On March 27th, several free agent football players from across the country gathered in Chula Vista, California, to work out in hopes of signing a pro contract. This was the latest of many camps from HUB football, created and designed by sports agent Don Yee. The goal of HUB Football is to create a one-of-a-kind experience that players cannot find elsewhere, which among other things, includes player-specific film and an opportunity to connect with scouts. Of the 25 players in attendance, I have selected six who looked the most pro-ready. These three are from the offensive side of the ball, and can be found below.
Montell Cozart, QB, Boise State
Cozart split his time in college between Kansas and Boise State, carving out a solid and respectable career for himself. In August 2018, after the NFL didn’t show interest during or after the draft, Cozart signed with the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL. As a rookie, Cozart was the backup, and won the 106th Grey Cup as a member of the team. In 2019, he recorded his first official CFL stat (pass completion), but was not given the chance to start once again.
The Stampeders planned to bring Cozart back for 2020, but COVID-19 canceled the season. He’d been selling cars back in Kansas to make ends meet, but the HUB camp gave Cozart a comeback opportunity. He saw plenty of reps during scrimmages, taking advantage of each one with his strong arm. Cozart also has great size for his position, an added bonus that could be a make-or-break for teams. Just last week, the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions signed Cozart to be the backup to J’Mar Smith, another HUB alumnus who attended the camp in February.
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
Guice was praised for his aggressive running style during his time at LSU, which was also on display at the HUB camp. He broke multiple school records en route to becoming a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, taken 59th overall by the then-Washington Redskins. Guice’s pro career got off to a rocky start, as he suffered a torn ACL in week one of the preseason. He made his debut in 2019, but only appeared in six games due to more injuries.
Although there were flashes of the talent seen in college, Guice’s time in Washington was cut short, with multiple legal issues leading to his release in 2020. Now that the charges have been dropped, however, Guice is looking to get back on the field as soon as possible. The workout in Chula Vista proved he hasn’t lost a step, and that he could immediately contribute wherever he ends up. Additionally, Guice showed his versatility as a receiver out of the backfield, with his hands looking just as good as his legs. The 24-year-old still has many good years of football left in him, and is getting closer to scaring opposing defenses again.
Peter Guerriero, RB, Monmouth
Guerriero’s social media handle is “Petey the Jet,” which perfectly describes how he plays. Unlike Guice, Guerriero is smaller and more agile. Instead of beating you with pure power and muscle, he uses speed and cuts to dodge defenders en route to the endzone. Guerriero played college football at Monmouth, and became one of the best rushers at the FCS level over three seasons.
In his junior year, Guerriero led the FCS in rushing yards with 1,995, averaging over 6 yards per carry in the process. He also had 4 games with over 200 yards on the ground, and had the same number of games with two or more rushing touchdowns. After stops with the Panthers, Jets, and Steelers in the NFL, Guerriero has found a new home with the USFL’s New Jersey Generals. Ultimately, he is the complete package at the running back position, and will continue to demonstrate his talents at the next level thanks to HUB.
