Wheeling, W. Va. - Over the weekend, some of the top college football prospects looking to make the jump to the next level converged on Washington, DC for the Xtreme Football League (XFL) DC Showcase. It was a chance for players to show off their skills in front of all eight XFL teams in hopes of getting a chance to be invited to the 2023 XFL Combine in Arlington, Texas, July 25th - 27th. Former Wheeling University Football player Lowell Patron was among the athletes in attendance and earned an invite to the XFL combine after a strong showing at the XFL DC Showcase.
Around 300 perspective athletes from across the country packed inside the Jones-Hill House on the campus of The University of Maryland on Saturday to showcase their skills. Once there, athletes were measured for their height and weight, before going through a series of drills to showcase their speed, agility, and jump height among other traits that would make them successful in the NFL. The drills included a 40-Yard Dash, an L Drill (which is a drill where three cones are placed in an L-shape to test an athlete's agility), and a Broad Jump (to test the athletes jumping distance as well as their ability to explode out of their stance). While no numbers were given just yet, Patron had a big day, earning an invite to the XFL Combine from showcase staff immediately following the event.
The 2022 season was a career year for Patron, who not only set career highs in several categories, but also wrote his name in the Wheeling Football history books. Patron finished the season with 56 catches for a career-best 726 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 12.96 yards per catch. He led the team in receptions and receiving yards, while tying for the team lead with six receiving touchdowns, while sitting top five in the MEC (Mountain East Conference) in both receiving yards and receiving yards per game (66.00). Over his two years in a Cardinals uniform, Patron set the career record for Yards per Catch (13.00) and Receiving Yards per Game (59.55), while holding the single-season and single-game Receiving Yard record with 726 and 177.
Since graduating with his master's in business administration this past May, Patron has been pursuing an opportunity at the next level and was thrilled to be able to showcase his talents over the weekend.
"It was fun competing with everyone and getting a chance to show that I'm just as talented as the rest," said Patron. "Before I went to the showcase, former Wheeling Offensive Coordinator Nemo Washington told me to write my goals down and I did and now it came to light. Since I have gotten the invite to the actual combine now, I'm just preparing for that to see where it takes me.
Lowell Patron will now be preparing for the XFL Combine, which runs July 25th through July 27th at Choctaw Stadium, home of the XFL's Arlington Renegades.
