The following is a team-by-team recap of UFL free-agency signings from Jan. 30.
Please note that this will not include players protected going into the Dispersal Draft process who have since “agreed to terms” with the UFL. or players selected during one of the Dispersal Drafts who have since “agreed to terms” with the UFL – as these players have already been listed on their respective teams’ rosters and do not fit under the category of free-agent signings.
Arlington Renegades
OT Jordan Steckler
CB Elijah Hamiton
Jordan Steckler was a four-year starter at Northern Illinois University from 2016 to 2019. He capped off his collegiate career for the Huskies with an impressive redshirt senior campaign that saw him allow zero sacks while playing nearly every offensive snap. He recorded an impressive 90.5 PFF Pass-Blocking grade and earned First-Team All-MAC honors for his performance in 2019. After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Steckler signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and has since bounced around multiple practice squads/offseason rosters. He was signed by the Philadelphia Stars during USFL Free Agency last year but came out of the Post-Merger Player Allocation Process as a free agent.
Elijah Hamilton was with the St. Louis Battlehawks during the 2023 XFL season – recording 18 tackles in eight games, including three starts. Following the season, he earned an opportunity with the Green Bay Packers but was waived after training camp. Hamilton recorded 24 tackles and three pass breakups as a fifth-year senior at Vanderbilt in 2020 before transferring to Louisiana Tech for his extra season of college eligibility due to Covid. With the Bulldogs, he registered similar figures from the year before – 23 tackles and one pass breakup. He went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Outlook: Hamilton joins Arlington fresh off an NFL stint and can be a depth piece in the team’s revamped secondary – without many pieces from last season. Meanwhile, Steckler was a standout at Northern Illinois during his college days and will look for that success to translate into the UFL.
Houston Roughnecks
OG Paul Adams (retired)
Paul Adams was an All-USFL offensive guard – starting all 10 games for the New Orleans Breakers during the 2023 USFL season. Adams was a three-year starter at the University of Missouri from 2016 to 2018. Adams was initially claimed by the Roughnecks during the Mini-Dispersal Draft but has since informed them of his retirement.
Outlook: Adams, 28 years old, was a player who could have made an impact on the Roughnecks’ offensive line this year but won’t have the opportunity to do so with his retirement.
Memphis Showboats
QB Troy Williams
As a newcomer, Troy Williams took over signal-calling duties for the Pittsburgh Maulers during week two of the 2023 USFL season. He maintained his role throughout the year – leading Pittsburgh to a 4-6 regular-season record and a USFL Championship berth. Overall, the dual-threat threw for 1,414 yards and six touchdowns, while he ran for 341 yards and three touchdowns in 2023 with the Maulers. Williams started his collegiate career at the University of Washington for one season before transferring to Santa Monica Community College. He then moved again to the University of Utah in 2016, where he threw for 3,569 yards and 17 touchdowns in 21 games over two seasons. He went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Outlook: The Showboats made room for Williams by waiving quarterbacks Guy Myers and Ryan Willis on Friday. Williams joins former Philadelphia Stars quarterback Case Cookus and returning starter Cole Kelley in Memphis for what should be a competitive quarterback battle during training camp.
Michigan Panthers
QB Carson Strong (waived)
Carson Strong was a Two-Time MW Offensive Player of the Year at the University of Nevada but hasn’t quite seen that collegiate success translate into his professional career. He saw limited action with the Panthers last season, partly due to a knee injury that placed him on the Injured Reserve. He played in just two games – throwing for 96 yards and one touchdown with Michigan.
Outlook: With Strong out of the picture, the Panthers’ quarterback room is down to three players: former LSU quarterback Danny Etling, former Showboats quarterback Davis Cheek, and returner Brian Lewerke.
