At different stations set up in the fieldhouse at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, 300 high school athletes participated in combine-style testing and position-specific drills in the Browns 2026 High School Showcase.
Held in association with Gatorade and University Hospitals, the Browns hosted the annual event to provide opportunities for high school sophomores and juniors aiming to continue their football careers at the collegiate level.
Those 300 high school athletes traveled from over 100 schools across Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Kentucky to attend the event. Athletes were broken up into two sessions, which featured combine-style testing and position-specific drills, allowing participants to demonstrate their skills in passing, route running, lineman work, agility drills and more in front of scouts and collegiate coaches. Colleges in attendance included Ashland University, Baldwin Wallace University, Hiram College, Heidelberg University, University of Mount Union, Oberlin College, Otterbein University and Walsh University.
"I think it's a really good opportunity for these young guys to show what they're capable of doing on the field," Baldwin Wallace graduate assistant linebackers coach Zach Zoul said. "Because I remember like it was yesterday for me playing in this exact same showcase, showing off to these college coaches. It was kind of like a dream come true that's really going to set the tone for where your trajectory is going to be for you."
Browns head coach Todd Monken kicked off both sessions by sharing a message with the athletes in attendance.
"The best players I know are coachable," Monken said ahead of the afternoon session. "'Coach me, Coach' players. They want to be coached. They want to be disciplined. They crave information that helps them become better at whatever that is."
Following his remarks, athletes proceeded through a structured warm-up led by members of T3 Performance. Then they transitioned into combine-style drills, including the 40-yard dash, shuttle run, broad jump, vertical jump and bench press.
The athletes later moved on to position-specific drills tailored to their respective roles on the field, highlighting their skills in areas such as passing mechanics, route running and linemen techniques. Group drills followed, allowing players to demonstrate teamwork, communication and competitive spirit in simulated game scenarios.
"I've been playing football since I was in elementary school, five or six years old," Luke McGovern, a junior from Aurora High School, said. "I attended the showcase last year, so I was able to prepare and knew what was expected. I wanted to run the 40 in sub-4.4, and I got it, I ran 4.31. So, I am very excited about that. My favorite part of the clinic was the one on ones at the end and being able to compete against the other athletes there. I'm very happy how today turned out and glad my hard work was seen on the leaderboard."
The High School Showcase continues to be a beacon of opportunity for aspiring athletes, helping them gain exposure and take steps toward their collegiate football dreams.
To learn more about Browns youth football programming, follow us on X @BrownsYFB and Instagram @BrownsGiveBack.
