Two days after the first UFL Showcase of the season in D.C., St. Louis played host to the second and final of the summer, on August 9. Fall Showcases commence in late September. Battlehawks Head Coach Ricky Proehl was among those in attendance at Lindbergh High School in St. Louis, and he spoke to the players on the field. Unlike in D.C., no full roster has surfaced of the players attending this workout. UFL News Hub's Anthony Miller posted a list of notable players the league sent out in a media release. Outside of that, I've profiled players the UFL briefly mentioned in its top performers article on their website, as well as those I've discovered based on social media posts.
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 available, to give perspective on how these players were viewed by the draft community coming out of college.
For future Showcases, if you are a player attending or know of a player attending, DM me on social media @gregmparks (Twitter/X), @gregmparks.bsky.social (Bluesky) or @g_man9784 (Instagram) to be profiled on the occasion the list of player participants is not available.
*WR Trey Birdsong, Northern State: A relatively quiet 2025 season at Northern State, his only year there, was preceded by two record-setting years at Cornell College (not to be confused with the Ivy League school). While at Cornell, he was All-Conference First Team, Cornell Male Athlete of the Year and in 2023, and set a school record in all-purpose yards with 1,829 and 13 touchdowns. Birdsong served as the Rams' primary kick returner in 2021 and 2023 (he missed his sophomore year, 2022, after breaking an ankle in pre-season workouts), averaging 22.5 yards per run back and one TD. He dabbled in punt returning as well.
*CB Russell Dandy Jr., Eastern Illinois: One of the top performers at the UFL Showcase in St. Louis, Dandy ran a 4.44 40-yard dash and also put up impressive numbers in the broad jump (10'10") and 3-cone drill (6.94 seconds). Dandy went the junior college route, playing two years at Butte College before moving to EIU. In his final year in 2023, Dandy led the FCS in passes defensed with 18, which also set a school single-season record. In the same year, he was named to the Walter Camp FCS All-American team. Ranked the 76th corner in Brugler's draft guide, Dandy earned minicamp tryouts with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets after he participated in the Tropical Bowl post-season all-star game. Over the last three seasons, Dandy has been in camp and on the practice squad of CFL teams Winnipeg and Ottawa.
*WR Kahanu Davis, Utah State: Another JUCO transfer, Davis went to Southwestern College in California after high school in Hawaii. Davis played in four games as a quarterback his freshman year before moving fully to receiver as a sophomore. After redshirting his first year at Utah State, Davis performed punt return duties in eight games in 2024. He saw a bigger role on offense in his final season, where he started three of 13 games. Davis averaged 26.7 yards on six receptions for the year. The 282nd wideout on Brugler's board for the 2026 NFL Draft, Davis's 5'9" stature put him firmly in the role of slot receiver.
*WR Ja'Naylon Dupree, Jackson State: Standing just 5'6", Dupree has size working against him right out of the gate. However, speed is not an issue: He ran fast at his pro day (under 4.4) and backed that up with another sizzling time at the UFL Showcase (4.38). Before Jackson State came calling, Dupree played at one of the premiere JUCOs, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he tallied 11 touchdown catches in two seasons. In 2025, Dupree was Jackson State's second-leading receiver, with 31 catches for 509 yards and six touchdowns. In December, Dupree entered his name in the transfer portal but then opted to enter the 2026 NFL Draft. He was receiver #241 ranked by Brugler. There were reports that he would be attending minicamp with the Cleveland Browns; however, his name did not appear on the team's minicamp roster.
*WR Fred Farrier II, Kentucky: Though he played in 51 games across five college seasons (three at UAB and two at Kentucky), Farrier started only 10 games. In many ways, the UFL Showcase is set up for players like Farrier, who may not have ample tape from college. In his career, he never caught more than 18 passes in a year, though he did total 53 for 647 yards and three touchdowns combined at both schools. It was likely the allure of playing for his home state Wildcats that drew Farrier from UAB. He was the 181st receiver in the 2026 Draft class ranked by Brugler, though that did not translate to an NFL minicamp tryout in May.
*WR Gage Florence, Minnesota State-Morehead: One of the most decorated receivers in Division II college football history, Florence caught over 100 passes in three of his four seasons with the Dragons, scoring 29 touchdowns. During that time, he was a staple of all-conference squads, twice making the All-NSIC Second Team and twice placing on the First Team. Florence led the NCAA in receptions in 2025 and set the Division II record with career catches. His yards per catch average was only 9.1 for his career. North Dakota State's pro day is where Florence worked out and reportedly met with the New England Patriots, though nothing came of it. After attending the College Gridiron Showcase to work out in front of NFL scouts, Brugler ranked him as the 186th receiver coming out this past spring.
*WR Malcolm Gillie, Coastal Carolina: Though listed as a receiver, Gillie was much more prolific as a special teamer in college. Excelling at the JUCO level led Gillie to Ball State for 2023 and 2024. In '24, he was the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year thanks to averaging 25.6 yards per kickoff return, best in the conference. He took one back for a touchdown. In his final season, he moved down south to Coastal Carolina. Gillie caught just eight passes, once again primarily contributing as a returner, averaging nearly 26 yards per return and running another one back for a TD. Despite being listed in Brugler's "Beast" as the 177th-best receiver with a 40-time of 4.51, Gillie left that time in the dust with a 4.34 at the St. Louis Showcase.
*QB Darius Holly, St. Andrews: A former walk-on at the University of Arkansas, Holly found himself at St. Andrews University for the 2023 season, the only season in which stats for Holly are readily available online. It was a rough year for the team, as they went 0-10. Holly competed in all 10 contests, completing 48.5% of his passes for 725 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. Holly attended the National Scouting Combine in 2024 and measured in at 5'9" and 186 pounds. He returned to the NSC in 2026 to participate in their free agent workout in front of arena league scouts and coaches.
*RB Ethane Hyche, SW Oklahoma State: A role player for much of his career at SWOSU, Hyche's best season was 2023, where he ran the ball 127 times for 397 yards (3.1 avg.) and four touchdowns. All of his counting stats were career highs. For his career, he averaged just 3.2 yards per carry on 202 carries. He was not much of a factor in the passing game, where he only caught 10 passes in five years. Hyche's name appears on the EuroPlayers site, indicating a willingness to play overseas. Currently, he's listed as an assistant coach for the football team at his alma mater.
*WR Rickie Johnson, Utah Tech: A 28-game starter at FCS Utah Tech, Johnson proved to be a deep threat for the Trailblazers. He steadily increased his number of receptions and receiving yards each season. In 2023, his final year, Johnson snagged 71 balls for 810 yards and five touchdowns. His longest reception was more than 70 yards in both of his last two years. Johnson did not work out at his pro day in 2024 due to an injured foot, therefore there are no verified workout numbers for him. But at 6'2" and over 200 pounds, he has the requisite size that scouts like, and he'll have gotten those testing numbers at the St. Louis Showcase. Brugler had Johnson as the 305th receiver in the draft in 2024.
*DB Mikael King Jr., Tuskegee: Unlike some, who max out in their senior year, King's best statistical season came in 2023, his second year in the program. King set what would stand as career-highs in tackles (45), tackles for loss (2.5), interceptions (six) and passes defensed (14). For his career, King intercepted 12 passes and was credited with 30 passes defensed. He also returned kicks for one season as a Golden Tiger. Following his senior campaign, King was named to the All-SIAC First Team and was an Honorable Mention HBCU All-American. King also earned an invite to the HBCU Legacy Bowl post-season all-star game. CB150 on Brugler's board for 2026, King ran a 4.45 40 at his pro day and was identified by the UFL for his exceptional broad and vertical jumps at the St. Louis Showcase.