By Ben Line-Neumann, Eric Gray, and Satchel Perlowski

Every football player always has the dream of going pro, making the big play in the Super Bowl and holding the Lombardi trophy. Those dreams are usually unrealistic. What is completely realistic, however, is the chance to play or receive scholarships from a university. The California Showcase looks to provide an opportunity to do just that.

This year, the California Showcase will be held on Saturday, February 22nd at the Orange County Great Park in Orange County, California. Led by legendary former UCLA coach Terry Donahue, over 500 high school and second-year community college football players will go through a combination of drills, scrimmages and events in front of college scouts. 

The showcase is 100 percent free for all players, and the event gives them the exposure they may not have received during their season. In its seventh year, the showcase has already earned scholarships for over 900 players, accumulating to over 28 million dollars in financial aid. One in three players from the showcase sign with a college, and the average financial aid awarded per athlete is 25 thousand dollars, with 123 4-year colleges or universities participating. All the students participating have not accepted a Division I scholarship, which means that the showcase provides opportunities for the lesser-known players. 

Sign-up is still available, and walk-ons are welcome up until 7:30 A.M. on the 22nd. The event plans to run from 8:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M., ending with a college fair for the students. Athletes are required to bring their own food. For more details on the event or to sign up, visit https://www.cashowcase.org.