In the world of football scouting, not every future pro comes from a blue-blood program or makes headlines on Saturdays. For Mike Rittelmann, Director of Player Personnel and Scouting at the College Gridiron Showcase (CGS), the real thrill is finding the overlooked, the underestimated, and the players who simply need the right opportunity to shine.
Now entering its 12th year, the CGS has built a reputation as a proving ground for late-round NFL Draft picks, undrafted free agents, and future CFL, UFL, and IFL players. Rittelmann has been a key part of that growth, spending the last nine years helping shape rosters that bring together athletes from every level of college football, from FBS powerhouses to NAIA programs, and even international teams.
Building a Platform for Opportunity
Founded by Jose Jefferson and Craig Redd, CGS set out to create a space in the crowded all-star game landscape that focused on showcasing players on the bubble — the fifth- to seventh-round prospects, priority free agents, and practice squad hopefuls who still have plenty of pro potential.
“It’s not where you play, it’s how you play,” Rittelmann says, echoing the event’s motto. CGS scouts scour the country to find the best talent regardless of conference or school size, looking for athletes who dominate at their level and have traits that can translate to the next stage.
With a team of about 20 regional scouts, CGS compiles data and film from across the country before bringing everyone together to shape the roster. This process includes setting positional targets, how many quarterbacks, running backs, linemen, and so on and sending out invitations in the fall. It’s a grind, but for Rittelmann, it’s a rewarding one.
From the Equipment Room to the Scouting Director’s Chair
Rittelmann’s own football journey began humbly. He started in the equipment room, coached high school and college football for over a decade, and joined CGS as an intern before working his way into leadership.
That coaching and operations background still shapes how he approaches scouting today. Trust, communication, and understanding what a coaching staff needs are all part of the job. And in the high-pressure world of roster construction, those relationships matter.
“You’ve got to rely on your connections,” he explains. “Whether it’s agents, college coaches, or pro scouts, having accurate, trusted information is crucial to building the right roster.”
A Track Record of Success
CGS’s approach has paid off. Over the last five years, the event has averaged more than 110 undrafted rookie camp signings annually and produced 19 NFL Draft picks. Many of those players have gone on to make significant impacts in the league — including Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro punter AJ Cole, Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo, and NFL All-Pro returner Gunner Olszewski.
Special teams players, in particular, have been a standout group for CGS. As Rittelmann notes, those roles often provide a gateway for bubble players to carve out a spot in the pros. And in some cases, like Olszewski, their versatility and athleticism allow them to transition into new positions entirely.
Scouting Across Levels and Borders
While CGS works to attract the best athletes from FBS and FCS programs, Rittelmann is quick to point out that small-school players are a vital part of the roster. For those athletes, dominating at their level is the first requirement, but measurables like height, weight, and speed also factor into their evaluation.
For example, a Division II offensive lineman who stands 6’1” faces an uphill battle from a prototype standpoint, but strong film, athletic traits, and technique can still make them a worthy invite.
CGS also considers Canadian college players and has even had international participants. Rittelmann’s additional role as a scout for the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders helps him understand the unique requirements of different leagues, from roster ratios to positional needs.
What Sets CGS Apart
One of CGS’s biggest differentiators is the direct access it provides between players and pro scouts. During the event, players are assigned an intern or scout runner who ensures they meet with teams requesting interviews. This eliminates the “chasing” scouts often have to do at larger events and streamlines the process.
“It’s unlimited time,” Rittelmann says. “If a team wants to talk to a player for an hour, they can. If they just need ten minutes, that’s fine too. We make it efficient so they can get their work done.”
This setup benefits not only players but also aspiring scouts and operations professionals. CGS offers hands-on experience for interns who want to break into the industry, some of whom have gone on to full-time roles in pro football.
The Evaluation Process: More Than Just Film
While game tape remains a key tool, CGS supplements it with personal interactions, background research, and analytics. The event partners with Tracking Football to incorporate track data and athletic metrics into their evaluations, giving scouts a fuller picture of each prospect.
For Rittelmann, one underrated quality he looks for is how a player’s skills fit within a scheme. Fans might focus on stats or highlight plays, but scouts are thinking about whether a player can execute the specific role a team envisions for them. That can mean considering traits like arm length for offensive tackles or change-of-direction quickness for defensive backs and knowing when a player’s technique can offset physical measurements.
The Work Fans Don’t See
Behind every CGS roster is a massive amount of unseen work: visiting schools, attending spring practices, speaking with coaches and even teachers to learn about a player’s character, and understanding how they practice and prepare. All of that context shapes whether a player gets an invite.
As Rittelmann puts it, “There’s so much background work and evaluation on bringing a player into a program, regardless of college or the pros. You’re trying to get what that player is from a personal standpoint and an athletic standpoint before you bring them in.”
Looking Ahead
With the 2025 CGS on the horizon, Rittelmann and his team are deep into scouting meetings and building their watch lists. And while the NIL era and extended eligibility from COVID years have changed the college football landscape, CGS remains focused on its mission: giving overlooked players the chance to prove themselves in front of pro decision-makers.
For Rittelmann, the reward comes when a player who might have been overlooked elsewhere gets that shot and makes the most of it.