The penultimate UFL Showcase of 2025 took place in Houston on November 23. The last event is slated for this weekend in Los Angeles and has already sold out. The Houston tryout was unique in that several players who attended Showcases earlier in the year performed at this one as well. A few who topped their position in certain drills, as listed on UFL social media channels, were players previously acknowledged at other Showcases for their times or distances.
Among the top players at their position, TE Maliq Carr, who was at the Arlington Showcase and led tight ends in 40-yard dash time (4.57), was back here to lead his position group in that category again, though the time was slower at 4.70. LB Steven Adair also double-dipped at Arlington and Houston. He was the top linebacker in 40 time (4.46) and broad jump (10’5) at Arlington and he led those categories again in Houston (4.47 and 10’5, respectively).
Perhaps the most impressive numbers were put up by CB Russell Dandy. At the Orlando Showcase one month earlier, Dandy paced all defensive backs with a three-cone drill of 6.77 seconds. In Houston, he swept all three categories listed on UFL socials for DBs: 40-yard dash (4.40); broad jump (10’11); and three-cone (6.67).
This list is compiled from those who have made their participation in this Showcase public on social media (identified by the link attached to their name and school), or those who reached out to me through any one of a number of channels.
If you are a player or you know a player attending a future Showcase (or who attended a previous Showcase but was not profiled in that article), DM me on social media @gregmparks (Twitter/X), @gregmparks.bsky.social (Bluesky) or @g_man9784 (Instagram) to be profiled in a future article.
DB Chris Butler, Mississippi College: A native of New Orleans, Butler began his career at Millsaps College before moving to Mississippi (not to be confused with Ole Miss). In his 2024 season, his lone one with the Choctaws, Butler tallied 19 tackles, one for a loss, adding an interception and six pass break-ups. In addition to being an All-SAA Second Team defensive selection and a two-time All-SAA Honorable Mention at Millsaps, he was also a part of the track and field team, having been a state champion in the long jump in high school.
WR Corey Crooms Jr., Minnesota: The 89th-ranked receiver by Dane Brugler in his 2024 NFL Draft guide in The Athletic, Crooms first starred at Western Michigan, where he hauled in 115 passes for over 1,700 yards and 12 touchdowns in four seasons. Coming off his best statistical season, Crooms leveled up from the MAC To the Big Ten for his final year of eligibility in 2023. He was a key contributor from the jump as a Gopher, notching season-highs in catches (seven) and receiving yards (63) in his very first game. Crooms latched on with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2024 but didn’t last long; he was waived with an injury designation on August 2 that year. At the Houston Showcase, he registered the top three-cone time (6.97) of all receivers in attendance.
LB Alfred Dailey Jr., Saginaw Valley State: Playing a key role on defense starting in his true freshman year, Dailey nabbed All-GLIAC First Team honors in 2024 after making the Second Team in 2023. He averaged over five tackles per game in each of his final three seasons. While he only had two sacks during his college career, Dailey made 10.5 tackles for loss. He forced three fumbles and had 10 pass break-ups. A little undersized at 5’11” and 219 pounds, Dailey was Brugler’s 269th-ranked linebacker in the 2025 draft class.
WR Anthony Duffy, Virginia University of Lynchburg: In his final two seasons, Duffy combined to catch 14 passes for two touchdowns, including just six catches for 36 yards in his last year as a Dragon in 2023. Formerly of Indepdence Community College, size is Duffy’s calling card as he’s listed at 6’4.” Even if that’s a slight exaggeration, as school websites are known to do, it’s still impressive. In 2025, Duffy joined the expansion Shreveport Rouxgarous of the National Arena League.
WR Joe Gillette, Maine: Twice a cancer survivor, Gillette was a Black Bear for two seasons after transferring from Lafayette, where he played in double-digit games just once in four seasons due to a combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and injury. He still managed to catch 70 passes for nearly 1,000 yards in limited action. In two seasons at Maine, he played in 11 and 10 games, totaling 66 catches for 1,036 yards and seven touchdowns. He dabbled in returning punts in college as well. Receiver #250 in the 2025 NFL Draft according to Brugler, Gilette led receivers at the Houston Showcase with a 4.53 40. In Brugler’s draft guide, he was listed as running a 4.49 40.
DE Dre Hall, Harding: The leading defensive end at the Houston Showcase in 40-yard dash time (4.78), Hall played 49 games at Harding, compiling 77 tackles, an eye-popping 32.5 for loss, 25 sacks and six forced fumbles. He put up those numbers while only starting one year full-time. Hall set the Harding single-season sack record in 2023 with 11.5 (also finishing first all time in school history in that category). A two-time All-GAC First Team member, Harding ranked as the 246th edge rusher by Brugler this past spring.
QB Jaylon Henderson, Boise State: Not to be confused with current West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Jaylen Henderson, Jaylon (with an “o”) made Boise State his home for two years after brief stints at UTSA and Trinity Valley College. The apex of his college career came when he was named MVP of the Mountain West Conference Championship game in 2019, throwing for two touchdowns and running for a third. While some players travel overseas to Europe or south of the border to Mexico to continue their playing career, Henderson went all the way to Japan, where he was named Japan Football League Rookie of the Year.
LB Alex Howard, Duke: In five years at Youngstown State, Howard played in 40 games, making 142 tackles, 15.5 for loss and five sacks. Despite making the jump from the Missouri Valley Conference to the ACC, Howard earned playing time right away and started 11 of 13 games for the Blue Devils in 2024. He finished second on the team in tackles (89) and first in tackles for loss (14.5), adding 6.5 sacks and garnering votes for the All-ACC Honorable Mention team. Brugler had Howard as the 70th linebacker in his draft rankings this year. Howard’s three-cone drill time topped all ‘backers at the Houston Showcase at 7.08 seconds.
WR Javon Ivory, South Alabama: From South Alabama by way of Memphis, Ivory started for three seasons with the Tigers, never catching fewer than 23 passes in a year. He left Memphis with 98 receptions for over 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns. A ‘Bama native, Ivory moved closer to home for his final two seasons, though by his senior year, he only started one game and made just two receptions. Likely based largely on the strength of his work at Memphis, Ivory made Brugler’s 2025 draft guide – as the 328th ranked receiver in the class.
WR Jordan Jakes, UNLV: After being a part of two high-profile teams at Indiana and then at UNLV, Jakes is still looking for his first significant playing time above the high school level. Jakes didn’t play in either season he was with the Hoosiers (one was a redshirt year). After transferring to UNLV, Jakes finally played in four games in 2021. He was back to the bench in 2022, idle for the entire year. He transferred again to Valdosta State in 2024 (playing two games) and on a Google search, his name comes up on West Texas A&M’s football roster for 2025, though his player profile page no longer exists on the team’s site. Jakes led receivers in the broad jump at the Houston Showcase, no surprise for a player listed as being 6’5″.