We’ve been talking about these players for 10 weeks of UFL play, and now we asked our UFLBoard contributors to collectively weigh-in on their choices for a 2024 “All-UFL” team. Three of our contributors, Greg Parks, Aidan Burke, and Mark Nelson took the challenge. Here are the results:
Offense
Quarterback, Adrian Martinez, Birmingham Stallions
The presumptive league MVP was also the league’s most dangerous QB. ~ Greg Parks
3rd league-wide in passing yardage (1,750); 2nd in passing touchdowns (15); 1st in rushing yardage AS A QUARTERBACK; 6-1 record as starter ~ Aidan Burke
One of two players to throw for 300 yards or more in a game, he provided the Stallions with a double-edged sword as he was also the leagues top rusher with 528 yards on the season. Martinez finished the regular season with more than 2,200 total yards and 18 touchdowns. ~ Mark Nelson
Running Back, Jacob Saylors, St. Louis Battlehawks
Started the year third on the depth chart, ended up averaging almost five yards per carry. ~ Greg Parks
Top UFL running back with 94 carries for 461 yards (4.9 yards per carry) and 5 touchdowns. Hugely responsible for St. Louis’s success on offense. ~ Mark Nelson
Difficult to determine because there has been no tailback that has really stood out from the rest — just a lot of good ones; Saylors was the rushing yards leader (460) at his position; T-2nd league-wide in rushing touchdowns (5); 4.9 yards per carry in 9 games ~ Aidan Burke
Tight End, Jace Sternberger, Birmingham Stallions
Sternberger was one of the most solid parts of the powerful Stallions offense. ~ Mark Nelson
Rarely do you see tight ends average 18 yards per catch, but Sternberger did just that. ~ Greg Parks
Honorable mention goes to Sal Cannella, but team success was the tiebreaker; Sternberger—2nd league-wide in yards per reception (18.2); 6th in receiving yardage (454); T-6th in receiving touchdowns (4); big-playmaking target for Adrian Martinez. ~ Aidan Burke
Wide Receiver, Hakeem Butler, St. Louis Battlehawks
The most physical receiver in the UFL; league leader in receiving yardage (652); T-2nd in receiving touchdowns (5); T-4th in receptions (45). ~ Aidan Burke
Defensive backs still figuring out how to defend his size/speed combo. ~ Greg Parks
Hakeem Butler is one of the most important offensive weapons in a sizzling hot Battlehawks offense. On 45 catches Butler had a league-leading 652 yards and five touchdowns. Zoom! ~ Mark Nelson
Wide Receiver, Daewood Davis, Memphis Showboats
Speediest receiver in the UFL; T-2nd league-wide in receiving touchdowns (5); 6th in receptions (41); 7th in receiving yardage (446); longest receiving touchdown of the season vs. Michigan (82 yards). ~ Aidan Burke
Hard to believe an offense with two stellar WRs performed so poorly. ~ Greg Parks
Davis was a bright spot on a struggling Memphis offense with 446 receiving yards on 41 catches with five touchdowns. ~ Mark Nelson
Wide Receiver, Justin Hall, Houston Roughnecks
The one consistent piece of Houston’s offense all season, just started getting a taste of his potential. ~ Greg Parks
1st league-wide in yards after catch (372); T-1st in receptions (56); 3rd in receiving yardage (603). ~ Aidan Burke
Provided consistency and leadership in a Roughnecks offence that struggled at times. Ranked third with 604 receiving yards on 56 catches with three touchdowns. ~ Mark Nelson
Wide Receiver, Jontre Kirklin, San Antonio Brahmas
T-1st league-wide in receptions (56); second in receiving yardage (614). ~ Aidan Burke
Could act as a downfield threat or in the short pass game in space. Oh, and he can throw the ball too. ~ Greg Parks
56 receptions for 614 yards ranks Kirklin second in the league. Three touchdowns gives Kirklin the scoring prowess the Brahmas needed. ~ Mark Nelson
Offensive Guard, Liam Fornadel, D.C. Defenders
6 quarterback pressures allowed (6 hurries, 0 hits, 0 sacks and 2 penalties 596 snaps at right guard; 3rd-highest PFF run-blocking grade (71.0) at guard position. ~ Aidan Burke
D.C.’s offensive line as a whole didn’t play to the level of last year, but Fornadel did. ~ Greg Parks
Offensive Guard, Rashaad Coward, San Antonio Brahmas
An important offseason addition to the Brahmas that will likely go under the radar with all the moves they made. ~ Greg Parks
The perfect fixture on a solid Brahmas offensive line. ~ Mark Nelson
Offensive Tackle, Bobby Evans, Arlington Renegades
Showed the talent that made him an NFL third-round draft pick. ~ Greg Parks
Key part of the Renegades success on offense. ~ Mark Nelson
Offensive Tackle, Matt Kaskey, Birmingham Stallions
Played both left and right tackle as Skip Holtz wanted to give his guys plenty of tape. ~ Greg Parks
Matt Kaskey has been a key element to the Stallions rushing attack, opening up running lanes for Ricky Person and CJ. Marable, making Birmingham a top rushing team in the UFL. ~ Mark Nelson
Center, Jake Lacina, Arlington Renegades
Four quarterback pressures allowed (4 hurries, 0 hits, 0 sacks) and 1 penalty on 511 snaps; top PFF pass-blocking grade (84.8) and 2nd-highest run-blocking grade (71.2) at position. ~ Aidan Burke
The highest-graded center in the league by PFF and it’s not even close. ~ Greg Parks
Defense
Nose Tackle, Carlos Davis, Birmingham Stallions
Stuffed runs and brought pressure from the interior for Birmingham all-season long; T-2nd league-wide in sacks (7.0); 21 total tackles ~ Aidan Burke
Continued to produce as an interior disruptor for Birmingham. ~ Greg Parks
Defensive End, Breeland Speaks, Michigan Panthers
The league leader in sacks, Speaks has notched 9.5 sacks to go along with 31 tackles. His 13.5 tackles for loss also leads the UFL this season. Speaks is a key to Mike Nolan’s defense, and a leader on the Panthers squad. ~ Mark Nelson
League’s sack leader was a terror in the backfield all season. ~ Greg Parks
Vital contributor on a top UFL defense; league-leader in sacks (9.5); 31 tackles~ Aidan Burke
Defensive End, Malik Fisher, D.C. Defenders
Ward teamed with Trent Harris on the outside to form the Defenders. Coaches believe it’s only a matter of time before he gets an NFL opportunity. ~ Greg Parks
T-2nd league-wide in sacks (7.0); 33 tackles; huge improvement from 6 tackles and 0 sacks in 2023. ~ Aidan Burke
Linebacker, Jordan Williams, San Antonio Brahmas
Part of San Antonio’s 3-headed monster of tackling machines; 5th league-wide in total tackles ~ Aidan Burke
A important force within the San Antonio defensive line. Racked up 61 total tackles, 5 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks. ~ Mark Nelson
Linebacker, Willie Harvey, St. Louis Battlehawks
Willie Harvey was a top ranked UFL defender with four sacks, 78 total tackles, nine tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles. . ~ Mark Nelson
The league’s leading tackler had a breakout pro season in 2024. ~ Greg Parks
League-leader in total tackles (76) at weakside linebacker; 4.0 sacks in 10 games. ~ Aidan Burke
Linebacker, Tavante Beckett, San Antonio Brahmas
Relentless pursuit to the ball is among Beckett’s calling cards on defense. ~ Greg Parks
Beckett was a demon for opposing offenses with 1.5 sacks, 72 total tackles, nine tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles. ~ Mark Nelson
Part of San Antonio’s 3-headed monster of tackling machines; 3rd league-wide in total tackles (72); 5th-highest PFF defensive grade at position. ~ Aidan Burke
Cornerback, Nate Brooks, Michigan Panthers
Heard his name called every week showing up and showing out in coverage. ~ Greg Parks
Brooks was a leader in the Panthers secondary with 36 total tackles, two tackles for a loss, and an interception. ~ Mark Nelson
Cornerback, Chris Payton-Jones, St. Louis Battlehawks
Had his share of lapses, though he came up big a number of times as well. ~ Greg Parks
Payton-Jones was a highly rated fixture on the Battlehawks defense with 37 total tackles, two tackles for a loss, and a forced fumble. ~ Mark Nelson
Cornerback, Michael Joseph, D.C. Defenders
Didn’t have the interception numbers he did last year in the XFL, but still had a strong season. ~ Greg Parks
5th-highest PFF pass coverage grade at position; 8th league-wide in total tackles (56); 5 passes defended in 8 games. ~ Aidan Burke
Safety, Markel Roby, Houston Roughnecks
Tied for league lead in interceptions and part of a defense that kept Houston in several games. ~ Greg Parks
A cornerstone of a stingy Roughnecks defense with 58 total tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, and a league-high three interceptions. ~ Mark Nelson
Safety, Kai Nacua, Michigan Panthers
T-1st league-wide in interceptions (3); 5th-highest PFF defensive grade (72.6) at position; 43 tackles and 5 passes defended. ~ Aidan Burke
A playmaker whose presence is felt all over the field. ~ Greg Parks
A leader in the stoic Panthers backfield with 47 total tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack and a league-high three interceptions. ~ Mark Nelson
Special Teams
Kicker, Jake Bates, Michigan Panthers
Bates made waves with amazing kicks, including a record-breaking 64-yard field goal to help the Panthers defeat St. Louis early in the 2024 season. All of this done by a guy who “hadn’t kicked a field goal since high school.” ~ Mark Nelson
Generated mainstream attention for some of his kicks earlier in the season; hit longest field goal of the season (64 yards) vs. St. Louis; 17-for-22 (77.0%) on field goals. ~ Aidan Burke
A late-season slump doesn’t erase the magic he began the year with. ~ Greg Parks
Punter, Brad Wing, San Antonio Brahmas
Wing’s 64-yard bomb contributed to the Brahmas’ upset of the Stallions; also led the league in punts inside the 20. ~ Greg Parks
Led the UFL in all punting categories. His consistency was on display all season. ~ Mark Nelson
It took him until UFL Week 10 to finally get a kick return touchdown, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Rowland made kickoffs fun to watch. ~ Mark Nelson
Long Snapper, Alex Matheson, St. Louis Battlehawks
Consistency is key, and Matheson has what it takes. One of the secrets behind the Battlehawks kicking game. ~ Mark Nelson
St. Louis was one of the cleanest special teams units this season, thanks to Matheson along with the other specialists ~ Aidan Burke
UFLBoard message board poster “BetweenTheGoalposts,” who has analyzed special teams players throughout the season, has Matheson ranked as the top snapper in the league, and who am I to argue? ~ Greg Parks
