Standouts from the National Scouting Combine All-Star Showcase

For the second year in a row, Paradise Sports Complex in Naples, Florida played host to the National Scouting Combine. Each year, NSC hosts a week of on-field activities for draft-eligible players, culminating in a game on Thursday night. There are also workouts held for free agents that same week.

This year, numerous players from the FCS level, plus Division II, Division III, and NAIA all participated throughout the week in athletic testing, on-field drills and team practices. Scouts from several leagues including Arena Football 1, the American Arena League and the UFL were in attendance. I was told that the UFL was to have a larger contingent on-hand but some who were expected to attend were called away for draft prep.

AF1 partners with NSC, and that led to commissioner Jeff Fisher making an appearance and speaking to the players. As many as six participants ended up signing with AF1 teams before the week was out. Many others will get opportunities elsewhere either here in the States or abroad. And for some, it’ll be the last time they put on pads in a competitive atmosphere.

The scoreboard read 31-0 by the end of Thursday night, a victory for the Blue squad over the White. But when it comes to all-star games, it’s more about individual performances than the final tally. I was able to attend the game (the video of which is expected to be released in the coming days on the NSC YouTube channel) and the following players are ones that caught my eye, and perhaps caught the eye of UFL scouts with rosters to be built next week.

*WR Teagan Brown, Sacred Heart: Brown made one splash play on the evening, but what a play it was: A twisting, one-handed grab in the end zone worthy of Sportscenter’s Top Plays. In fact, it was enough to earn him Co-Offensive MVP honors. His sticky hands should come as no surprise: At Edinboro in 2024, he caught 70 passes on the season.

*DE Conroy Cunningham II, Samford: Tallying five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 12 games this past season, the Bethune-Cookman transfer pressured the quarterback on the first two plays of the game and didn’t let up after that. He showed impressive first-step quickness into the backfield.

*LB Brock Inman, Quincy: Inman displayed a nose for the ball, jumping an inside route to nearly intercept a pass. Later, he dropped what would’ve been a pick-six. In college, he intercepted eight passes, including five in one season. That’s when he wasn’t taking down ballcarriers: He finished his career with 228 tackles. He made a couple of other stops in this game for little or no gain.

*QB Joshua Kulka, St. Francis (IN): While the quarterback group as a whole threw multiple interceptions on the evening, Kulka found the end zone twice, once on the stop-and-go to Brown for his circus catch. Prior to the game, Kulka also rallied the receivers and got them together for a throwing session, generally showing leadership traits through the warm-ups and game itself. He was named the overall game MVP.

*WR Shunto Mizoguchi, Mt. San Antonio: Mizoguchi participated in this game even after playing in the Hula Bowl last year. He had three catches on a single drive in the second half, finding the end zone with his final one. Mizoguchi was one of the AF1 signees, joining the Michigan Arsenal.

*OT Tyler Nebelung, Southwest Minnesota State: A captain at SMSU, Nebelung started at right tackle on Thursday after playing mostly left tackle in college. Offensive line play is usually a weak spot in these all-star games, but Nebelung put one player on the ground on a pass pro rep and showed a physical and nasty streak throughout the game.

*QB Darryl Overstreet Jr., Upper Iowa: Athleticism is the name of Overstreet’s game as he showed good running ability throughout his time in the pocket. He had a long run called back by a hold and then later converted a 4th down with his legs. He ran for 14 career touchdowns in college, throwing for 63 more to just 22 interceptions in 40 games.

*CB Melvin Ravenel, The Citadel: While Ravenel had an interception in the game, he showed consistency in finding the ball by also taking away two passes in a scrimmage earlier in the week. Though he only had one pick in college, he supplemented that with 86 tackles across 48 career games.

*CB Laurence Sullivan Jr., Nicholls State: Though jersey numbers were difficult to read from the press box and stats were not kept, it is believed that Sullivan had two interceptions on the night, on consecutive second half drives. That followed six interceptions and 13 pass break-ups he had at Nicholls State.

*WR Justyz Tuggle, Wayne State: One of the top 40 times registered for the position during the week at 4.51, Tuggle was an 11-game starter this past season and an Honorable Mention All-GLIAC selection. He did his damage both over the middle and outside the numbers, converting a 3rd down early in the game then coming out of halftime with two long catch-and-runs.

Other standouts from the week: RB Antonio Bass, Campbellsville (top two at his position in 40 time, vertical, 3-cone and bench), LB Malek Horlback, Presbyterian (top three at his position in 40 time, vertical, broad jump and pro agility), LB Michael Jones, Southern University (top three at his position in 40 time, vertical, broad and pro agility), WR Elijah Reed, Southwestern Oklahoma State (4.38 40 time), QB Shea Spencer, Keiser University (was MVP in last year’s game then returned to school with eligibility remaining; had a few nice throws under pressure; signed with Nashville Kats of AF1), RB Nathaniel Thomas, Idaho (19 bench press reps, first at his position),