We are now a little more than halfway through the first real UFL off-season, and teams across the league have been busy shuffling players on and off their rosters in preparation for training camp. I thought this would be a good time to assess where each team stands with a few months to go before players meet back up in the Arlington hub and practices begin.
A few notes: First, these transactions are largely based on what has been announced by the league on the UFL Communications X/Twitter feed. However, there have been transactions reported elsewhere that the league has yet to officially recognize. I’ve added those moves here as well. UFL Newsroom’s Nicholas Thorn has done a terrific job keeping track of each team’s off-season with his handy spreadsheet.
The number you’ll see in parentheses next to each team is the number of players, based on available information, that they have either re-signed or agreed to terms with; in other words, the number they’d have in training camp if it were to start today. Per a post on the UFLPA’s Twitter/X feed last January, UFL player contracts expired on August 24. We assume that means all players that ended the 2024 season on team rosters would need to be re-signed for 2025 – that no players signed multi-year contracts, for instance – and that those re-signings will be made public by the league.
Transactions are as of Wednesday, November 6. This column will focus on the USFL Conference. The XFL Conference will be posted in the coming days.
Birmingham Stallions (40)
Waived to sign in NFL: QB Adrian Martinez, QB Matt Corral, WR Kevin Austin, Jr., WR Deon Cain, G Zack Johnson, G Matt Kaskey, OT Armani Taylor-Prioleau, DT Carlos Davis, DE Jonathan Garvin, LB Dondrea Tillman, LB Kyahva Tezino, S A.J. Thomas
Traded: CB Jayden Price
Retired: DT Jordan Thompson, LB Scooby Wright III, LB Damon Lloyd
Re-signed: QB J’Mar Smith, RB C.J. Marable, RB Ricky Person, RB Larry Rountree III, TE Marcus Baugh, TE Jordan Thomas, WR Binjimen Victor, WR Marlon Williams, WR Gary Jennings, WR Amari Rodgers, OL O’Shea Dugas, G Deonte Brown, OT Darius Harper, C Cole Schneider, DT Marvin Wilson, DT Willie Yarbary, DE Damarcus Mitchell, LB DeMarquis Gates, LB Maalik Hall, CB Daniel Isom, CB Madre Harper, CB Ike Brown, CB Nevelle Clarke, CB Chris Jackson, S JoJo Tillery, S T.J. Carter, S Kenny Robinson, Jr., S JuJu Hughes, P Colby Wadman, K Chris Blewitt, LS Ryan Langan
New acquisitions: WR Austin Watkins, DT Demetrius Taylor, DT Joshua Pryor, DT Perrion Winfrey, DE Jeremiah Martin, LB Isaiah Moore, CB Tre Norwood, CB Rachad Wildgoose, S Qwuantrezz Knight
What they have: Only one new addition has come from the offensive side of the ball, Austin Watkins, and he played for Birmingham back in 2023. Their dynamic quarterback, Adrian Martinez, is in the NFL, and backup Matt Corral was let go to sign with the Minnesota Vikings in August. He hasn’t yet re-upped. That leaves J’Mar Smith, last year’s third-stringer, but also an experienced spring league starter. They return their running back and tight end depth. They’ve improved the talent along the defensive line and the secondary with new acquisitions. The Stallions dealt with injuries last year at the specialist positions. All three are being brought back for 2025.
What they need: Offensive line, but who doesn’t? The depth would improve if the three players that were in NFL training camps this summer and are currently free agents re-sign with the team. The addition of Isaiah Moore is solid, but more linebacker help could be useful, especially with two retirements at the position. Even if Birmingham rolls with Smith as the starter at quarterback, they’ll need to bring in talent behind him. The Stallions have four receivers coming back at this point. None are dominators or game-breakers that could put fear into defenses.
Gameplan: The defending league champions lost a lot of talent to the NFL. However, they’ve focused primarily on re-signing key contributors from last season and why wouldn’t they? This was not a team that had a lot of holes to fill. Several of the new players the team has acquired have NFL experience, with three of them having been NFL draft picks. It’s been a very surgical off-season for head coach Skip Holtz and general manager Zach Potter, even as rumors swirl that Holtz has interest in returning to the college game.
Houston Roughnecks (61)
Waived: QB Reid Sinnett, RB Ezra Gray, RB Mark Thompson, TE Braedon Bowman, TE Woody Brandom, TE Clint Sigg, Jr., TE A.J. Lewis, WR Anthony Ratliff-Williams, WR Bailey Gaither, WR Reggie Roberson, WR Brian Hightower, G Braylon Jones, G Justin Redd, G Shamarious Gilmore, OT Brandon Haskin, DT Jeffery Johnson, DT Toby Johnson, DT Keonte Schad, DE Reggie Walker, DE Ronheen Bingham, DE Ethan Westbrooks, DE Adam Rodriguez, LB D’Juan Hines, LB Christian Sam, LB Gabriel Sewell, Jr., LB Reuben Foster, CB Jimmy Moreland, CB Jai-Nunn Liddell, S Donald Rutledge, Jr., S Jamari Brown, S Mister Harriel, S Rashad Torrence II, S Gavin Robertson, Jr., P Huner Niswander, LS Logan Klusman
Traded: CB Kiondre Thomas
Re-signed: QB Nolan Henderson, RB Kirk Merritt, RB T.J. Pledger, WR Emmanuel Butler, WR Cyril Grayson, WR Keke Chism, WR Justin Hall, C Jack Kramer, OT Avery Gennesy, OT Cam Carter, OT Isaiah Battle, DT Olive Sagapolu, DT Glen Logan, DE Christopher Allen, LB J.T. Tyler, LB Marvin Moody, CB Corn Elder, CB Colby Richardson, S Markel Roby, K J.J. Molson
Draft picks signed: TE Malcolm Epps, TE Geor’quarius Spivey, DE Eyabi Okie, LB Donovan Manuel, LB Xavier Benson, CB Malik Dunlap, S Tra Fluellen
New acquisitions: QB Davius Richard, QB Jalan McClendon, RB Brian Burt, RB Dezmon Jackson, TE Cary Angeline, TE Cam Sutton, WR Felton Davis, WR C.J. Windham, WR Carlos Carriere, WR T.J. Vasher, G Maea Teuhema, G Samuel Jackson, G Nick Correia, G Calvin Ashley, C Saige Young, C Sean Brown, OT Ethan Carde, OT Noah Atagi, DT Kamilo Tongamoa, DE Cedric Wilcots II, DE Darrius Moragne, DE Carson Taylor, LB Ben Davis, LB Jamir Jones, LB Juwan Mitchell, LB Mike Scott, LB Vaughn Taylor, Jr., CB Chu Ogbonna, CB Marquis Wilson, CB Amani Marsh, CB Chester Kimbrough, S Shawn Preston, Jr., P Mike Rivers, LS Marco Ortiz
What they have: Lots of players, for one. Houston needed to jettison most of their 2024 lot if they wanted to be more competitive in 2025. They wasted no time adding to the roster, being one of the more aggressive teams with letter of intent signings. Right now, they have more new players than holdovers among the 61 currently rostered. Houston just completed a trade to acquire QB Jalan McClendon from D.C. His spring football experience could vault him to the top of the depth chart heading into camp. McClendon’s battle with Nolan Henderson and Davius Richard will be one of the most intriguing in the league. The Roughnecks remade the tight end room, which should lead to more production. The offensive line struggled, so eight new players have been brought in there. The defense was middle-of-the-pack last year and Houston was able to bring back some key contributors on that side of the ball.
What they need: More talent. There are a lot of new faces but I don’t see any that will substantially increase the talent level of the team. Several players they waived were surprises. That includes eight who ended the season as starters. There are a lot of pieces and parts here, but how will they all fit together? Continuity from year to year is so important in spring leagues and Houston is all but starting from scratch with their roster.
Gameplan: What’s the maximum a team will be able to carry on its training camp roster? Because Houston is fast approaching whatever that number will be. Clearly, this was a roster overhaul for what was, by record, the worst team in the league last season. Part of this was also the change in general managers, bringing in Will Lewis, who has already signed a number of players that tie back to his time with the San Antonio Brahmas in 2023. Their unique strategy to draft mostly unsigned rookies has worked out in their favor, as they’ve already signed seven of their 10 picks, more than any other UFL team. Coaching staffs have not been announced yet; changes there could impact the scheme and how these players are utilized on the field.
Memphis Showboats (28)
Waived to sign in NFL: TE Sage Surratt, C Alec Lindstrom, DT Josiah Bronson, CB Nehemiah Shelton
Traded: LB Jordan Ferguson
Re-signed: QB Troy Williams, RB Titus Swen, TE Jay Jay Wilson, WR Jonathan Adams, WR Dee Anderson, WR Daewood Davis, G Darrin Paulo, G Salesi Uhatafe, C Jordan McCray, C Jared Thomas, OT James Tunstall, DT Dillon Faamatau, DT John Atkins, Sr., DT Daylon Mack, DT Connor Christian, LB Tyshun Render, LB Greg Reaves, LB Malik Lawal, LB Jeff McCulloch, LB Anthony Butler, LB Terrill Hanks, CB Kyree Woods, S Jarey Elder, S LaMont McPhatter II, K Matt Coghlin, LS Turner Bernard
New acquisitions: QB Quinten Dormady, DB Ravarius Rivers
What they have: A quarterback! And…that’s about it. But it’s not nothing. The first UFL trade swung this off-season – and the first big move of the new Ken Whisenhunt/Jim Monos regime in Memphis – was to acquire Quinten Dormady from San Antonio. Many of the re-signings were made prior to the hiring of Whisenhunt and Monos, so they may not necessarily fit into the plans of the new staff. Memphis currently has the fewest players on its roster, but they did manage to bring back a handful of impactful players from last season. Two of the top three receivers return, as does the leading tackler on defense. Coghlin and Bernard are solid special teamers. Besides Dormady, the only other player from outside the organization they’ve added so far, Ravarius Rivers, was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Indoor Football League this past season.
What they need: Reinforcements. Everywhere. And with half the off-season already salted away. Monos and Whisenhunt should be busy working the phones, trying to bring new players aboard. The good news is as the NFL season progresses, some players could decide to take that UFL offer if they’re not seeing a light at the end of the NFL tunnel. That could be to Memphis’s benefit. The bad news is Memphis was already the weakest roster in the league and because of the circumstance of having to find a new head coach and general manager, they haven’t had the opportunity for a proper reboot.
Gameplan: It’s difficult to say. Clearly the new regime felt they needed a quarterback first and foremost. They’re not necessarily wrong, but did they get the RIGHT one? Next on the list should be protecting that quarterback given the offensive line’s struggles last season. Five of those players have already agreed to return. At the very least, competition should be added. Without knowing who the offensive and defensive coordinators will be, it’s difficult to surmise even what kind of players they’ll be looking for moving forward. Whatever they do, they need to move forward quickly.
Michigan Panthers (45)
Waived: RB Raymond Calais, TE Nick Guggemos
Waived to sign in NFL: QB E.J. Perry, WR Marcus Simms, OT Chim Okorafor, DE Breeland Speaks, DE Keshawn Banks, LB Frank Ginda, LB DaShaun White, CB Nate Brooks, K Jake Bates
Re-signed: QB Bryce Perkins, QB Danny Etling, RB Toa Taua, RB Matthew Colburn II, RB Nate McCrary, TE Gunnar Oakes, TE Cole Hikutini, WR Devin Ross, WR Devin Gray, WR Siaosi Mariner, WR Samson Nacua, G Jacob Burton, C Noah Johnson, C Cohl Cabral, OT Ryan Nelson, OT Jarrett Horst, OT James Walker, DT Garrett Marino, DT Walter Palmore, DE Mika Tafua, DE Ron’Dell Carter, DE Kenny Willekes, DE T.J. Carter, DE Levi Bell, LB Noah Dawkins, LB Javin White, CB Adonis Alexander, CB Levonta Taylor, CB KiAnte Hardin, S Kedrick Whitehead, S Sean Mahone, S Corrion Ballard, S Kai Nacua, LS Jordan Ober
Draft picks signed: G J.D. Duplain, OT Brian Dooley, S Akeem Dent
New acquisitions: WR Gavin Holmes, WR Jaylon Moore, OT Keith Russell, OT Victor Cume, DT Keonte Schad, LB De’Gabriel Floyd, CB Gemon Green, P Simon Laryea
What they have: Like Birmingham, Michigan didn’t need to push the panic button this off-season. They were content bringing back their own, and they did it in tremendous numbers. Based on where things stand today, next year’s Michigan team will look a lot like last year’s Michigan team. They are one of the few teams that should be set at quarterback, with Bryce Perkins, Danny Etling and E.J. Perry (who re-signed before getting a quick opportunity in the NFL). Four of the five starters on the offensive line are already in for 2025, as are many of their key front seven players on defense. The Panthers added a few intriguing draft picks as well.
What they need: A couple of major contributors in 2024 stuck in the NFL. That production will need to be replaced. The team requires a new kicker with Jake Bates having solidified the job in Detroit. One of the starting cornerback spots is vacant with Nate Brooks on the practice squad of the Cincinnati Bengals. Other than that, Michigan doesn’t have many glaring holes.
Gameplan: It’s clear the Panthers felt comfortable with the team they had last season, as they should – they were arguably the second-best team in the UFL. It’s interesting they decided to re-sign three of their quarterbacks rather than look to improve the position from the outside. Perhaps in having a strong run game and defense, the staff felt they could win with the quarterbacks they had. For the latter stages of free agency, it’ll be about adding depth behind the starters at several positions, and creating competition for the last few roster spots in camp.
