FORT WORTH, Texas—In February, representatives from all 10 PBR Teams squads were in Icem, Brazil, for the first-ever PBR Teams combine outside the United States.
During three days of competition, some of the best up-and-coming riders in the country rode bulls, underwent physical testing, and talked to coaches in person as they pursued their dreams.
The general consensus among the coaches and GMs was that there were a handful of legitimate prospects from the group in Icem, and they all headed home to continue scouting and preparing their draft plans.
The 2025 PBR Teams New Rider Draft took place last night in Austin, Texas, and we saw just how fruitful those few days in Brazil were.
Read on to learn more about the six riders from the combine who were selected in the draft.
No. 1 (Round 1, Pick 1): Jhon Carlos Moreira
The Arizona Ridge Riders truly struck gold in Icem, walking away with three picks they scouted at the combine. First up was the No. 1 overall pick in Jhon Carlos Moreira.
PBR.com introduced him last month after a stunning red-hot streak in PBR Brazil competition. In three PBR Brazil events in April, he went an astonishing 12-for-13 with two event wins and a second-place finish.
The 19-year-old from Confresa, Mato Grosso, had only competed in one PBR Brazil event when he arrived in Icem. But he quickly went from an unknown quantity to a hot topic, riding three bulls across the two days and amassing an aggregate score of 253.75 – the highest of the week.
Moreira started riding calves when he was 9, and he moved up to bigger bulls at 17 when he moved to the state of São Paulo.
He did so in defiance of his father.
“My father used to ride bulls, but he never came to São Paulo state, these big events,” Moreira said with Jeremias Moraes translating. “I used to watch my father ride a lot of bulls for other stock contractors, and I started liking it. But my father didn’t like the idea of me riding that much, so I had to go to other places to ride. My dad couldn’t see me ride. But when my dad saw potential in me, he started being okay with it, and now he helps me a lot.”
No. 11 (Round 2, Pick 1): Riquelme dos Santos
With their second draft pick, the Ridge Riders were back at it again, this time selecting Riquelme dos Santos, who’s currently ranked No. 2 in the PBR Brazil standings.
The 20-year-old started riding when he was 15, turning pro at 17, and has been active in PBR Brazil this season with an event win in Extrema in October and four total Top-10 finishes in 10 events.
“Nobody in my family used to ride, but my brother started riding but didn’t become a professional,” Santos said. “I started watching that. I’m from the farm and was watching everybody ride, and I fell in love with it.
“For me, it’s just a great opportunity, being here. It’s a little bit of pressure as well, but I’m going to see what God prepares for me.”
No. 15 (Round 2, Pick 5): Gabriel Henrique da Silva
It was the Carolina Cowboys’ turn to get in on the action, selecting Gabriel Henrique da Silva with their second pick.
Silva, whom we introduced on the second day of the combine, was the youngest rider on hand in Icem at just 17 years old. Now 18, he’s just beginning his PBR career.
“It brings the pressure because I never experienced nothing like this,” Silva said with Jeremias Moraes translating. “Everything is so organized, and it’s all so new for me. So it’s experience.”
Silva has been riding bulls for two years, but started on calves when he was 6. His father, who was his chaperone in Icem, used to be a professional bull rider and is the one who got him started in the sport. Growing up in a family of bull riders, Silva says, is what’s helped him to be so talented at such a young age.
“All the help I have, my father, my uncles, my brothers – if I didn’t have them, I wouldn’t be where I am,” he said.
Even at such a young age, Silva is ready for a big move to the United States and is laser-focused on his goals.
“I’m not afraid because this is my dream, and not only mine, but my family’s,” he said. “So it’s what I want.”
No. 17 (Round 2, Pick 7): Douglas da Silva
The Florida Freedom got into the mix with their second pick, choosing Douglas da Silva.
Silva has just three PBR Brazil events from 2021-22 under his belt, having gone 1-for-6. In Icem, he rode two bulls for 84 points apiece and an aggregate of 168.
“He’s a right-hand guy, really strong, rides really correct,” Freedom head coach Paulo Crimber told Matt West after drafting Silva. “Goes both ways. He impressed me before I invited him to the combine, and I think they all got a little bit nervous during the combine, but I’ve been watching him. He did so great after the combine, and it’s a guy I could not pass on.”
No. 21 (Round 3, Pick 1): Elzisclay dos Santos
The Ridge Riders went back to the well for their final draft pick, selecting Elzisclay dos Santos with the first pick in Round 3.
The 24-year-old hails from Campo Alegre de Goias and first competed in PBR Brazil in 2022. He started going more consistently in 2024 and has three events under his belt in April and May, winning his most recent event in Carvalhopolis. At the combine, Santos rode his first and last bulls for an aggregate score of 170.75.
Santos followed his stepfather into the sport and, while his influence was invaluable, Santos says the rider he most looks up to is newly minted three-time World Champion Jose Vitor Leme.
“It’s the realization of a dream,” Santos said. “Every cowboy wants to ride with his idols, and to do that, to ride with Jose and the other good bull riders, is going to be a realization of the dreams I had when I was a kid.”
No. 24 (Round 3, Pick 4): Pablo Soares
Pablo Soares, taken by the Nashville Stampede with their final pick, rounds out the combine attendees who were drafted.
The 20-year-old from Colider had a strong showing at the combine, going 3-for-4 with scores of 82.75, 83.5 and 80.5 points for an aggregate of 246.75. His aggregate score was the second-highest of the week behind only Moreira.
Soares has competed in just one PBR Brazil event, going 3-for-4 and finishing fourth in Itapeva in April.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media