United Football League teams released their game one depth charts to the media late last week. It was the first real indication since camp began as to who the starters and reserves would be at most positions. Given the lack of day-to-day coverage through camp, the depth charts came with some surprises. Here is one depth chart surprise from each team.
Arlington Renegades
Colin Schooler as third string ILB
Schooler lost out to Storey Jackson for the backup inside linebacker job in Arlington. Jackson was listed as the backup to Donald Payne and Marquel Lee at both ILB spots in Arlington’s 3-4 defense. Because of this, Schooler was a healthy inactive for week one against Birmingham. There weren’t many surprises on the Renegades’ depth chart. With the added emphasis on the return game, it’s a mild upset that the leading XFL special teams tackler last year in Schooler couldn’t find a place on the coverage units.
Birmingham Stallions
Taco Charlton as backup DE
A late add to the team’s training camp roster, Charlton entered the UFL with the pedigree of being a first-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys. Yet Charlton was beaten out for a starting role by another recent addition, Jonathan Garvin, and 2023 hold-over Dondrea Tillman. Charlton still managed to see rotational snaps on defense in the opener. Prior to signing with Birmingham, he last played with the San Francisco 49ers before being placed on injured reserve in August, so perhaps he’s still rounding back into football shape.
D.C. Defenders
Trent Harris as backup DE
Harris is a DE/OLB hybrid depending on the scheme. In Gregg Williams’ attacking D.C. defense, Harris is listed as a backup end. This will come as a surprise to XFL fans who watched Harris feast on opposing quarterbacks last season to the tune of 9.5 sacks. He could be settling into a role as a pass-rush specialist with the Defenders.
Houston Roughnecks
Ja’Von Hicks as starting safety over Markel Roby
Though he was a three-year starter with the Cincinnati Bearcats, Hicks went undrafted and unsigned by NFL teams in 2023. He did get an invite to rookie minicamp with the Atlanta Falcons as a tryout player but did not advance beyond that. In a league where rosters are stronger than those of the XFL or USFL last season, players with such limited NFL experience as Hicks were expected to be shut out of the league; instead, he not only made the team but earned a starting role.
Memphis Showboats
Wes Saxton as starting TE over Sage Surratt
Surratt came to Memphis from New Orleans during the dispersal draft after finishing third in the USFL last season in receiving yardage. His head coach last year, John DeFilippo, is also in Memphis, so the expectation was Surratt could put up similar numbers in DeFilippo’s Showboats offense. However, he’s listed as a backup on the depth chart. All three tight ends on the roster played in game one against Houston and Surratt was a factor in the passing game, so it’s not as if he won’t have a part in the offense.
Michigan Panthers
Jordan Suell as starting WR over John Hightower
Listed as the direct backup to Suell, Hightower was seen as a strong addition to Michigan’s receiving corps. He was added just four days after getting released by the Defenders in mid-March. Hightower may still be adjusting to Michigan’s offensive system. At nearly 6’2” and with the ability to run a 4.43 40-yard dash, there’s a lot of upside with Hightower. In 2023 with Philadelphia, Suell caught just 12 passes for 130 yards.
San Antonio Brahmas
Chase Garbers as starting QB over Quinten Dormady
Okay, this wasn’t a surprise in the traditional sense because Garbers had already been announced as the starter before depth charts were released. Nevertheless, the belief was that Dormady’s performance with the Orlando Guardians late last year would give him a leg-up over Garbers in the QB battle. In the end, Garbers earned the nod and showed in game one that it was the right move, playing a major part in the Brahmas’ victory over the Defenders.
St. Louis Battlehawks
Manny Wilkins over Brandon Silvers for backup QB
Wilkins signed with St. Louis just prior to the 2023 XFL season when the Battlehawks parted ways with Ryan Willis. That experience in offensive coordinator Bruce Gradkowski’s system may have helped him win the backup job this season. Still, Silvers did lead the Houston Roughnecks to the playoffs last year. He was expected to play behind starter A.J. McCarron but instead, it was Wilkins listed as McCarron’s direct backup on the depth chart. That could change as the season progresses.
