on to Hutchinson Community College, where he dominated such that he was named Jayhawk Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. It was back to the Division I level at [Louisville](https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/ufl-nfl-week-7-top-5-standout-players), where he played in 39 games in four years. During that time, he was a prominent contributor on defense, making 161 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 15 sacks and a whopping seven forced fumbles. At Ole Miss in his final year, he started just one game and made 22 tackles. He measured in at 5'10" and 219 pounds at his pro day, light for a linebacker. Though he was Brugler's 74th-ranked LB in the class and he worked out in front of all 32 teams at Ole Miss's pro day, Montgomery didn't get a tryout or a free agent contract after the draft.

***CB Shyheim Battle, N.C. State**: Starting 41 of the 51 games he played for the recently fired Dave Doeren and the Wolfpack, Battle's ball skills were on display his entire career: He picked off at least one pass every season, totaling seven during his time in college. He also had 32 passes defensed. An active tackler, Battle also made 144 total stops, with six for a loss. Battle was a multiple time Honorable Mention All-ACC performer. The 82nd corner ranked by Brugler before the 2024 NFL Draft, Battle tried out at rookie minicamp with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints. Continuing his pro career since that time, Battle has played with the Jacksonville Sharks of the IFL and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL.

***CB J.Q. Hardaway, Kentucky**: Jonquis "J.Q." Hardaway was thrown into the fire right away as a true freshman, playing 11 games for the Cincinnati Bearcats. After head coach Luke Fickell departed Cincinnati for Wisconsin, Hardaway, a four-star recruit in high school, transferred to Kentucky. A two-year starter with the Wildcats, Hardaway's career totals included 141 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and 13 pass break-ups. Hardaway earned a Hula Bowl post-season all-star game invitation and was the 115th cornerback ranked by Brugler. His height (over 6'2") is an asset. He was a tryout player with the Titans at rookie minicamp in May.

***CB Darnell Stephens, Fort Valley State**: A five-year contributor at Fort Valley State, Stephens was a ballhawk to the tune of 10 interceptions in his time with the Wildcats. He pulled down those picks despite playing in just 30 career games with 12 starts. Among his other notable stats are 78 career tackles and 41 passes defensed, including 23 as a senior. He led all of Division II in pass break-ups that season on his way to First Team All-SIAC honors, in addition to being named an American Football Coaches Association First Team All-American. Stephens played in the HBCU Legacy Bowl after the season to show his wares in front of NFL scouts. He came in at corner #264 as ranked by Brugler.

***S Gavin Gibson, North Carolina**: One of many transfers brought in by the Bill Belichick regime in 2025, Gibson arrived from East Carolina, where he spent a season as their starting nickelback. He had 52 tackles, 6.5 for loss and three interceptions. Prior to that, he played two years at Maryland. In his true freshman year, he played 11 games, making 17 tackles. In 2025, he moved to safety with the Tar Heels, starting 12 games. His stats included 38 tackles, three for a loss, and three passes defensed in a tumultuous season for the squad. Gibson played in the Hula Bowl, ending up ranked number 65 at safety by Brugler. He had a minicamp tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs, then signed with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats in May.

***S Alex Washington, William & Mary**: A linebacker in college, at 5'11" and 224 pounds, Washington must feel his future is better served at safety. Washington had an interception in his true freshman year, though he did not play enough games to burn his redshirt. He was mostly a reserve until his senior season of 2024, when he was named team captain and was an All-CAA Third Team selection. He led William & Mary in tackles with 85, adding 5.5 tackles for loss. Not really a pass rusher, Washington had just three sacks in his career. Ranked by Brugler with the linebackers in the class, he came in at number 154.

***S Evan Simons, Catawba**: Coming from Louisburg College in Louisburg, North Carolina, Simons played his final three years with Catawba, starting 30 of 32 games during that time. In total, he made 190 tackles, 29.5 for a loss, with 10 sacks. In his senior year, he had 13 tackles for loss and six sacks, leading some draft analysts to believe he could be an effective edge linebacker. Simons accumulated an unbelievable 11 forced fumbles in those three Catawba seasons. Playing in the Dream Bowl post-season all-star game, Simons laid a big, legal hit, shoulder-first on a RB attempting to catch a pass on a 4th-down play. He did not make Brugler's rankings nor did he attend an NFL rookie minicamp.

From UFL News Hub. Please link to https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/select-player-capsules-2026-atlanta-ufl-showcase-part-two when citing. More at https://uflnewshub.com/llms.txt