Select Player Capsules from 2025 D.C. UFL Showcase (part one)

The second Showcase on the UFL’s schedule was held September 28 in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. at George Mason University. For the second consecutive Showcase, the wide receiver and defensive back positions sold out ahead of time, meaning the league had reached registration capacity for those positions at the tryout. This is part one of my look at select players who participated in this Showcase.

One quirk of the UFL’s reporting on this Showcase: As with the Atlanta Showcase, the league put out top performers in certain categories on its social channels on Tuesday. However, for some reason, those were deleted by that evening. Nevertheless, I’ve included many of those players and their results here, assuming that the deletion did not have anything to do with misinformation contained in those postings.

If you are a player or you know a player attending a future Showcase, DM me on social media @gregmparks (Twitter/X), @gregmparks.bsky.social (Bluesky) or @g_man9784 (Instagram) to be profiled in a future article.

DL David Abolarinwa, New Haven: A frequent visitor of the opponent’s backfield since debuting in 2021, five of Abolarinwa’s 17 tackles that season went for a loss. Incredibly, nearly one-third of the total tackles he made in college were behind the line of scrimmage (20.5 out of 65). He got to the quarterback nearly as frequently, tallying 14 sacks during that time. After the 2024 college season, Abolarinwa played in the FCS Bowl, an all-star game for top players at that level. He knocked down a pass during that game, showing the same knack that he showed in college (where he had seven PDs). Despite the numbers, he landed at edge rusher 248 in analyst Dane Brugler’s draft rankings for 2025 in The Athletic.

CB Kessawn Abraham, Rutgers: Injuries slowed Abraham’s development at Rutgers since he burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2018, when he played in all 12 games and tying for the team lead in special teams tackles. In 2019 and 2020, he played in just 11 games total due to injuries. In his only season as a full-time starter in 2021, Abraham was named First Team All-Big Ten by Pro Football Focus and was voted the Team Defensive MVP. That season, he had 44 tackles, three for a loss, as well as nine pass break-ups. In the ensuing two years, injuries struck again, limiting Abraham to 15 games across his final two years, where he focused again on special teams, a unit that was strong under head coach Greg Schiano. Despite the setbacks, he still played more than 50 games at Rutgers and was listed as the 117th-ranked cornerback in by Brugler for 2024.

WR Matthew Akuchie, William & Mary: The size/speed combination is tantalizing for Akuchie, who came in at 6’3″ and registered a 4.46 40-yard dash at his pro day. William & Mary was his third school after Florida Atlantic and Towson and his output at all three stops never matched his measurables. In 12 games in 2024, Akuchie managed just three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. Despite his lack of counting stats, the Indianapolis Colts invited him to rookie minicamp in May. Brugler ranked him the 231st receiver in this year’s draft. At the D.C. Showcase, Akuchie’s triple broad jump of 10’9 tied him for the best among receivers there.

DT Daryle Banfield, Brown: Banfield’s pro football experience dwarfs most who will attend these Showcases. In 2019 after a career in the Ivy League, Banfield went to training camp with the Chicago Bears. After his time there, he signed on with the D.C. Defenders of the XFL – in 2020. Again let go in training camp, Banfield was a part of the XFL’s Team Nine, a set of free agents that worked out to ensure in-season signees were in shape. Members of Team Nine were dispersed to franchises after week five, with Banfield again landing in D.C. That was a mere days before the COVID-19 pandemic prematurely ended the season and, as it turned out, the league itself. Banfield has stayed active in the indoor leagues with teams like the Massachusetts Pirates and Sioux Falls Storm.

TE Luke Benson, Georgia Tech: A transfer from Syracuse, Benson spent his final two college seasons at Georgia Tech. He was mostly a reserve, earning starts in two-tight end sets at both stops. In 58 games, he started 17, catching 37 passes for 430 yards and five touchdowns. Though he didn’t put up gaudy stats, he was highly thought-of among scouts: Brugler ranked him as the 29th TE in the class and Benson secured an undrafted free agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. At the D.C. Showcase, Benson ran a 4.6 40 to lead his position group, also pacing them in the triple broad jump (10’2).

WR Jordan Bly, Gardner-Webb: One of the few Showcase participants with his own Wikipedia page, Bly arrived at Gardner-Webb for his final year after playing 2021-2023 at Old Dominion. The son of former NFL defensive back Dre Bly, Jordan’s best season saw him haul in a modest 22 receptions for 225 yards. At 5’9″, he impressed in his pre-draft workout by running a 4.36 40. Bly’s speed showed up at the D.C. Showcase where he bested that time, running a 4.35 to lead all receivers. This summer, he was in camp with the New York Giants after being ranked as the 63rd-best receiver in the 2025 draft by Brugler.

LB KeSean Brown, Marshall: Brown attended the 2024 Atlanta UFL Showcase. Here’s what I wrote about him then: “In Brugler’s draft guide, Brown was listed as the 84th-ranked linebacker. An Appalachian State transfer, Brown started eight games with the Mountaineers in 2022, amassing 39 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. In his final college season at Marshall, he had 36 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack. At his pro day in March, Brown ran a 4.83 40-yard dash, measuring in at 6’0, 214 pounds. Much of his time was spent on special teams, where he was a core member of several units.” At this year’s D.C. Showcase, Brown registered a 9’9 triple broad jump to lead all linebackers in attendance.

TE Chris Carter, Northern Illinois: A Husky by way of Howard University, Carter was named multiple times to the MEAC All-Academic Team. He transferred to Northern Illinois as a grad student, playing there in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, he stretched the field vertically to the tune of 14.8 yards per catch on 12 receptions. His playing time on offense was scaled back in 2024 though he was a key special teams contributor, specifically on the kickoff return unit as a blocker. Carter was the 36th tight end ranked by Brugler and led tight ends in three-cone drill time at the Showcase with a 7.06.

WR Dante Cephas, Kansas State: A six-year college contributor, first at Kent State, then at Penn State and finally at Kansas State, Cephas’s top season came as a Golden Flash in 2021, where he started 13 games and caught 82 passes for 1,240 yards and nine touchdowns. He never did approach those highs again, however. On the positive side, he bested his pro day 3-cone time of 6.94 with a 6.8 at the D.C. Showcase, best among receivers. He was Brugler’s WR142 in the 2025 NFL Draft, trying out at Kansas City Chiefs rookie minicamp this spring.

QB Gabriel Cunningham, New Mexico State: One of the oldest players likely to have attended this Showcase, Cunningham played college in the mid-2010s at Texas Tech and New Mexico State. Since that time, he has played football all over the world, including in Germany and Brazil. In the U.S., he has experience with the Tucson Sugar Skulls of the IFL. Mostly, Cunningham has played overseas. Though his passing stats have been modest, he’s displayed an ability to run with the ball, including rushing for 150 yards in one European League of Football game.

WR Ranius Daramola, Mary Hardin-Baylor: In 2024, Daramola transferred from Division III Hobart College near Rochester, New York (the school that produced former Tampa Bay Bucs starting G Ali Marpet) to Mary Hardin-Baylor. Daramola led Hobart in receiving in his final two seasons there. In 11 games with the Crusaders this past year, Daramola had only nine catches – though four of them went for touchdowns.

WR Ian Derda, SUNY Maritime: It’s normal to play multiple sports in high school; in college, it’s much rarer. Derda was a receiver on the football team at SUNY (State University of New York) Maritime for four years while doubling as a midfielder on the lacrosse team in the spring. Just like some coaches prefer linemen with wrestling backgrounds, some coaches favor skill position players with a lacrosse background. On the football field, Derda crossed the 1,000-yard receiving threshold in 2022 and scored 10 touchdowns in 2024. Derda returned more than 50 kickoffs in his career as well. Per the Instagram post hyperlinked here, Derda ran a 4.55 40 at the UFL Showcase, and placed well in the other timed events.

S Justin Fleming, Winston-Salem State: A two-year defensive captain for the Rams, Fleming returned two of his eight career interceptions for touchdowns. He reached the 70-tackle mark twice and was active in run support (24.5 tackles for loss) and as a blitzer (nine sacks). His prowess extended to special teams where he blocked four kicks in college. Twice an All Conference safety, Fleming was selected to play in the HBCU Legacy Bowl all-star game, featuring seniors from historically black colleges and universities.

RB K.J. Howard, Ohio: A JUCO running back who moved to receiver when he joined the MAC and Ohio University, Howard is back to being listed as a back, where he led D.C. Showcase players at that position in the triple broad jump with a distance of 11’1. At Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio, Howard ran for 501 yards and five touchdowns in three seasons. At Ohio, Howard played in just one game in 2023. He co-owns DesireLess, which specializes in athletic apparel.

RB Marvens Jean, UMass-Dartmouth: With pro size at 6’0″ and 225 pounds, Jean’s most prolific statistical season was his first, in 2021. He set career-highs in rushing attempts and yardage that season. Jean had two seasons where he averaged over nine yards per carry, and it wasn’t just on a handful of rushes: He had 50 and 56 totes to get there. In 2023, he had more receptions (42) than carries (34), averaging over 11 yards per reception in his career. He also has experience returning kicks. For his career, he averaged a gaudy 8.1 yards per carry on 259 runs.

DB Tre Jordan III, Merrimack: Jordan found the end zone twice in college – once on a punt return and again after an interception, one of four he had in 40 games at Merrimack. A safety with the ability to also play nickel corner, Jordan compiled 107 tackles and six tackles for loss during his days as an amateur. In preparation for the 2025 NFL Draft, Jordan ran a 4.55 40, a strong time for a player at his level. Brugler ranked him as the 244th safety in the class this spring.