Tight end Sage Surratt, 2024 UFL Memphis Showboats. (Showboats photo)
Tight end Sage Surratt is making a name for himself as a member of the Memphis Showboats. In the Week 3 game against the Birmingham Stallions, Surratt caught four passes for 40 yards, the longest being 24 yards. On the season, Surratt is currently ranked 13th among all UFL receivers with 10 catches for 110 yards.
When asked about the Birmingham game and how the Stallions were able to make their offense look anemic, Surratt had a few thoughts.
“They played well, and I think they did a good job getting pressure on us. Hats off to those guys,” Surratt said. “We also didn’t do our part. We didn’t execute. So, a combination of those things.”
“I think we left some plays out there as an offense,” Surratt said. “We went back and watched yesterday, and we said, ‘Hey, we can make those plays.’ We’ve done some in practice, and we didn’t do them.”
Of course, this was only week three of a ten-week season, so the Showboats have plenty of opportunities to perfect their offense in the weeks ahead.
Surratt grew up in Lincolnton, North Carolina, before attending Wake Forest University, where he played for the Demon Deacons. He signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2021, was waived on August 31, 2021, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, only to be released on September 15, 2021.
The USFL Birmingham Stallions drafted Surratt on March 10, 2022, and then transferred him to the team’s practice squad on April 14, 2022, where he remained inactive until May 6. After being activated, a hip flexor injury made him inactive again, until May 20.
On July 31, 2022, Surratt signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. Regrettably, Surratt suffered an injury during training camp, leading to his waiver and settlement on August 30, 2022.
On February 15, 2023, Surratt went back to the USFL, this time with the New Orleans Breakers, where he caught 50 passes for 552 yards and one touchdown. When the Breakers folded after the USFL merger with the XFL, Surratt was drafted by the Memphis Showboats during the UFL dispersal draft.
Now with the Showboats, Surratt continues to make spring football a way of life and is focusing on being a better player, just in case the NFL comes calling.
“I’m just going out and putting good tape on film, as this is a great opportunity to put tape out there,” Surratt said. “Just honing my skills and being a better player any way I can be, on offense and special teams. You know, being a good teammate.”
Surratt enjoys playing for the Showboats, especially in front of the fans in Memphis. Last week, in their Week 2 home game, Surratt and his teammates had a chance to see the fans for the first time and were able to meet them at team events held in the Bluff City.
“It was a great atmosphere. I was really excited to be in Memphis.” Surratt said. “I was looking forward to playing in front of the home crowd, and can’t wait to see them again.”
Surratt will have to wait before the Showboats have another home game in Memphis. This week, the Showboats are headed to St. Louis to meet the Battlehawks in “The Dome,” which is a venue with no shortage of home fans. However, Surratt doesn’t see a downside to playing in front of a throng of another team’s fans.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Surratt said. “Being in front of a large crowd and being the away team. Obviously, a win for the home team is good, but winning in front of a packed crowd that’s going against you is also fun as well. I’m looking forward to see how we’re going to handle that atmosphere.”
This week, the Memphis Showboats visit the St. Louis Battlehawks on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 12:30 PM Eastern. The game will air on ABC, and good tickets are available at Ticketmaster and Stubhub.
