Inaugural NFL-FCS Showcase Boosts Erick Hunter’s Pro Outlook

Morgan State linebacker Erick Hunter capped an All-American season by taking part in the inaugural NFL–FCS Showcase in Nashville during national-championship weekend, giving him direct access to NFL evaluators in the tight post-season evaluation window. Hunter, a Stats Perform FCS second-team All-American and Buck Buchanan Award finalist, joined roughly 30 FCS prospects for interviews with NFL team representatives and limited on-field drills on Jan. 4-5, 2026.

The showcase was coordinated by the NCAA, the American Football Coaches Association and the NFL as a way to centralize conversation around top FCS talent immediately after the college season. For players like Hunter, who are already on pro radars because of postseason honors and awards recognition, the event provided face-to-face time with scouts and front-office staff and a chance to reinforce what game tape already shows.

Hunter used the appearance as both evaluation and networking time, then accepted an invitation to The American Bowl, which will be televised on NFL Network. The sequence of a concentrated showcase followed by televised all-star opportunities gives FCS standouts a clearer, faster path to be seen alongside their FBS counterparts in the eyes of NFL personnel. For NFL teams, the two-day format compressed interviews and on-field looks, allowing scouts to compare prospects on a common schedule and under similar conditions.

This matters to coaches, agents and fans who track small-school production because it creates a predictable post-season calendar for FCS prospects seeking pro opportunities. Players who earn All-American honors or land on watch lists now have a recognized next step where they can make impressions beyond film and combine metrics. For FCS programs, the showcase highlights a recruiting message: strong seasons here can translate into pro opportunities that will be noticed by the NFL in a concentrated forum.

Expect the immediate ripple effects to show up in pro-day planning, agent outreach and how programs structure postseason communication with NFL personnel. The showcase also raises the stakes for players to arrive prepared with up-to-date highlights, clean positional fundamentals, and crisp interview answers.

The takeaway? Treat the post-season as prime recruiting season for the pros: lock down your tape, polish your talking points, and follow up with the contacts you make. That concentrated exposure can turn a standout FCS season into a real shot at the next level.