The 2026 UFL Showcase powered by NOBULL starts Friday, August 7 at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. It is the first of 10 stops on the league's nationwide showcase calendar, and the players on the field are competing for 2027 UFL roster spots.
A former five-star cornerback, a Division III quarterback who played a full season during chemotherapy, and a Big Ten receiving leader are among those registered.
Players to watch
Tony Grimes (DB, UNC / Texas A&M / UNLV / Purdue) was a consensus five-star recruit, a top-10 national prospect and the No. 1 cornerback in the 2021 class. He started at North Carolina as a true freshman. Across 61 college games he recorded 151 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and 30 pass breakups.
Jack Curtis (QB, Carleton) played his senior season while undergoing chemotherapy for Stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma. He won MIAC Offensive Player of the Year, finished as a Gagliardi Trophy finalist and took the 2026 Minnesota Football Honors Courage Award.
Dontay Demus Jr. (WR, Maryland) led the Big Ten in receiving yards before an ACL injury ended his season. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens and has since played in the USFL, the CFL and the Indoor Football League.
Josh Moten (DB, Texas A&M / Marshall / Southern Miss) was a four-star recruit who became a two-time All-Sun Belt selection and a HERO Sports Group of Five All-American. He finished with 11 career interceptions, including back-to-back five-interception seasons.
Drew Nash (QB, Saddleback College / Western Colorado) holds the Western Colorado record for passing touchdowns with 77 and ranks second in passing yards with 8,061. He was an AP Division II All-American in 2024 and 2025, the 2025 D2CCA Offensive Player of the Year, a Harlon Hill Award finalist and the 2025-26 RMAC Man of the Year.
Jeremiah McClendon (DB, Marshall / Charleston Southern / FIU / Southern Illinois) posted 60 tackles, two interceptions, 11 pass breakups, a sack, a forced fumble and a blocked kick in 2025. The 11 breakups tied the Southern Illinois single-season school record. He signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2026.
Duece Watts (WR, Jones College / Tulane) played for the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers after helping Tulane win the Cotton Bowl. He has also played in the CFL.
Ashtyn Hawkins (WR, Texas State / Baylor) holds a Texas State program record and totaled more than 2,300 career receiving yards at the FBS level before declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Sefa Saipaia (LB, Ferris State / Western Michigan) started 14 games for Western Michigan in a season that ended with a MAC Championship and a Myrtle Beach Bowl win. He finished with 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. At Ferris State he won three NCAA Division II national titles in 2021, 2022 and 2024 and recorded 155 tackles. His father, Blaine Saipaia, played seven NFL seasons with the Rams and Lions.
Cam Rice (DL, West Virginia / West Liberty / Ohio / Maryland) was a Division II All-American and a Harlon Hill Trophy nominee. He totaled 37 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks before finishing at Maryland.
Demon Clowney (DL, Ole Miss / Charlotte / South Carolina) played 40 college games in the SEC and AAC with 75 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He is a cousin of Jadeveon Clowney.
Zachary Switzer (RB, Memphis / Presbyterian College) put up 1,250 all-purpose yards, the most by a Presbyterian player since 2017, and made the All-PFL First Team as a return specialist. He is the grandson of Barry Switzer and earned a tryout at Dallas Cowboys rookie minicamp in 2026.
DeMarr Langford Jr. (TE, Albany) played Division I basketball at Boston College, UCF and Albany. He worked out for several NFL teams at Holy Cross' Pro Day.
Kyle Taylor (LB, Tarleton State / Arkansas State) recorded 109 tackles at Tarleton State before transferring. His family includes former NFL defensive back Bobby Taylor, NFL linebacker Jordan Evans and NBA guard Trey Burke.
John Kinney (LB, James Madison) brings FBS experience. His family includes former NFL tight end Erron Kinney.
Also registered: Myles Brodie (DB, Towson), a Division III transfer who walked on and made All-CAA with 53 tackles, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups and two forced fumbles; Jadon Carter (DB, Bowie State / Morgan State), a first-team All-MEAC pick with 55 tackles, two interceptions and a 94-yard blocked field goal return touchdown that won a game in 2025; Jamal Jones (DL, Virginia Union / Towson / Bowie State), a First Team All-CIAA selection with 33 tackles and nine tackles for loss in 2024 and a 2026 HBCU Legacy Bowl invitation; Anthony Evelyn (WR, Lane College), a 2025 HBCU Legacy Bowl selection who made ESPN's HBCU Top-50 NFL Draft prospects list; and Lukkas London (WR, Towson), who led the Tigers in receiving and returned kicks.
Player participation is subject to change.
Who is evaluating
DC Defenders head coach Shannon Harris and Louisville Kings defensive coordinator Jamie Sharper will be on site with league scouts and other UFL coaches and personnel. The showcase runs in two sessions, defensive players in the morning and offensive players in the afternoon.
What the showcase has produced
In 2026, 48 players who had previously taken part in a UFL Showcase received training camp invitations. Of those, 39 appeared on active rosters.
The 2026 DC Defenders roster included three of them: linebacker Macklin Ayers, linebacker Brandon Smith and safety Gabriel Taylor. All three came out of 2025 showcase events.
"The UFL Showcase reflects one of the strengths of the UFL — our ability to identify talent, develop players, and give them an opportunity to compete," UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon said when the league released the 2026 schedule.
The rest of the 2026 schedule
August 7 — Washington, D.C., George Mason University
August 9 — St. Louis, Lindbergh High School
September 27 — Houston, C.E. King High School
October 4 — Columbus, Ohio Dominican University
October 11 — Atlanta, Georgia State University
October 25 — Phoenix, Tempe High School
November 8 — Orlando, Celebration High School
November 15 — Louisville, Louisville Male High School
November 21 — Los Angeles, Redondo Union High School
December 5 — Arlington, Choctaw Stadium
Registration is at showcases.theufl.com. Players must have graduated high school in 2025 or earlier, be within five years of their last college or pro game, hold no contract with another pro league, and not be enrolled for the 2026 college football season. Full eligibility rules and pricing are in our UFL Tryouts 2026 guide, and the full showcase schedule announcement has the league's release in full.