Could pro football be in the future for USF players Sean Atkins, RJ Perry and Nay'Quan Wright? They will begin to get an answer to that question after completing auditions in front of about 150 scouts from the NFL, CFL, spring and indoor leagues, and even the WWE.
Atkins and Perry will participate in the College Gridiron Showcase and Symposium in Fort Worth from January 10-12. Wright will compete in the Trillion Tropical Bowl in Daytona Beach January 16-19.
Atkins came to USF as a walk-on from Viera High School and leaves as one of the Bulls' most decorated receivers. He is USF’s all-time career leader in receptions (200) and receiving yards (2,167). He also had 12 touchdowns.
Atkins also returned punts and in the last two seasons even completed five of seven passes and had a 62-yard scoring pass to Kelley Joiner against Charlotte in 2023.
Perry, who is 6-foot-6 and weighs 320 pounds, started 18 games in two seasons at offensive tackle for the Bulls after transferring from Tennessee. Perry was part of an offensive line that helped USF rush for 300 or more yards in four games in 2024. That is tied for third most in the FBS.
Wright ran for 1,307 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 32 passes for 174 yards in his two seasons with the Bulls after transferring from the University of Florida.
Atkins and Perry will be part of group of up to 300 athletes in the three-day event, where they will participate in controlled scrimmages and drills under the watchful eyes of scouts.
Also, participants are given mentoring, life coaching, and seminars to help them prepare for their lives outside of football as well as what they could look forward to as professional football players.
The Trillion Bowl attracts similar attention from scouts and general managers to watch practices in Orlando before the game at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach.
USF has not had a player drafted by an NFL team since receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Deadrin Senat in 2018, but back-to-back winning seasons under second-year coach Alex Golesh – including two bowl wins – is changing the Bulls’ image.