Overall MVPs and breakout performances from the Northwest Showcase

This weekend's annual Northwest Showcase at Western Oregon University featured dozens of certified Division 1 recruits, more than 900 student-athletes and roughly 200 college coaches.

The unpadded, five-session high school football showcase once again led to several scholarship offers and delivered several recruitment-altering performances.

Here's a look at the top performers from the event.

Overall MVP: TE/DE Mike Taylor (Desert Pines, 2028)

To say Mike Taylor wowed Saturday at Western Oregon would be an understatement.

After winning "defensive line MVP" of Session 2, he proved to be completely un-coverable in Session 4 at the tight end position.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound fluid athlete earned a quick in-person offer from Oregon's Dan Lanning, adding to a list that already includes Arizona and California.

Taylor will be a national recruit and has five-star upside.

He is flat-out special and will be one of the top prospects on the West Coast as soon as this year. 

QB MVP: Cade Mitchell (Mountainside, 2026)

I've been a fan of Cade Mitchell's for more than a year.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound signal-caller is arguably the top senior quarterback in the state of Oregon and should be getting high-end FCS/FBS looks.

Admittedly, the quarterback position wasn't a star-studded group, but that's no fault of the Mountainside star.

Mitchell, a district champion in the javelin, showcased his arm Saturday and proved, once again, that he's one of the most underrated passers on the West Coast.

Great month of camps for June! 2 showcases 2 MVP’s. 👀@THENWSHOWCASE @AveryShowcases @flyguyhuey5 @JordanJ_ @BrandonHuffman @KeanonLowe @MavHSFB @CoachWhitleyII @AndrewNemec pic.twitter.com/qbkmeyd4PT

— Cade Mitchell (3⭐️ QB) (@CadeMitchell08) June 18, 2025

RB MVP: James Curoso (Clovis, 2028)

Clovis linebacker/running back James Curoso was a major contributor as a freshman at the high school level and finished 4th in the state in wrestling.

He's got the size - 5-foot-11, 195 pounds - speed and quickness to emerge as one of the top backs on the West Coast very soon.

Curoso couldn't be covered in one-on-ones against linebackers and displayed excellent footwork in drills, showcasing an athleticism one doesn't often see in a young running back prospect. 

He was one of the more dominant athletes at the entire event, which is saying something for a 2028 prospect.

An honorable mention nod goes to Central Catholic (California) three-star running back Carter Meeks, who earned Session 1 overall MVP.

2028 @James_Curoso continues to have a big day @THENWSHOWCASE pic.twitter.com/3vuUZ1JW40

— Andrew Nemec (@AndrewNemec) June 17, 2025

WR/TE MVP: Osani Gales (IMG Academy, 2027)

IMG Academy (Florida) star Osani Gales entered the day as arguably the most celebrated recruit at the Northwest Showcase.

And he lived up to the hype.

The former California star, who transferred to the Florida powerhouse, is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound athlete with more than 20 scholarship offers.

Gales is a spectacular athlete with tremendous fluidity, and he's likely to be one of the most electric players in the country over the next two years. 

OL MVP: Phoenix Pollard (Coronado, 2027)

Class of 2027 offensive lineman Phoenix Pollard set a high bar when he earned Session 1's offensive line MVP.

The 6-foot-6, 350-pound athlete was a load in one-on-one action and proved difficult for defenders to get around.

Pollard holds offers from California, Idaho, New Mexico, Sacramento State and UNLV. 

Session One MVPs at the @THENWSHOWCASE
Overall: Carter Meeks
OL: Phoenix Pollard, 2027
DL: Malachi Ebai
RB: Isaiah Owens
LB: Aaron Maier, 2027 pic.twitter.com/GLSRRrSVkX

— Brandon Huffman (@BrandonHuffman) June 17, 2025

DL MVP: Malachi Ebai (Oak Harbor, 2026)

Taylor and one other name set to appear later were the top two defensive linemen at Saturday's event.

But both claim bigger overall awards, which opens up the spot for Ebai.

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive lineman was the DL MVP of Session 1 and had a very strong day.

There's no doubt Ebai helped himself on the recruiting trail with his strong performance.

LB MVP: EJ Coleman (Folsom, 2027) 

I thought the Northwest Showcase absolutely crushed it when it came to their MVP awards for each session.

The best performance, not just the best prospect, was awarded all day. That's what camps should be about.

My one gripe came in Session 1.

The linebacker MVP battle was close between Coleman and 2027 Serra (California) linebacker Aaron Maier, and the MVP vote was actually split.

But, to me, Coleman had the best day.

When he followed it up by being one of the top 4-5 running backs in Session 2, his status as a camp MVP was solidified in my eyes.

In my opinion, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound athlete has a higher ceiling at 'backer at the college level.

But I'd be intrigued by him on either side of the ball as a college evaluator. 

Also During session 1 at linebacker had 0 balls caught on me during best of the best @THENWSHOWCASE @AndrewNemec @PeteMenage @Paytonshafer pic.twitter.com/SWYA5AvGF6

— EJ Coleman (@EJColeman7) June 18, 2025

DB MVP: Jasiah Denmark (Puyallup, 2026)

Another tight battle.

Isaiah Campbell more than held his own as a 2028 prospect against legit older FBS-caliber prospects, which earned him Session 4 MVP.

In Session 5, 2026 Puyallup cornerback Jasiah Denmark proved to be a shutdown corner on the outside.

Both deserve tremendous praise for their showings on Saturday.

But Denmark has been on a tear this spring on the camp circuit and is establishing himself as one of the top prospects in the Pacific Northwest.

— Reggie Jones (@RegJones20) June 18, 2025

Breakout offensive performance: OL Xavier Berry (Cascade Christian, 2029) 

Xavier Berry began his session working out against the younger players at the camp.

By the end, he was being prominently featured in the most talented older group. 

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound offensive lineman more than held his own and earned a scholarship offer from Oregon's Dan Lanning before leaving for the day.

Berry will be a national recruit and is likely to be one of the most heavily recruited players in his class.

The sky is the limit for him. 

— Reggie Jones (@RegJones20) June 17, 2025

Breakout defensive performance: Josh Christensen (Lake Oswego, 2027)

Lake Oswego had a loaded roster last year, so Josh Christensen was a backup behind two all-state-caliber defensive ends.

Still, there was some buzz about his potential.

He showed why in Session 2 on Saturday, earning overall MVP, an award that is likely to change his recruitment going forward.

The 6-foot-6, 235-pound edge-rusher won nearly every rep and looked far more polished than his non-starter label from last year.

Christensen immediately catapulted his stock to being among the most must-see prospects in the state of Oregon and should see some early offers based on his showing. 

— Reggie Jones (@RegJones20) June 17, 2025