Student-intern Lorelei Brennan contributed to this story.
The Wilson football program hosted its first-ever winter showcase last week, with several college coaches in attendance to watch the Bruins begin early preparations for the 2026 season.
It’s common for teams to host showcases in the spring, but winter events like this are almost unheard of. The showcase came less than three months after Wilson’s final game of 2025, and Curtis said the idea was sparked by Derek Brown, whom he previously coached under at Bellflower.
“I remember whenever we lost an important late game he’d say, ‘We lost that game in January,’” Curtis said. “So what does winning a game in January look like? It means starting earlier with expectations, showing the community we’re doing more and pressing the flesh on improvement. We’re in the recruiting window, so I wanted to get these guys moving and put film out so coaches can put a face to a prospect.”
With that recruiting window coming to a close, the event served as one last opportunity for coaches to evaluate Wilson’s seniors, with several community college programs in attendance including Long Beach City College, El Camino and Golden West.
“These colleges are out and bouncing from school to school, so getting our guys out here and moving while inviting coaches was important,” Curtis said. “We have two JCs here and some Division III schools looking at seniors who haven’t been picked up yet, so it’s an opportunity for coaches to see them in action.”
Wilson is graduating a large senior class this year, but the showcase served as an early practice opportunity for returning players like three-star sophomore running back Jemel Grigsby. Grigsby is poised for a big junior year after rushing for 578 yards (10.5 per carry) and seven touchdowns during his sophomore campaign.
“It went pretty well,” Grigsby said after the showcase. “I’m just looking at everything like a learning opportunity.”
The event also served as one of the first looks at new players, including two in contention to start at quarterback. Logan Trafas is a reliable senior stepping up from junior varsity who got to show his throwing ability for the first time, while Jacob Powell is a promising freshman transfer from Servite who also had the chance to throw.
The showcase follows Wilson’s release of its 2026 schedule last month, which features a tough six-game non-league slate before the Bruins begin their Moore League title defense. Wilson’s fall training schedule will start with its annual Cardinal and Gold game on Aug. 8.
Photos by student-intern Lorelei Brennan:
