The United Football League teams building their rosters for the 2010 season attracted more than 1,000 players hoping to earn a professional football contract to open tryouts in five cities. The Sacramento Mountain Lions welcomed 280 prospective players to Natomas High School in Sacramento, while 200 players attended tryouts at Omaha Central High School and Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas for the Nighthawks and Locos respectively. Sage Field in Connecticut had almost 200 players trying out for the Hartford Colonials and the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando was the scene for a similar number of athletes who tested for the Florida Tuskers. Nighthawks head coach Jeff Jagodzinski was impressed with the turnout of players in Omaha where the team held its first public event in expansion franchise history. "You can tell how passionate they are about football around here," he said. "We are looking for football skills, not just speed and if they are talented football players they will show up in the drills." Head coach of the defending UFL champion Las Vegas Locos Jim Fassel and his staff ran the rule over 200 hopefuls on Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium before 50 players who had impressed at earlier tryouts in Phoenix and Los Angeles returned on Sunday. "That was a very good group of guys and there is a lot of potential there," said Fassel. "When you are testing these players you want to see how they take to coaching and see if a player is able to do what you're teaching him. "Now we will go back and discuss the players who were here and see how they meet the needs we have on our roster. Once we have done that and watched film, I am sure a good number of them will be invited to training camp." Fans attending the tryouts liked what they saw. "It is about time for pro football to come to Omaha," said Nighthawks fan Tim Casey, who sat in the stands at Central High School along with players' family and friends to support the new team. "This is affordable and in your face football." A varied cross section of players paced the practice fields in the five UFL home cities from those with NFL and major college experience to local hopefuls and indoor football league and junior college stars eager to prove they have what it takes to step up to the next level. Among the successful college players trying out was former BYU quarterback Bret Engemann, who attended the tryouts in Las Vegas. "I'm in shape, I'm still young enough and I feel like I can still play," said Engemann. "I want to keep playing and keep the dream alive. I'm focusing on being accurate, throwing on time and helping guys with their patterns. I feel I can be a leader out there." The Florida Tuskers shifted their focus from last week's Miami tryouts to the team's Florida Citrus Bowl home in Orlando. "Without question we saw some guys that we are going to bring back for further evaluation," said Tuskers head coach Jay Gruden. "A razor thin margin separates many of these athletes and that makes the evaluation process difficult. But that certainly is a good problem to have." Gruden and his staff noted that between 10 and 15 players from Saturday's camp would most likely be brought back, but because all five UFL teams are competing to find the best available players, none of the head coaches will disclose the names of the athletes that have peaked their interest. "Our only goal right now is to identify and sign the very best players we can for the start of training camp in August," added Gruden. "These open tryouts and private workouts are an important part of that process." Hartford Colonials head coach Chris Palmer added: "There really is a lot of talent out there. I've been saying to the fans; you're going to see something that you'll be pleasantly surprised by." Each tryout camp lasted approximately four hours and athletes were timed in the 20- and 40-yard dash and participated in a series of individual and team drills. "I believe there are enough talented athletes out there who can succeed in professional football and we are giving them that opportunity," said Sacramento Mountain Lions head coach Dennis Green. "Players who enjoyed successful college careers but for whatever reason did not then play at the professional level are still out there and we plan to find them." The tryouts continue this weekend when the Hartford Colonials move on to Danbury, CT, to coach Palmer's Immaculate High School alma mater on Saturday. The Sacramento Mountain Lions take their player search to San Mateo Community College on Sunday. The tryouts are for all positions, including kickers and punters and players should pre-register online at www.ufl-football.com.
