Wide receiver Vinny Papale is back for a second season with the Memphis Showboats

Wide receiver Vinny Papale is returning to the Memphis Showboats for the 2024 UFL season. He is excited that training camp is over and his squad will soon hit the field against the Houston Roughnecks.

“I think we’re gonna have a very high powered offense for the whole season,” Papale said. “That’s going to be fun to watch.”

Papale mentioned the Showboats had a great training camp, the result being the Memphis team has built an exciting offense. “We have a nice offense. I mean, it’s a big install,” Papale said, “There’s a lot of cool things that we’re going to do.”

Papale explained how the length of the camp was beneficial to the offensive side of the ball, and the first time they had all three quarterbacks working with the team.

“We really needed that time to gel and get that chemistry,” Papale explained. “I think that’s the best part about our offense, is that they can get guys in the matchups that they want. And that’s what I’m most excited about.”

Vinny Papale, the son of former Philadelphia Eagles receiver Vince Papale, whose career was the basis of the 2006 film Invincible, grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and played football, lacrosse, and track & field at Bishop Eustace High School. Due to the high school’s small football team, Papale played on offense, defense, and special teams. Upon graduation, Papale played college football at the University of Delaware. In his senior year, he caught 36 catches for 618 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Following tryouts with the Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins, in May 2020, he signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. However, the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Papale then signed with the Conquerors of The Spring League in 2020, and remained with the Conquerors for the 2021 season.

Papale was selected in the 17th round of the 2022 USFL draft by the Tampa Bay Bandits, where he played in all 10 games, nine as a starter, catching 19 passes for 244 yards. After the 2022 USFL season, Papale was transferred to the Memphis Showboats after it was announced that the Bandits were taking a hiatus. In the 2023 season, he played in all 10 games and totaled 33 receptions for 345 yards with three touchdowns, and was named to the All-USFL Team as a special teamer.

On October 25, 2023, Papale signed to the New Orleans Breakers. When the USFL and XFL merged, the Breakers folded. On January 5, 2023, Papale was drafted by the Showboats during the 2024 UFL dispersal draft. In essence, this will be Papale’s second season with the Showboats.

“Training camp was a little more extensive than the last two years,” Papale pointed out. “This was a full haul for sure being we had four full weeks of training camp. Now, all of a sudden, we’re in game week.”

Papale stated being in Arlington was a little weird this season. “It’s sort of hard to grasp that mentally,” Papale said. “The season is starting even though we’re not in Memphis right now, and we’re going to be playing games in Memphis just next week.”

It is true that the Showboats won’t be in Memphis until their home game in week two.

“It’s going to be really good football and we’re excited to play and in front of Memphis and win some games,” Papale promised.

The Showboats will kick off their 2024 season Sunday, March 31 at the Houston Roughnecks, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. CT. The season-opener will air on ESPN.