The UFL at 58: Analyzing each USFL Conference team cut-down to 58-man training camp rosters

On Sunday, March 10, 2024, UFL teams trimmed their rosters from a maximum of 75 players to 58. They will carry no more than 58 players until the final cuts, which will take place in about two weeks on Saturday, March 23. That cut will get them down to the regular season roster size of 50 players. This article will look at the cuts from the teams in the USFL Conference.

I’ve also included how each player was acquired. Here is the key:

• DDP = Dispersal Draft Protection
• DDS = Dispersal Draft Selection
• SDD = Super Dispersal Draft (as well as the round and overall selection)
• FA = Acquired in free agency, along with the date they were signed

Birmingham Stallions

Cuts: G Calvin Ashley (DDS), CB Terrell Bonds (SDD R4, 32), DE Owen Carney (FA 1/19), S TJ Carter (DDP), OT Larnel Coleman (SDD R1, 8), FB Bobby Holly (SDD R10, 80), LB Travin Howard (DDP), WR Chris Lacy (FA 2/5), DE Hercules Mata’afa (DDS), CB Mark Milton (DDP), QB Jalen Morton (SDD R3, 24), DT Caleb Sampson (FA 2/8), C Josh Sokol (FA 1/19), CB Channing Stribling (DDS), DE Curtis Weaver (DPP), S James Wiggins (DDS)

Reserve/Retired List: RB Bo Scarbrough (SDD R7, 56)

Analysis: The big news for the Stallions came yesterday, when RB Bo Scarbrough announced his retirement. Injuries took their toll on Scarbrough during his career and had he made the team, he likely would not have played a major role. His contribution would’ve been more as an ambassador for the team and the league with the local community, having been a college hero at the University of Alabama. Morton was thought to be the fourth quarterback on the depth chart with the offseason additions of Matt Corral and Adrian Martinez. Among the other notable cuts were Coleman, the first-round pick of the team in the super dispersal draft, and Ashley, a local product out of Auburn who early in camp, Head Coach Skip Holtz referred to as a “big, physical player on film.” Bonds started five games in a deep defensive backfield for the San Antonio Brahmas in 2023. Stribling, one of several former All-USFL players released on Sunday, turned his 2022 USFL season into an NFL contract with the Washington Commanders. He’s just one season removed from intercepting seven passes for the Philadelphia Stars, though he was injured most of last year.

Houston Roughnecks

Cuts: K Luis Aguilar (SDD R3, 19), C Nick Buchanan (DDP), DE Isaiah Chambers (DDP), WR Gene Coleman II (SDD R6, 43), RB Ezra Gray (SDD R1, 3), DE Jake Hlava (DPP), DT Reggie Howard, Jr. (DDS), TE Ryan Izzo (DDS), CB Jeremiah Johnson (DDP), RB Shermari Jones (DDP), CB Dayan Lake (DDP), RB Ryan Nall (FA 1/19), WR Whop Philyor (FA 2/29), WR Teo Redding (DDP), C Jakari Robinson (DPP), LB Khalan Tolson (DPP), LB Bryson Young (DDS)

Analysis: Houston maxed out on their dispersal draft selections, perhaps a sign that they weren’t happy with the quality of players they carried over from 2023 in the protections phase. To that end, over half of their first cuts were players that either were on the team last year or had been signed by the then-Gamblers for a 2024 USFL season. Gray just scored a touchdown in the team’s scrimmage yesterday and was featured on the league’s social media for doing so. It appears that JJ Molson beat out Aguilar for the kicker job, despite Aguilar hitting on 86% of his field goals with the Philadelphia Stars in 2023. There don’t appear to be a lot of other surprises except maybe Izzo and his 19 games of NFL experience getting beaten out by others. Philyor was thought to potentially have a role after being signed a little over a week ago.

Memphis Showboats

Cuts: OT Clayton Bradley (DDP), DE Jordan Brailford (DDS), CB Antoine Brooks (SDD R12, 90), LB Kahzin Daniels (FA 2/15), WR Derrick Dillon (DDP), G Kirk Kelley (DDS), LB Kolin Hill (DDS), G Tyran Hunt (DDP), OT Darta Lee (FA), CB Will Likely (SDD R7, 50), LB Dylan Moses (DDP), S Antonio Reed (FA 1/22), CB Michael Stevens (SDD R13, 98), DE Jeremiah Valoaga (DDP), WR Josh Vann (FA 2/6), OT Sidney Wells (DDS), RB Kerrith Whyte (DDP)

Analysis: One would expect several dispersal draft protection cuts with Head Coach John DeFilippo and some of his staff transferring over from the New Orleans Breakers. They did part ways with six of those players, not an overwhelming number compared to other teams. Two were key contributors last season: Whyte led the team in rushing and Dillon was second and receiving, in addition to being the team’s main kick returner. He was also 2023 Special Teams Player of the Year in the USFL. Memphis apparently saw enough in Titus Swen, a free agent signing back on the 2nd of March, to part ways with Whyte. If you’re looking at where Memphis could trim down to 50 in two weeks, they are still carrying eight receivers on their roster. The 15 offensive linemen they had is now down to 10, so a few of those players could end up being released as well.

Michigan Panthers

Cuts: DT Damion Daniels (FA 3/6), LB Isaac Darkangelo (DDP), CB Keandre Evans (DDP), TE Nick Guggemos (FA 1/19), WR Lance Lenoir (FA 2/25), QB Brian Lewerke (DDP), S Shalom Luani (DDS), WR Garrett Maag (DDP), K Cole Murphy (SDD R4, 29), OT Denzel Okafor (FA 2/15), S Jamal Perry (FA 1/19), S Cory Rahman (DDP), S Warren Saba (DDP), OT Phil Saleh (DDP), OT LaColby Tucker (FA 2/6)

Suspended List: RB Raymond Calais (DDP)

Analysis: Michigan’s foray into free agency didn’t exactly pay off, as they ended up letting go six of their 14 signings. Not many teams rostered four quarterbacks for camp; Michigan was one. Lewerke was beaten out by Davis Cheek, Danny Etling, and EJ Perry. He was also failed to make the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL last year. Murphy was Michigan’s kicker the last two years. In 2022, he connected on over 90% of his field goals, but was down to just 77% last year. It appears as if former kickoff specialist Jake Bates has won the job. With kickoffs taking place from the 20-yard line this year, pinning teams deeper on that play is going to be a valued ability. Tucker tested out of this world at the XFL Combine this past summer, earning a short stint with the Atlanta Falcons off of that. It wasn’t enough to earn him a spot on the Panthers’ roster.