The final UFL Showcase of the season – pending any future ones added for those on the league’s waitlist – was held on Sunday, December 7 at Pennisula High School in Los Angeles. Unlike previous Showcases, perhaps because this was the final one on the schedule, Los Angeles sold out well in advance of the workout date.
Among those participants that tried out at multiple Showcases was WR Geordon Porter. He attended the Atlanta Showcase, where he led all receivers in the broad jump (10’10). In L.A., he jumped even further (11’2) and also led receivers in 40-yard dash time (4.40).
This list is compiled from those who have made their participation in this Showcase public or who were identified by the UFL as top performers 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 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 Matt Ballentine, San Diego: After playing just 12 games in three years at the College of the Canyons, Ballentine went to Eastern Kentucky in 2022 and excelled with 24 tackles, two interceptions and six passes broken up. He moved on to San Diego as a senior and then a graduate student, returning to California for his final two years. Ballentine’s highlight was an interception returned for a touchdown in 2024, in addition to another six passes defensed and a fumble recovery. Listed at 6’3″ and 205 pounds on the school’s website, Ballentine was ranked with the linebackers in Dane Brugler’s draft guide in The Athletic, just squeaking in as the 287th linebacker out of 289. He worked out with the DBs at the L.A. Showcase, leading that group in broad jump at 10’5.
*WR Phillip Brooks, Kansas State: In this era of college football, a lot of players are setting games played records at their schools – and Brooks is one of them. He played in 65 games, starting 43, at K-State. His career is dotted with All-Big 12 nominations. He left college having caught 182 passes for over 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. He made his mark on special teams as well, returning 44 kicks and 57 punts, including four punt return touchdowns. After taking part in Kansas City Chiefs training camp in 2024, he’s bounced around the CFL, most recently with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The 90th-ranked receiver by Brugler, Brooks led wideouts in the 3-cone drill (6.59) at the L.A. Showcase.
*S Peyton Buckley, Augustana: A high-school quarterback in the state of Wisconsin, Buckley sat out his first two college seasons, one while redshirting and the second because of the COVID-19 pandemic. All that pent up energy was let loose in 2021 when he had five interceptions and 12 passes defensed in his first year of college ball. He finished his career with 281 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 12 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), and 43 PDs. Buckley has been on numerous post-season awards lists, including multiple times on Academic All-American teams. After ranking as the 171st safety in the 2025 draft by Brugler, Buckley earned a minicamp tryout with the Washington Commanders. He was the top performer among DBs in the 3-cone drill (6.69) at the L.A. Showcase.
*RB Shen Butler-Lawson, Indiana State: Stops at Missouri Western and Minnesota State eventually led Butler-Lawson to Indiana State for 2024. He paced Minnesota State in rushing for two years, including one season of 1,446 yards and 14 touchdowns. At ISU, he was second in rushing, still managing 515 yards and four touchdowns, in addition to 10 receptions. He saved his best for last, notching his only 100-yard rushing game of the season in the finale against Northern Iowa. At the L.A. Showcase, Butler-Lawson was the top broad jumping running back with a distance of 10’5.
*QB James Cahoon, Bridgewater State: Out of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts comes Cahoon, standing 6’5″ and 220 pounds. In his final year of 2023, Cahoon completed 63% of his passes for over 2,000 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions at the Division III level. He left Bridgewater State as the school’s all-time leading passer. He participated in a number of post-season events in front of NFL scouts, including the FCS Bowl, the Podyum All-Star Bowl, and he worked out at Holy Cross’s pro day.
*TE/WR Jordan Davis, Wofford: Another QB-turned-receiver, Davis walked on at Texas Southern as a quarterback, then went the JUCO route to Trinity Valley Community College. He threw for over 1,000 yards and six touchdowns, rushing for another five. His transition to receiver began there, and he ended up catching three touchdown passes. Davis’s final stop at Wofford was a transition yet again, this time to tight end. He set career-highs in his final year, with 20 catches for 206 yards and three TD catches. It was enough to earn him All-Southern Conference Second Team honors. The 109th TE in the 2025 draft class per Brugler, Davis hit the triple at the L.A. UFL Showcase, leading his position group in all three key categories: 40-yard dash time (4.59), 3-cone time (7.13) and broad jump distance (10’1).
*OL Keaton Davis, Kentucky State: A starter along Kentucky State’s offensive line since his sophomore year of 2018, Davis’s stature (6’1″) profiles him as an interior lineman. Since leaving KSU, he’s stayed in shape training for an opportunity in the pros.
*DE Leonard Henry IV, Saginaw Valley State: Capping his college career by being named 2024 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Defensive Lineman of the Year, Henry earned that recognition by leading the conference in sacks (10.5). That year, he also led his team in tackles for loss (16) and quarterback hurries (13). In 43 career games at SVSU, Henry cracked the top ten all-time in sacks and tackles for loss. The 271st-ranked edge rusher by Brugler in the 2025 NFL Draft class, Henry led the L.A. Showcase in 3-cone time for defensive linemen (7.34).
*S Kyle McDonough Jr., Augsburg University: An older prospect who has been out of college for a handful of years now, McDonough was a receiver and defensive back in high school before concentrating solely on defense at Augsburg, a Division III school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In the first game of the spring 2021 season, McDonough intercepted a pass to help seal a 24-21 win for Augsburg over Martin Luther College.
*QB Shonny Nelson, Webber International University: First at Virginia Lynchburg then at Webber, Nelson is listed on some sites as an “athlete,” though his primary position is under center. After graduating college in 2024, Nelson has played overseas, most recently in Brazil with a semi-pro team. His listed weight is just 190 pounds, so bulking up may be a priority if he wants to remain at QB and move up a level.
*DB Jai Nunn-Lidell, Kentucky State: No stranger to alternative football leagues, Nunn-Lidell has signed contracts with the Houston Roughnecks (XFL), Houston Gamblers (USFL) and Toronto Argonauts (CFL) during his pro career. After leaving college, Nunn-Lidell attended the XFL HBCU Showcase in 2023, earning an invite to the XFL Combine in Arlington. He also played in the HBCU Legacy Bowl post-season all-star game following his final year at Kentucky State. At the L.A. Showcase for the UFL, he broad jumped the furthest (10’5) of any defensive back in attendance.