2025 College Gridiron Showcase: Defensive Standouts & Specialists
ALL22 was on-site January 10-12, 2025!
The College Gridiron Showcase is an annual post-season college football all-star game in Fort Worth, Texas, consisting of top players from across all levels of college football.
Today, we feature the top defensive and specialist performers from the week of practice. For further details on the prospects, including their evaluations, contact info, and more, please contact our scout J.C. Abbott.
All players have been evaluated using All22’s internal grading scale, which can be found by clicking here.
Quote of the Week
“I think there is a lot of good in making the All-Star team. People look at your career a little bit differently.”
Frank Thomas, 5 x MLB All-Star
Top Performers
IDL Brandon Brown - University of Texas at San Antonio (2021-2024) | Tulane University (2020)
Height: 6013v | Weight: 316v | Hand: 8 6/8v | Arm: 30 1/8v | Wing: 76 2/8v
Athletic Awards:
2024: 3rd Team All-AAC
2023: 3rd Team All-AAC
2022: 1st Team All-Conference USA
2021: HM All-Conference USA, Conference USA All-Freshman
Citizenship: American
Video: N/A
Player snapshot: Stocky, length-deficient nose tackle with a bad body. Flashes good initial quickness for his size with active feet and decisive hands to win early in reps. Excellent strength to hold the point of attack against the run, but struggles to shed due to short arms. Stamina is an issue, with pad level and effectiveness declining as reps pile up.
SAF Peyton Buckley - Augustana University (2020-2024) | St. Cloud State University (2019)
Height: 6012v | Weight: 204v | Hand: 8 6/8v | Arm: 31 4/8v | Wing: 74 2/8v
Athletic Awards:
2024: 1st Team D2 All-American, NSIC Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-NSIC
2023: 2nd Team D2 All-American, 1st Team All-NSIC
2022: 2nd Team All-NSIC
2021: 1st Team All-NSIC, NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year
Citizenship: American
Video: N/A
Player snapshot: Long-striding, well-proportioned safety who moves especially well for his size. Fluid and instinctual in coverage with good speed to track down the field. Plays physical and utilizes his frame to his advantage at the catch point without crossing the line. Attacks downhill with great leverage and breaks down effectively in space as a tackler.
IDL Adin Huntington - Tulane University (2024) | University of Louisiana-Monroe (2023) | Kent State University (2020-2022)
Height: 6005v | Weight: 270v | Hand: 10v | Arm: 32 4/8v | Wing: 77 4/8v
Athletic Awards:
2024: 3rd Team All-AAC
2023: 2nd Team All-Sunbelt
Citizenship: American
Video:
Player snapshot: A twitched-up, undersized three-tech with outside versatility. Lightning quick off the line with good initial hands and a clear pass rush plan, effectively moving to a secondary or tertiary move when stalled. His athletic ability and naturally low pad level make him a true mismatch when slanting or looping with his ears pinned back against interior blockers. Lacks the ideal length or bend to consistently win off the edge, getting run off his arc. Wins when able to penetrate quickly against the run but poor size causes him to be swallowed up by larger opponents
EDGE Matt Jaworski - Fordham University (2021-2024)
Height: 6041v | Weight: 250v | Hand: 9v | Arm: 33 1/8v | Wing: 79 1/8v
Athletic Awards:
2024: 2nd Team FCS All-American, Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-Patriot League
2023: 1st Team All-Patriot League
Citizenship: American
Video: N/A
Player snapshot: Rugged power rushing 4-3 DE with adequate size and solid length. Has exceptional initial hand placement with a violent punch to shock opponents. Average athlete without a varied pass rush tool box but wins with speed to power. Highly technical and positionally sound against run or pass, consistently achieving full extension to effectively stack and shed larger blockers.
CB/SAF Jaaron Joseph - Emporia State University (2023-2024) | Southern Connecticut State University (2020-2022)
Height: 6006v | Weight: 203v | Hand: 9 4/8v | Arm: 32 1/8v | Wing: 77 3/8v
Athletic Awards:
2024: 2nd Team D2 All-American, 1st Team All-MIAA
2023: 2nd Team All-MIAA
Citizenship: American
Video:
Player snapshot: Extremely physical small-school corner who would thrive in the box. Dominates when pressing opponents at the line, dictating their release and bumping them off their route. A powerful strider who breaks with purpose from off-coverage and finishes on the ball. A plus run defender who destroys blocks rather than just taking them on.
CB Paul Lewis III - University of Akron (2024) | Cornell University (2019-2023)
Height: 6017v | Weight: 204v | Hand: 9 4/8v | Arm: 33 4/8v | Wing: 77 6/8v
Athletic Awards:
2024: 3rd Team All-MAC
2023: 1st Team All-Ivy
2022: 2nd Team All-Ivy
Citizenship: American
Video:
Player snapshot: A tall eraser on the outside with greased-up hips in transition and elite length. A good athlete who is able to stay in phase and effectively utilize his reach to make plays on the ball, consistently playing through the body. Has experience playing in the box and shows good physicality to take on blocks with his hands.
IDL Kori Roberson Jr. - Southern Methodist University (2023-2024) | University of Oklahoma (2020-2021)
Height: 6032v | Weight: 301v | Hand: 9 5/8v | Arm: 33 5/8v | Wing: 80v
Athletic Awards:
2024: HM All-ACC
Citizenship: American
Video: N/A
Player snapshot: Well-proportioned three-tech with good length. Flashed good initial twitch and active hands to gain opponent’s chest. A high motor player who kept working through reps and finished strong, though he tends to disengage late. Can play fast and loose with technique, will work himself out of position at times.
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CB Cam Sims - East Tennessee State University (2024) | Mercer University (2022-2023) | Georgia State University (2019-2021)
Height: 6020e | Weight: 185e | Hand: N/A | Arm: N/A | Wing: N/A
Athletic Awards: N/A
Citizenship: American
Video:
Player snapshot: Long, lean corner with fluid hips in transition and good feet to recover. Physical down the rail in man coverage and is able to effectively get his eyes around to make plays on the ball with good length. Lacks bulk on his frame but is willing to force the issue against the run. Did not measure due to travel issues.
LB Bo Spearman - Austin Peay State University (2024) | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (2020-2023)
Height: 5115v | Weight: 231v | Hand: 10v | Arm: 30 7/8v | Wing: 76v
Athletic Awards: N/A
Citizenship: American
Video: N/A
Player snapshot: A smaller linebacker with a lean, chiseled physique. Active feet and excellent eye discipline when tracking in space with good range to cover backs and tight ends in the short and intermediate areas. Lacks the length needed to make plays on the ball down the field. Keys rapidly against the run and triggers downhill with intention. Struggles to stack and shed but sorts through traffic effectively and is able to make plays despite his lighter frame.
CB Josh Stokes - Slippery Rock University (2020-2024)
Height: 5085v | Weight: 178v | Hand: 8 6/8v | Arm: 31 4/8v | Wing: 75 4/8v
Athletic Awards:
2024: 2nd Team D2 All-American, 1st Team All-PSAC West
2023: 2nd Team D2 All-American, 1st Team All-PSAC West
Citizenship: American
Video:
Player snapshot: Small, lean cornerback with solid length for his size. An extremely smooth mover with fluid hips and exceptional change of direction ability. Stays in phase with opponents through their routes in man coverage with limited wasted movement or false steps. Inherent limitations versus size are compensated by his movement skills.
EDGE Brian Ugwu - Miami University of Ohio (2022-2024) | Rutgers University (2019-2021)
Height: 6022v | Weight: 244v | Hand: 9 3/8v | Arm: 33 2/8v | Wing: 77 6/8v
Athletic Awards:
2024: 1st Team All-MAC
2023: 2nd Team All-MAC
Citizenship: American
Video: N/A
Player snapshot: Lanky stand-up rusher with good length and initial quickness. Challenges tackles with his first step and effectively hand swipes, but routinely takes the path of least resistance with an inside move. Fast and loose play style creates consistent disruption but also results in bad whiffs. Below-average play strength to set edge against the run.
LB Joseph Vaughn - University of California-Los Angeles (2024) | Yale University (2019-2023)
Height: 6025v | Weight: 234v | Hand: 9 2/8v | Arm: 33 3/8v | Wing: 77 2/8v
Athletic Awards:
2023: 1st Team All-Ivy
2022: HM All-Ivy
Citizenship: American
Video: N/A
Player snapshot: Tall, lanky linebacker who struggled to find playing time after transferring last year. A long strider who recovers well in space and effectively utilizes his elite length to make plays on the ball, but lacks elite range. Physical with his hands on contact, able to take on blocks effectively and shed with violence. Has added value as a desirable special teams body type.
LB Ahmad Walker - Southern Methodist University (2023-2024) | Liberty University (2021-2022)
Height: 5110e | Weight: 225e | Hand: N/A | Arm: N/A | Wing: N/A
Athletic Awards:
2024: HM All-ACC
2023: HM All-AAC
Citizenship: American
Video: N/A
Player snapshot: Thinly built linebacker that looks physically out-sized by opponents but plays above his frame. A fluid athlete in space who covers like a defensive back and redirects with ease. Explodes out of breaks and closes effectively to make plays on the ball. Did not measure as a late addition to the event.
EDGE Phillip Webb - Jackson State University (2023-2024) | Louisiana State University (2020-2021)
Height: 6036v | Weight: 252v | Hand: 9 1/8v | Arm: 33 7/8v | Wing: 81 4/8v
Athletic Awards: N/A
Citizenship: American
Video:
Player snapshot: Lanky edge rusher with an octopus wingspan that allows him to make plays even when out of position. His pass rush toolbox lacks sophistication, but flashes ability to use his reach effectively. Plays high with limited knee bend and ankle flexion, often getting washed wide around the arc. Former top 100 recruit who battled injuries and remains an intriguing prospect due to his raw tools.
Subscribe to the All22 Global Scouting Network Substack to view the remaining players, including import targets with positional versatility, intriguing non-Americans, and high career producers.