Three postseason all-star games down, four more to go! I love that you guys are following me along on this 2023 NFL Draft scouting journey across all of the postseason all-star events.
This week, I was at both the College Gridiron Showcase in Fort Worth, Texas, and the Hula Bowl in Orlando, Florida.
There were a ton of scouts from across the five professional leagues (NFL, CFL, XFL, USFL and ELF) who were in attendance, and there was a ton of good football being played also.
I’ll have detailed scouting reports on every prospect who has attended all-star games this cycle, as well as many others. Last year, the FBGP Scouting Guide featured over 1,000 individual scouting reports, and this year’s edition figures to be about the same. (For more information, click here.)
Now, let’s take a look at some of my takeaways and notes from both the College Gridiron Showcase and the Hula Bowl.
College Gridiron Showcase
What’s unique about the CGS is that it is the only all-star event that doesn’t have an actual game after the practices. So, players and scouts get four days of straight practice work, culminating in a full scrimmage.
There are four groups at the CGS: Marshals (small college), Wranglers and Desperados Groups (FBS-FCS players) and Regulators (Specialists).
Marshals Group
The Marshals group was the small-college group, with prospects from the FCS-NAIA levels. Some of the players who competed well during this group received an opportunity to move to the Desperados or Wranglers squads.
RB Keaton Dudik (5-7 173), Southwestern Assemblies of God
Dudik reminded me a lot of former USC RB Chad Morton. He’s explosively quick and agile, and was able to freeze defenders in their tracks before continuing on his journey downfield. During RB-vs-LB 1-on-1s, his stop-and-start ability made him almost automatic on option routes and versus man coverage.
WR Braxton Westfield (6-2 207), Carson-Newman
Westfield was one of the more consistent route runners in the Marshals group, and because of his play, he was able to earn a spot on the Wranglers roster. You saw him consistently make catches over the shoulder, away from his frame, and within contested-catch situations. I thought he showed tremendous polish and nuance at the position.
WR Cody Chrest, (6-0 196) Sam Houston
Chrest, like Westfield, gave defenders fits all throughout both practices, earning himself a spot on the…
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