Former Battlehawks Quarterback Ben Wooldridge signs with CFL's Calgary Stampeders by Patrick Rifino
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19 hours ago
Battlehawks Sneak Out Victory in Week One Matchup against rival D.C. Defenders
In a season of uncertainty and change the Battlehawks took care of business with a week one victory against the 2025 UFL champions and their rivals the D.C. Defenders. Under new Head Coach Ricky Proehl the Battlehawks put together a defensive master class with a 16-10 victory, opening the season 1-0 to start 2026.
What Went Right:
Front Seven Masterclass:
The Battlehawks front seven accounted for 5.5 sacks, with 7 total in week one, putting them on pace for 70 (unrealistic I know) this season. Last year the Battlehawks totaled 23 sacks in 10 regular season games last year which was the most in franchise history. The team was anchored by Pita Taumoepenu, who put consistent pressure on Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu all day. What doesn't show up in the stat sheet is most if not all of Ta'amu's rushes were due to broken down protections. Taumopenu now has 21.5 sacks in his career (30 games), which is only behind Chris Odom whose 25 sacks came in 37 games.
Kevon Latulas is a budding Superstar:
Latulas had a major impact in the passing game which in the AIR-RAID offense is key. Look for Latulas to put together Max Borghi like numbers in 2026, after totaling 84 All-Purpose Yards in week one.
He can hit from deep:
The Battlehawks have had a plethora of success out of their kickers, and Tucker McCann is the next one on that list. McCann hit from 58 yards out with plenty of distance left to spare. While he missed a mid-range FG attempt, McCann has shown he's extremely capable to hold it down with a 3/4 performance.
What Went Wrong:
Drops Upon Drops:
Despite throwing for almost 200 yards QB Brandon Silvers was the victim of at least 7 drops, many of which would of moved the chains and extended drives for the Battlehawks. The Battlehawks were without All-League receiver Hakeem Butler however, none of the St. Louis receivers failed to capitalize with their extend playing time.
Move the Pile:
The Battlehawks rushing attack was non-existent at times, however tough running by Latulas and Howard allowed for an overall output that looked better at the end of the game. Failing to punch it in from less than a yard out is unacceptable and should warrant adjustment moving forward. While the D.C. Defenders defensive line could be considered one of the better units in the league the team needs to get a little bit more from the offensive line, in order to open up the passing game.
Milestone Watch:
Brandon Silvers is 23 yards away from 4,000 career passing yards, and surpassed Birmingham Stallions Head Coach A.J. McCarron for the 4th most passing yards in spring football since 2001.
Pita Taumoepenu is 3.5 sacks away from 25 sacks which would tie him with Chris Odom for the most in the modern era of spring football.
Travis Feeney is 3 sacks away from 20 career sacks. He is also 13 tackles away from 200 career spring football tackles.
Final Thoughts:
There is plenty to be excited for after week one in St. Louis. Quarterback Brandon Silvers overall had a pretty game, and despite drops continues to perform at a high level in A.J. Smith's offense. While the Battlehawks didn't dominate on the ground their consistent ability to stay within the gameplan allowed the team to keep the Defenders, honest and tired rather than abandoning the run completely. Overall, with a dominating pass rush and high level play in the secondary the Battlehawks defense may be the story of their team.
St. Louis goes into week 2 against the Dallas Renegades in the hopes of earning their second victory of the season.
Battlehawks Sneak Out Victory in Week One Matchup against rival D.C. Defenders by Patrick Rifino
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1 day ago
2026 UFL Week 1 Preview: Columbus Aviators @ Orlando Storm
Orlando Storm Game #1
Visiting Team: Columbus Aviators (0-0)
Home Team: Orlando Storm (0-0)
Game Location: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Date and Time: Sunday, March 29th, 8 pm EDT
Betting Lines: Columbus Aviators +1.5, Orlando Storm -1.5, O/U 41.5
After a long off-season the third season of the UFL in 2026 is kicking off this weekend. Many things have changed with new brands, new markets, and new rules variations. However, the UFL is becoming the most sustained and successful professional spring football league in modern alternative football history.
Two of the teams that were affected by the UFL rebrand efforts were the San Antonio Brahmas who are now the Orlando Storm, and the Michigan Panthers who are now the Columbus Aviators. While both teams are related to the 2025 edition of both teams the rosters are different and the coaching staff for each team is different. Therefore this is essentially an early matchup between two expansion teams in the UFL.
What has changed is that the Orlando Storm have very few carryovers from the 1-9 San Antonio Brahmas, but the players that they kept are impact players including running back JaShaun Corbin and defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs. Storm head coach is former Saint Louis Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht, and Becht brought many of his former Battlehawks players to the Orlando roster. Becht has built a reputation for building a Battlehawks franchise that used an efficient pro-style offense, and a solid defense led by defensive coordinator Donnie Abraham.
The Columbus Aviators are the 2026 incarnation of the Michigan Panthers which reached the UFL championship game in 2025. However, while the Aviators made the decision to retain many of the players from the Panthers roster they did make a change at head coach hiring former NFL wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. as their new head coach. In addition to a new head coach, Ginn is expected to implement an offense that is more dependent on the passing attack compared to the Panthers offense the last few seasons.
History starts here ?
Be there for our first-ever game and witness DJ Khaled live at halftime. Get your tickets now!
33% off ENDS TONIGHT!
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— Orlando Storm (@UFLStorm) March 26, 2026
Orlando Storm Key to Victory #1: Establish QB Jack Plummer Early
The biggest change for Anthony Becht's offense in 2026 will be how well his quarterback room adjusts to managing his offensive game plan. During the week, many expected former Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorain Thompson-Robinson to start in Game 1 due to his dual-threat ability. However, all indications are now that quarterback Jack Plummer will get the first start for the Storm, and that means that the Storm will be working to establish their running game and utilize Plummer's passing ability to produce explosive plays using play-action passing schemes.
Orlando Storm Key to Victory #2: Maximize Coaching Experience Advantage
The contrast between Becht's coaching experience compared to Ginn's will be a big factor in who wins this game. Becht has three seasons of experience of installing and implementing an effective offense, defense, and special teams units despite a short training camp. In addition, Becht will have a significant advantage when it comes to making adjustments and key in-game decisions in specific situations that are unique to the UFL including the tiered extra point system and the 4-point field goal.
Orlando Storm Key to Victory #3: Control the Trenches
During the process of making changes to rosters due to the emergence of the new UFL teams and markets, the Storm made the intentional decision to use much of their roster capital to pick up veteran offensive linemen. In addition, Storm offensive line coach Marc Columbo comes to Orlando with direct experience and knowledge Becht's offensive scheme and game planning philosophy. If the Storm can come out and control the line of scrimmage in the run game, and neutralize Aviators pass rushers Kenny Willekes and Patrick Jenkins.
Orlando Storm Key to Victory #4: Shutdown Aviators RB Toa Taua
Due to a lack of organized pre-season games UFL teams tend to struggle with chemistry on the offensive side of the ball early in the season. However, the Michigan Panthers and Becht with the Battlehawks avoided those early-season struggles by leaning hard on their running game. While the Aviators have inherited Panthers running back Toa Taua, they are also expected to implement a more pass-heavy offense led by veteran UFL quarterback Jalen McClendon. If the Storm can shutdown the Aviators running game early, then they could expose the Aviators new offensive philosophy and lack of chemistry as a team.
Orlando Storm Key to Victory #5: Win on Special Teams
The X-factor in this Week 1 matchup could be special teams with Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr. having expertise from his playing experience as kick and punt returner during his NFL career. In addition, the UFL has established a reputation for having outstanding kickers with many UFL kickers moving onto the NFL. While a game-breaking special teams play is not guaranteed in this game, a big special teams mistake could determine the outcome of this matchup.
Prediction: Orlando Storm 25, Columbus Aviators 20
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2026 UFL Week 1 Preview: Columbus Aviators @ Orlando Storm by Aaron Sauter
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1 day ago
2026 UFL Week 1 Game Preview: Houston Gamblers at Dallas Renegades
Week 1 of the 2026 UFL season has arrived and one of the top matchups of the weekend is an in-state rivalry between the Houston Gamblers and the Dallas Renegades.
The Gamblers' brand is back for the first time since 2023 when they were in the USFL as they have spent the last two years as the Houston Roughnecks. They are led by head coach Kevin Sumlin, who is also back in spring football after leading the Gamblers in the 2022 season. Last season, the Roughnecks started 1-3 before going 4-2 to end the season at 5-5.
Dallas is in a similar boat that they are coming off a 5-5 season as they started 3-1, but a four-game losing streak after that knocked them out of playoff contention. The Renegades, after being led by Bob Stoops since he was hired in 2019, is now led by Rick Neuheisel as head coach.
Houston Gamblers vs. Dallas Renegades Week 1 Game Preview
Gameday Info
Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Kickoff Time: 4:00 pm EST
Location: Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas
Network: FOX
Game Betting Odds (via DraftKings)
Spread: Renegades -5.5
O/U Total: 39.5
Moneyline: Gamblers +210, Renegades -258
Gamblers-Renegades Depth Chart
What to Watch for: Houston Gamblers
Nolan Henderson gets the nod as the starting quarterback after having a nice short stretch as the starter last season with the Roughnecks. Henderson's ability to run and pass makes him a threat on offense, forcing the Renegades' defense to spy on him the whole game.
The wide receiver room has two key weapons to watch out for with Justin Hall and Jontre Kirklin. Hall has been established as one of the top five pass catchers in the UFL over the years and as long as Kirklin can fix his drops issue, he should be in line to be one of the best as well.
Defensively, Malik Fisher is a nightmare for Dallas' offense after having six sacks just two seasons ago. Anthony Hines III is one of the best tackling linebackers in the UFL and should pick up from where he left off with the DC Defenders last season. Markel Roby is a turnover machine and will be able to make some plays.
What to Watch for: Dallas Renegades
Neuheisel caused quite a stir this week when he named Austin Reed as the starting quarterback over Luis Perez, but both are expected to play in the game. Reed has all the tools to be a starting quarterback in this league, but it's his first career start, so the question is how long is he in the game before Perez comes into the contest.
Reed will have plenty of weapons to throw it to as the wide receiver room is deep with Deontay Burnett, Tyler Vaughns, Drake Stoops, Greg Ward, Denzel Mims, and Emmanuel Butler. There are no excuses for this passing game to not be one of the best in the league.
This edge rusher group for the Renegades is scary with Willie Taylor III and Taco Charlton back for another season of rushing the passer. Ajene Harris was one of the top shutdown corners in the league last season and should be back shadowing Hall. Watch for the linebacker position as Donald Payne is not starting with Andrew Dowell starting in his place.
Gamblers-Renegades Prediction
With Reed starting, it certainly throws a wrench in what people think is going to happen in this game, but despite the Renegades being the favorites, this is about as evenly of a match as it could be. It will come down to who has more playmakers who can step up in the big moments. Dallas seems to have a slight advantage with that.
Dallas Renegades 27, Houston Gamblers 22
2026 UFL Week 1 Game Preview: Houston Gamblers at Dallas Renegades by Anthony Miller
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1 day ago
St. Louis Battlehawks Ricky Proehl Talks Week 1 DC Defenders Showdown
The time has finally arrived for St. Louis Battlehawks fans as they are one day away from seeing their team take the field to take on their arch rivals DC Defenders.
There is some anticipation in the air with the Battlehawks faithful as they are a new head coach for the first time in three years as it is Ricky Proehl replacing Anthony Becht, who has since gone to Orlando to be the head coach of the Storm. Proehl is a St. Louis icon for being part of the St. Louis Rams' only Super Bowl victory and was an assistant coach for the Battlehawks in 2023 coaching the wide receivers.
Now leading the franchise, Proehl is looking to keep up the success of the franchise that has never finished a season with a losing record since they first became a team in 2020. The new coach talked to the media one final time before their Week 1 matchup.
Ricky Proehl speaks before Battlehawks' Week 1 matchup against the Defenders
UFL News Hub asked Proehl his feelings going into the game and where there were some nerves as a first time head coach. He didn't seemed to be fazed about the moment at all.
"You know, it's interesting because as a player, I never— I got nervous the night before the game. People were like, hey, were you nervous during the Super Bowl? Were you nervous during the playoff games? Or, you know, and I didn't. I got nervous the night before. Just because the anticipation, the playing, the visualizing in my mind of plays I could make, you know, when there was opportunities, you know, were going to happen and what defenses they were playing and how I'd run my route, different things that would come up. I would get nervous. And then when it was game time, I just played. And that's going to be my message to the team. That's, you know, that's probably how I feel. I'm starting to get a little, you know, like This is awesome. I'm getting excited, getting a little nervous, you know, because like I said, I'd be lying if I didn't say I want to get off to a good start. You know, you, you just— St. Louis is just such a great city and they deserve to win, and I want to win for them. And, and so yeah, that does make me, um, a little anxious, a little nervous, because I want it as bad for them as I do for us and our football team."
Since 2020, the Battlehawks and Defenders have for the most part been two of the most successful teams in spring football, causing there to be a bit of a rivalry since the two have faced off multiple times with some chippy moments between them. When UFL News Hub asked Proehl about what he told players about keeping their composure in the game, the message has been clear from him since the beginning.
"We talk about all the time, poise under pressure, just being smart. They're going to, you know, they get chippy, and they're a physical football team as well as we are too. And we just got to let the pads do the talking. And we can't afford to be penalized for stupid mistakes, whether it's taunting, whether it's, you know, retaliating. And that's what I pride myself on when I was a player, just being a smart football player and not having costly mistakes. And hopefully, our football team will take on that personality that I had as a player, because that's what I stress in our meetings on the football field, just playing smart football."
There have not been many reports about players' health and whether guys are hurt, leaving many fans to wonder if the Battlehawks are 100% going into the game. Proehl seemed confident that despite a few players being banged up, the depth on the roster is there to pick up the slack.
"No, nothing, nothing real serious. You know, we may have a couple of guys that, that won't play that we'd love to have, but I think we're just— we've got to be smart. This is, you know, it's early in the season and you know, we got to keep these guys healthy for the long haul. So, yeah, there's going to be a couple of guys that may surprise some people, but I'm confident in their backups that they can come through and have a big game."
Battlehawks fans will be able to see how the Proehl era starts when they play the Defenders in Week 1 of the 2026 season.
St. Louis Battlehawks Ricky Proehl Talks Week 1 DC Defenders Showdown by Anthony Miller
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2 days ago
UFL News Hub Mailbag #4 - Answering questions on the St. Louis defense, what QBs have short leashes, and more
We are on the doorstep of the UFL 2026 season, kicking off tonight with Birmingham at Louisville. What better time to open the mailbag and take reader questions from social media? Here is what's on the fans' minds as the regular season is set to begin.
Some questions may be edited for length and/or clarity.
@CHRIS_T1SDALE asks, "Which QB has the 'shortest leash' as starter?"
Several teams announced their starting quarterbacks this week ahead of the first weekend slate of games. Some were more surprising than others. What makes this question more difficult is the fact that many head coaches expect to employ a two-quarterback system, at least early in the season. To answer the question, I'd say the teams with the strongest backups are the most likely to pull the trigger early on a QB switch. Remember, the regular season is just 10 weeks long, so the leashes would be shorter than in the NFL.
Dallas would be the place I'd look first as Austin Reed was named the starter on Wednesday ahead of the Spring King, Luis Perez. Perez's success at this level means the pressure will be on Reed, who comes to the UFL as a decorated college thrower. Nolan Henderson was a bit of a surprise in Houston over Hunter Dekkers. That's another situation that bears watching. Orlando's starter hasn't been officially announced yet, though whoever ends up the number two between Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jack Plummer could push the other at some point this season.
Rick Ryan asks, "I see Week 2 has a Tuesday game. Why did that come about?"
If you see a game on an odd day, you can be sure there are one of two reasons for it: Either the stadium was unavailable on a normal gameday, or there was no broadcast window for the game on the weekend. More so than what's best for the league, the needs and schedule of the stadiums and networks really come first. It's certainly hard to believe the UFL staff (let alone the teams themselves) would desire a Tuesday night game. So it's safe to blame (or credit, depending on your point of view) either the venues or the networks for that scheduling quirk.
Alexander asks, "Did the Battlehawks defense get better or worse (on paper) from last season? I’m thinking worse with (Willie) Harvey and (Mike) Rose not returning as well as some cornerbacks leaving."
I was pretty high on St. Louis's defense in my position group rankings earlier this week. Losing those pieces mentioned will hurt, as will starting with a new defensive coordinator and new system with all new players. Luckily, most other teams are in that same boat. I think Jordan Williams will match if not exceed Mike Rose's production as inside linebacker. Willie Harvey is out as well, and he was All-UFL last year. Michael Barrett is a candidate to pick up his slack. St. Louis was first in scoring defense last year and second in yards per game allowed. Even if there's drop-off from those numbers, I think they still have the potential to be strong at all three levels in 2026.
P-Thug asks, "Do you think starting (spring football) lifers like (Brandon) Silvers or (Luis) Perez, etc., is a deterrent for this league or for people watching?"
New co-owner Mike Repole seems to believe that players like Silvers and Perez are a deterrent in the league's renewed push to place as many players as possible into the NFL after the season. For players like Silvers and Perez, their time for NFL opportunities has likely passed, even if they may continue to excel at the UFL level. As for whether it's a negative for the league or its perception to have these players earning so much time, I have my doubts. Sure, it's nice to have more fringe NFL players to up the quality, but would people really tune in to see a QB who was on an NFL practice squad over a Perez or Silvers? In fact, players like Perez and Silvers often have more engaging stories to relate to viewers than those still on the cusp of the NFL, and fanbases can become familiar with those players because they have stuck around for a few years. That connection matters.
Aaron Schiro asks, "What's your prediction for most surprising team based on attendance, and most disappointing?"
I think it's easy to St. Louis will disappoint, simply because they've raised the bar so high. That means their numbers have the farthest to potentially decline. That said, in looking at the seating charts for a recent article, I'd say D.C. Coming off a championship last year and with the famed Beer Snake, I was surprised at how slow tickets appeared to be moving there.
As for surprises, maybe Orlando? Just because of how poorly the Guardians did in XFL 2023. There's a low bar for the Storm to clear and Anthony Becht has a way of helping to get the excitement going on social media. I know Orlando also matters to Mike Repole, who said he'd be at every Storm home game. When the boss is that invested, tickets tend to move.
@CHRIS_T1SDALE asks, "With the Dolphins salary cap issues, give me 1 OL, 1 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB, 1 QB, 1 DL, 1 LB, and 1 DB, all from current UFL teams, you would sign as Dolphins GM."
Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan is in his first season in that role, so there's not a lot of history to draw from in terms of how he manages a roster. He's got a new coaching staff as well, led by Jeff Hafley. The two were together in Green Bay the past few seasons, with Hafley serving as defensive coordinator. Miami certainly feels like they're in rebuilding mode (some may use the word "tanking"), having gotten rid of stalwarts like QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Jaylen Waddle, among others.
With that preface out of the way, here are my choices:
OL: Javion Cohen, St. Louis Battlehawks: Looking at Miami's current depth chart, I sense guard being the weakest spot along the line in terms of depth. Cohen would help alleviate that.
WR: Deon Cain, Birmingham Stallions: As it stands now, the receiver room for the Dolphins is short on size. The 6'2" Cain will give new QB Malik Willis a bigger target in the pass game.
TE: Seth Green, Dallas Renegades: A former QB and WR in college, Green has the athleticism and pass-catching potential currently missing in Miami, where many of their tight ends are of the block-first variety.
RB: Deon Jackson, D.C. Defenders: Miami has the shiftiness and open-field speed covered with De'Von Achane and Jaylen Wright. They've got the pound it between the tackles covered with Ollie Gordon. So how about a guy who can do both in Jackson?
QB: Jason Bean, Louisville Kings: Though not an exact replica, Bean's style is closely associated with Willis and other QBs on the roster.
DL: Ricky Correia, Birmingham Stallions: Miami could use some additional bodies on the interior next to their nose tackles, Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips. Correia and Dolphins defensive line coach Austin Clark both attended college at Cal (though not at the same time).
LB: Michael Barrett, St. Louis Battlehawks: Another connection here, as new Dolphins linebackers coach Al Washington was Barrett's position coach for a season at the University of Michigan.
DB: Brandon Sebastian, St. Louis Battlehawks: Sebastian would offer versatility in the defensive backfield for Miami, as well as special teams value. He played for Hafley at Boston College.
UFL News Hub Mailbag #4 - Answering questions on the St. Louis defense, what QBs have short leashes, and more by Greg Parks
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2 days ago
Predictions: UFL News Hub Writer’s Week 1 Picks
The 2026 UFL season is officially here. Week 1 is packed with fresh storylines after a massive offseason of change. Three brand-new franchises (Louisville Kings, Columbus Aviators, and Orlando Storm), nearly every team has a new head coach, and major roster turnover has reshaped the entire landscape. The defending champion DC Defenders enter as the current Crown Holder, while the Orlando Storm begin the year as the Court Jester. Our writers have locked in their picks for all four games as the Crown Holder / Court Jester rules, and the playoff race gets underway on opening weekend.
This article is NOT gambling advice. If you do place bets, please do so responsibly and seek help if you have a gambling problem.
UFL Power Rankings Week 0: DC Aims to Defend Top Spot
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS @ LOUISVILLE KINGS
Friday, March 27 | 8:00 PM EDT | Lynn Family Stadium, Louisville, KY | FOX
A new era begins for the Birmingham Stallions as they travel to face the expansion Louisville Kings on Friday night. Under new head coach A.J. McCarron, the Stallions will lean on quarterback Matt Corral to rebound from last season’s injury issues and show why he has league MVP potential. Louisville inherits much of the Memphis Showboats roster and will turn to Jason Bean at quarterback in their historic first game under Chris Redman. This opener also serves as the very first test of the Crown Holder and Court Jester rules for the year.
Birmingham Stallions HC A.J. McCarron Talks Week 1 Preparation, QB Battle, and Deep WR Room
Writer's Pick: 75% Birmingham
D.C. DEFENDERS @ ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS
Saturday, March 28 | 12:00 PM EDT | The Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis, MO | ESPN
The reigning UFL champion DC Defenders head to St. Louis as the current Crown Holder with the most continuity in the league under head coach Shannon Harris and QB Jordan Ta’amu. The Battlehawks finished 8-2 last season, return their standout edge-rushing duo, and hope new offensive leadership from Ricky Proehl can finally fix their passing game. After falling to DC in last year’s XFL Final, St. Louis will be highly motivated to open the season with a statement home win.
Built to Repeat, Jordan Ta'amu at the Center of DC's Success
Writer's Pick: 62.5% DC
HOUSTON GAMBLERS @ DALLAS RENEGADES
Saturday, March 28 | 4:00 PM EDT | Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX | FOX
The Houston Gamblers visit the newly rebranded Dallas Renegades in what should be one of the most competitive games of the weekend. Houston closed out 2025 on a high note with wins over both eventual championship teams and now has Kevin Sumlin calling plays. Dallas still boasts one of the league’s most consistent quarterbacks in Luis Perez, but must overcome significant offensive line changes after some tough offseason cuts. Both 5-5 teams from last year are eager to prove their records were no fluke.
Writer's Pick: 87.5% Dallas
COLUMBUS AVIATORS @ ORLANDO STORM
Sunday, March 29 | 8:00 PM EDT | Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL | ESPN
The Columbus Aviators open their franchise history on the road against the Orlando Storm. Columbus inherits a strong running back trio and defensive anchors from the Michigan Panthers, with Jalen McClendon likely starting at quarterback. Orlando will look to a big season from RB Jashuan Corbin, plus their revamped defense. Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jack Plummer have been in competition for the starting quarterback position, but a starter has yet to be named. Will the Aviators be able to weather the storm on the road?
Writer's Pick: 75% Orlando
Ranking UFL Teams by Position Group (Offensive Edition)
Ranking UFL Teams by Position Group (Defensive Edition)
Predictions: UFL News Hub Writer’s Week 1 Picks by Jonathan Clink
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2 days ago
3 UFL Players the Detroit Lions Should Keep an Eye On
It’s no secret that the Detroit Lions monitor the United Football League as a genuine source to acquire NFL-level talent. Last season saw the club sign more players from the UFL than any other franchise at 8, of which CB Nick Whiteside, RB Jacob Saylors, and TE Thomas Gordon are still with the team. The season before the Lions signed 4 UFL players, of which kicker Jake Bates is still with the team, who has become a fan favorite.
Jacob Saylors has played well in the return game and has a lot of talent as a running back. Nick Whiteside played well in coverage for the Lions when called upon and frankly should have been used more last season amid the plethora of injuries among the backfield personnel.
With the rise in salary cap issues for the Detroit Lions and departures of key players at offensive line and defensive end, it has never been more important for the Lions to find some discount talent.
DE Kenney Willekes, Columbus Aviators - Michigan State (6’3, 263 lbs, 28 y/o)
Willekes is set to suit up with the Columbus Aviators this season. The Michigan State alumni frankly should be on an NFL squad right now. He had the highest defensive grade from Pro Football Focus last season at 86, with a strong gap between him and the 2nd highest rated at 82.9. He also had the 5th highest pressure rate across the league by count (cross-referenced with PFF snap counts). For how I track QB hits, he had the most in the league at 9 last season.
Willekes showed great ability to beat blockers around the edge or gain inside leverage to create pressure. He was also an effective run stopper and was involved in a run stop on 14.4% of his run defense snaps by my count (cross-referenced with PFF data).
Willekes was born in Rockford, Michigan, and is the all-time leader in tackles for a loss at MSU. He has been exceptional at the UFL level and is a no-brainer for the Detroit Lions to bring in and make an impact opposite Aiden Hutchinson.
It’s worth noting that Willekes did play 15 snaps for Pittsburgh last NFL preseason and had high pass-rushing grades.
LT Ryan Nelson, Columbus Aviators - Virginia (6’6, 338 lbs, 26 y/o)
Ryan Nelson has been a 3-year starter for the Michigan Panthers and is coming off his best season yet, which was also his first starting at left tackle at the pro level. The talent pool of edge rushers in the UFL is very strong, so if he can continue to improve upon his success last season, he will be primed for a transition tot he NFL
Nelson had the 2nd highest pass blocking grades from Pro Football Focus among tackles in the UFL last season, which led to him playing the preseason with the Los Angeles Chargers. He’s so close to being a legitimate NFL left tackle and is a player to keep a close eye on to see if he advances his game. He has a couple of things that can be improved on, but I think he is a prospect who is really close and has a very high ceiling.
LB Marvin Moody, Houston Gamblers - Tulane (6’2, 239, 27 y/o)
Moody started all 10 games last season for Houston and recorded 74 total tackles and an interception. For how I tally run stops, he had 7 solo run stops and 16 shared run stops. He also showed improvement in coverage throughout the season.
Each of the last 2 seasons saw Moody sign with the Cleveland Browns and be released in final cuts. A second full season as a starting linebacker could help improve his game to help him make a real impact at the NFL level.
A couple of other linebackers to keep an eye on are 2 UFL newcomers. Abraham Beauplan, who played for the Lions in the 2024 preseason and appeared in some games on special teams in the regular season, and Jailin Walker, who had strong play with Indiana in 2024 and will now get his first shot at playing games at the pro level.
3 UFL Players the Detroit Lions Should Keep an Eye On by Jonathan Clink
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2 days ago
Pat Rifino's 2026 Preseason All-UFL Team
With the 2026 UFL season set to kick off this Friday, fans of the UFL will finally have the opportunity to see the 3rd season of spring football in new owner Mike Repole’s vision. As teams prepare for week one, below is my preseason list for the All-UFL team going into 2026.
Offense:
QB: Jordan Ta’amu D.C. Defenders
Ta’amu brings back plenty of key weapons and continuity on the 2026 Defenders this season coupled by the fact that Bryce Perkins is no longer with the league should be the top QB this season. While Renegades QB Luis Perez should provide his steady helping of 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, Ta’amu’s ability to set up explosive plays with his legs should have him in the running for MVP honors in 2026.
RB: Toa Taua Columbus Aviators
Toa Taua emerged as a premiere back in the UFL due to injuries last season at the position. Going into 2026, the team will rely heavily on the former Nevada star, which should yield to a season with six plus rushing touchdowns.
RB: Jashaun Corbin Orlando Storm
Corbin is fresh off an All-UFL campaign and should be primed to a solid follow up in 2026. After leading the league in rushing in 2025, Corbin joins the Storm who have put together a youthful offensive line with plenty of upside, eager to pave the way.
WR: Hakeem Butler St. Louis Battlehawks
Butler dealt with injuries and inconsistent QB play in 2025, however under A.J. Smith’s offense he’ll garner plenty of targets in 2026. With any of the Battlehawks Quarterbacks under center (or in Shotgun), Butler is primed to continue his run of dominance when healthy.
WR: Cornell Powell D.C. Defenders
Powell should benefit from another year in the system and more familiarity with Defenders QB Jordan Ta’amu. He’s been an exceptional option in the slot, with the ability to stretch the field which should allow him to be one of the UFL’s top pass catchers this year.
WR: Deon Cain Birmingham Stallions
While Cain is the Stallions receiver I picked, it could be any member of their room that will be named to the All-UFL team. The Stallions receiving corps is loaded, and with Matt Corral taking over as the signal caller Cain should be able to be a down field threat for Birmingham in the 2026 season.
TE: Zach Davidson Louisville Kings
Davidson should be one of the more intriguing prospects in the UFL come 2026. He’s put together plenty of great tape in preseason games, and owns the size to dominate in the redzone. He has the potential to match what Sal Cannella has done in the last several years with QB Jason Bean.
TE: Briley Moore D.C. Defenders
Moore took a step forward in 2025 after sharing reps with previous Defender TEs in 23/24. With Sal Cannella being gone, he’ll have the opportunity to earn an All-UFL selection if he can hold off Seth Green and Gunnar Oakes.
OG: Zack Johnson Birmingham Stallions
A bit of an elder statesman, Johnson was an All-UFL selection in 2024, before spending time with several NFL teams. Now in his age 31 season the former North Dakota State alum should have another solid campaign that saw him earn plenty of NFL interest.
OG: Nash Jensen Louisville Kings
Jensen was one of the bright spots on a 2025 Memphis Showboats team that failed to be competitive. Now in 2026, Jensen returns with the hopes of leading a group that will be anchored by Mike McAllister, which Jensen should benefit from.
OT: Ryan Nelson Columbus Aviators
Nelson took a big leap in 2025, which should hopefully translate in 2026. After failing to earn a spot with the LA Chargers, Nelson should be on a “revenge tour” to prove he belongs.
OT: Mason Brooks Birmingham Stallions
Brooks was an underrated piece for D.C. in 2025, and should continue with a dominant season in 2026. He’s an extremely versatile piece on the Stallions OLine that should see plenty of success in the upcoming season.
C: Mike Panasiuk St. Louis Battlehawks
Three years running as the top center in spring football, Panasiuk returns as the anchor for the Battlehawks. Look for much of the same in 2026.
Defense:
DT:Amani Bledsoe Birmingham Stallions
Bledsoe was an underrated piece in the Renegades defense, that in Birmingham is primed to be “the guy”. With the Stallions consistently churning out All-League linemen look for Bledsoe to be a premiere piece for Birmingham this year.
DT: Casey Rogers D.C. Defenders
Rogers was a late signing for D.C. however has all the tools to “pop” in 2026. A fringe NFL player in his own right, Rogers should be able leverage his time in D.C. to an All-UFL season and NFL contract.
EDGE: Kenny Willekes Columbus Aviators
Willekes was one of the best EDGE rushers in 2025, finding his way back to relevance with Michigan. His ability to dictate pressure, with win-rates, allowed him to earn a contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, look for for much of the same in 2026.
EDGE: Pita Taumoepenu St. Louis Battlehawks
One of the elite pass rushers in spring football, Taumoepenu earned a plethora of awards this past season. Going into 2026 Taumoepenu should continue his reign of dominance unless a new comer overtakes him.
LB: Brandon Smith D.C. Defenders
Smith is a new face to the league with plenty of NFL experience. He should be a favorite to bring a resurgence to the Defenders defense, that has plenty of playmakers on that side of the ball.
LB: Marvin Moody Houston Roughnecks
Moody might be one of the UFL’s most underrated Linebackers, and showcased that in 2025. With a full offseason under his belt, he could be a candidate for a Defensive Player of the year honor this fall.
LB: Tavante Beckett Orlando Storm
Beckett has been a perennial All-League player in spring football, and don’t expect that to change come 2026. Donnie Abraham is set to unleash the veteran linebacker who is going into year 4.
CB: D.J. Miller Columbus Aviators
Miller flashed with the Panthers last year, and with valuable experience from his time in an NFL camp can surely progress into a Nick Whiteside like ascension in 2026.
CB: Deandre Baker D.C. Defenders
Baker’s earned two All-UFL honors this past season. In 2026 the former 1st round pick should make a Damon Arnette-like jump to an NFL roster after the year.
CB: Lance Boykin Birmingham Stallions
Boykin is one of the most underrated players season, whose accomplishments may have gone overlooked in Memphis. Now in Birmingham, he’ll be in position to “pop”, and make a push for All-UFL honors.
S: Kyree Woods Columbus Aviators
PFF loves Kyree Woods and so do I. In Columbus under the tutelage of Captain Munnerlyn expect him to garner plenty of “love” going into year three.
S: Gabe Taylor D.C. Defenders
Genetics means something, as does upside and Gabe Taylor has plenty of both. Taylor has the range and tenacity his brother played with, building up for what could be a no flight zone in D.C.
Special Teams:
K: Tucker McCann St. Louis Battlehawks
Everyone loves a comeback story, and that’s what Tucker McCann is. Back in the fold after several years away from football, McCann has the opportunity to continue to capitalize on the success of the past Battlehawks kickers.
P: Paxton Brooks D.C. Defenders
Brooks has been one the leagues better punters and with some competition departing from the league could find himself with an All-League selection. Look for Brad Robbins to provide some stiff competition as well.
LS: Ryan Langen Birmingham Stallions
Langen has been one of the league's best snappers, and if not dealing with injuries in 2025 could have earned another honor. Look for him to regain his form if healthy in 2026.
RS: Chris Rowland Orlando Storm
Rowland has been a cheat code in special teams gameplans for the past several years and 2026 shouldn’t be anything different. Rowland should be the primary return guy in Orlando, however don’t count him out in regards for making an impact as a receiver as well.
Pat Rifino's 2026 Preseason All-UFL Team by Patrick Rifino
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2 days ago
Preview Louisville Kings UFL Debut v. Birmingham Stallions
Heralding the start of what looks to be the most thrilling UFL season yet, the Louisville Kings host the three-time championship Birmingham Stallions on Friday, March 27th.
Under Mike Repole’s leadership, the league transformed, launching new teams, smaller fan-friendly stadiums, a dedicated marketing strategy, and rule changes, all designed to attract a stable fan base and establish a long-term presence in spring sports.
As hometown hero and first-time head coach Chris Redman takes to the field on Friday night, fan expectations will be high for the Kings, even as they take on the league’s most successful franchise under new head coach A.J. McCarron. Find out how the two teams stack up ahead of the game.
The Louisville Kings Offense:
Quarterback Jason Bean
After an impressive record-breaking collegiate career with the Kansas Jayhawks, Jason Bean spent the 2024 season with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. Waived ahead of the 2025 season, he finally makes his professional football debut. An athletic, mobile quarterback, Bean provides big-play opportunities. Known for his strong arm, he’s also efficient on the ground, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
Speaking to the media last week, Bean reiterated his excitement to play for Louisville and the potential he sees in this team, particularly the offense. Grateful for the opportunity to hone his craft over the past three weeks, Bean focused on improving his accuracy and implementing what he’s learned from OC Steve Logan in how he approaches the game.
The Birmingham Stallions Offense:
Quarterback Matt Corral
Veteran UFL quarterback Matt Corral gets the starting nod from McCarron. Appearing in nine games over the last two seasons and including his postseason play, Corral recorded 1,409 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and added 36 carries for 210 yards.
Stallions’ Wide Receivers Room
The Stallions have one of the more experienced and talented receiver rooms in the league, led by All-UFL Team wide receiver Deon Cain. Playing well enough over the past two seasons to generate interest from multiple NFL teams, Cain returns for a third season in spring football. One of the UFL’s leading receivers with 29 catches for 514 yards with six touchdowns, his longest score was a 65-yarder last season. Cain also provides a serious threat as a kick returner with 16 returns for 421 yards.
Former Western Kentucky star and Memphis Showboats standout, Daewood Davis, still holds the record for the longest UFL touchdown with a stunning 82-yard score against the Michigan Panthers in 2024. Former NFL players speedster John Ross and dual-return threat Laviska Shenault are newcomers to the UFL this season.
Louisville Kings Receivers Room
The Kings entered the season with arguably one of the more stacked receiver rooms, featuring former Memphis Showboats star, Jonathan Adams, along with Dallas Renegades talents Isaiah Winstead and JaVonta Payton.
However, earlier this week, Adams was placed on injured reserve. Former NFL and UFL newcomer Tyler Hudson steps in to replace him on the roster. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Lucky Jackson, a training camp standout, rounds out the group.
Speaking about the offensive depth on the team, Jackson was full of praise for his teammates, stating, “We’re all on the same page. We all have a common goal. We want to win. We want to get to that next level, so it takes us to come together and really get this thing going.”
Birmingham Stallions Ground Game
Former San Antonio Brahmas star running back Anthony McFarland will be the one to watch this season. McFarland is a triple threat. He can score on the ground, catch the ball, and return kicks. He is joined by former NFL power backs Tyrion Davis-Price and Snoop Conner, who are new to the UFL this season.
Louisville Kings Ground Game
After the surprise cut of NFL rookie sensation James Robinson, the Kings' ground game rests on the shoulders of former Pittsburgh Steelers RB Benny Snell, former New Orleans Saints running back Ian Wheeler, and talented UFL veteran Jaden Shirden.
Snell, a standout for the Wildcats, is a local Kentucky favorite and former Pittsburgh Steeler. Foregoing his senior year to enter the 2019 NFL Draft, Snell was selected by the Steelers in the 4th round. In his two years with Pittsburgh, he rushed for 982 yards on 275 carries with seven touchdowns. He also proved to be a capable receiver with 17 catches for 114 yards.
Logan described Wheeler as possessing "elite speed" during training camp. Shirden, a UFL Veteran of the Brahams and Michigan Panthers, poses a dual threat as a return specialist. The former UFL Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 1 of the 2025 season, he recorded three kickoff returns for 150 yards, including an 86-yarder that set up a field goal.
Birmingham Stallions Offensive Line
Experienced Stallions tackle Armani Taylor-Prioleau and former Memphis Showboats tackle Noah Henderson join former Panthers’ center Noah Johnson in leading what is projected to be a strong offensive line this season.
Louisville Kings Offensive Line
Former Memphis Showboats guards Nate Gilliam, Nash Jenson, and J.D. DiRenzo, and tackle James Tunstall head up the Kings' offensive line with 6’3” 308 lb. center, Mike McAllister, a UFL newcomer. The Youngstown State graduate first signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
Birmingham Stallions Defense
The Stallions' defense features talented returning linebackers Kyahva Tezino (139 tackles, 1.5 sacks, six pass defenses, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in two seasons) and Tae Crowder (44 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries).
They are joined by talented free safeties JoJo Tillery (36 tackles, two INTs, five PBRs, and a fumble recovery) and Tre Norwood( 39 tackles, three PBRs, and a fumble recovery), and former Panthers’ DE Isaac Ukwu, who previously spent the 2024 season with the Detroit Lions. Cornerbacks Steven Gilmore 48 tackles and one INT) and Mario Goodrich (17 tackles, six PBRs, and three forced fumbles are capable of wreaking havoc for the Kings' offense.
Louisville Kings Defense
Jamie Sharper’s defense could provide a definite advantage for the Kings this season. Featuring an experienced group of UFL veterans, there are several strong playmakers in the group. Cornerbacks Cam Danztler, Steele Chambers, and Eric Garror are joined by their former Memphis teammates, safety Keaton Ellis, DT’s Josiah Bronson and Devere Levelston, and DE Jaylon Allen. Dantzler recently admitted that Sharper’s defense is simpler and more old-school than the Showboats’ defense from last season. Hopefully, the streamlined playbook will allow the group to put it all together for a league-leading defense.
The Kicking Game
Former Renegades kicker Jonathan Garibay will make his debut with the Stallions this season. In 2024, Garibay converted 13 of 14 field goals for 92% with a longest of 48 yards. Garibay will take on UFL newcomer Tanner Hudson, who will handle kicking duties for the Kings.
The action kicks off Friday night in front of a sold-out crowd at Lynn Family Stadium. The game will be televised on "FOX UFL Friday at 8:00 pm ET." Country artist Russell Dickerson will be the halftime guest.
Preview Louisville Kings UFL Debut v. Birmingham Stallions by Sue Levine
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2 days ago
Former Michigan Panthers Kicker Jake Bates Re-Signs with Detroit Lions for 2026
The Detroit Lions announced on Wednesday that kicker Jake Bates has officially re-signed with the team for the 2026 season.
The extension was expected, given the fact that the Lions tendered him an ERFA deal (exclusive rights free agent). This offer presented Bates with the option of either signing for the one-year minimum salary of $.075M or sitting out the NFL season.
For Michigan Panthers and UFL fans, it’s another proud chapter in the Jake Bates story to see the same player who electrified Ford Field with a 64-yard game-winner for the Panthers to continue to play in Ford Field, but at the NFL level. That was tied for the 2nd-longest field goal in pro football history, and the ball was promptly given residence in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Bates was originally signed by the Lions to a 2-year, $1.98M deal after his breakout UFL season. Bates went 26 of 29 in field goals with 6 from beyond 50 yards. 2025 saw him make 27 of his 34 with 4 from beyond 50. He had more misses from beyond 50 yards last season, but did improve in his extra point accuracy, which was 54 of 56 last season.
Bates will need to wait another year for the prospect of a big-money contract. If he can continue to be dangerous from great distances, then there will likely be several NFL teams interested in paying a premium for his services come 2027.
Former Michigan Panthers Kicker Jake Bates Re-Signs with Detroit Lions for 2026 by Jonathan Clink
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2 days ago
New Dallas Renegades WR Greg Ward Opened Up Just Days Before Week 1 of UFL Season
There are plenty of new faces with the Dallas Renegades for 2026, but one of the most intriguing to join the team is veteran wide receiver Greg Ward.
Ward has enjoyed success in the NFL as he played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2017 through 2023 before going to the Indianapolis Colts in 2024. In 40 NFL games, Ward has caught 88 passes for 768 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He has also reached some great highs in spring football as he started in 2019 with the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football where he caught 22 passes for 214 yards and returned a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown. Last season, Ward came back to spring football to play for the San Antonio Brahmas where he caught 17 passes for 116 yards and one score.
Now the 30 year old wide receiver is in his ninth year in professional football as he looks to continue his successful career with the Renegades. Ward spoke with reporters prior to the Renegades' Week 1 matchup against the Houston Gamblers to share more about multiple topics.
Greg Ward talks everything Dallas Renegades in Year 1
Ward has played under multiple different coaches in his NFL and spring football career. Most recently, he was with Wade Phillips in San Antonio last year, but is now with Rick Neuheisel in his first season as the Renegades' head coach. Ward shared with UFL NewsHub the key difference between Neuheisel from other coaches he has worked with in the past.
"The difference, he's very, very, very energetic every single day. You're gonna get the same coach, the same energy, everything that he brings every single day, you're gonna get it. So he's a consistent guy. He wants the best for everybody. And you also have to love that about him because he's also gonna be 110% honest with you. So you can respect that out of any coach."
One thing that has helped with Ward's transition to the Renegades was being familiar with quarterback Luis Perez from their time with the Eagles. Ward talked to UFL NewsHub about how it has been going with Perez as they work together and rebuild that chemistry.
"So me and him known each other for a while, but it's been great, man. We actually think alike on a lot of plays and a lot of routes. So it's just good to have a guy like that back there that can relate and that can communicate properly."
"Great relationships always take time. We have great communication. So I'm just grateful to be on the team with him."
It should be noted that this question was asked prior to the news that the Renegades would be rolling with Austin Reed as the starting quarterback over Perez. Neuheisel told the media that Reed and Perez are both expected to play, so the Perez-Ward combination in 2026 is still very much alive.
https://x.com/ByAnthonyMiller/status/2036910264667246838
Ward enters the season as the second oldest player on the roster, but the oldest wide receiver in the room. For him taking a more veteran, mentor role with the team is something that is important to him.
"I can only share what has been given. And I think for like the younger guys that's coming up, I can just share what has been passed down to me. I think service is one of the best things that you can do as a person. And, you know, as much as I can help anybody, that's what I'm gonna do. So I'm grateful to be, you know, the oldest guy in the in the room that can share some of my knowledge with the younger guys."
There isn't a lot for Ward to prove on the field as he has great hands and a speedy weapon on offense and special teams. For him, that all doesn't matter as he keeps the focus on improving in every aspect of his game every day.
"Everything, man. There's not just one thing I want to focus on. I want to focus on everything. I want to get better at everything. Now daily I can focus on just getting better 1% a day, but I just want to improve every single thing. I don't ever want to get complacent or think that I got it figured out. You always got to work. I just want to stay consistent in my routine and, you know, how I approach the game."
Ward will have a chance to show the league that he can still play on a high level against the Gamblers in Week 1.
New Dallas Renegades WR Greg Ward Opened Up Just Days Before Week 1 of UFL Season by Anthony Miller
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3 days ago
United Football League Announces Fast Partners for 2026 Season
– EA SPORTS, Povora, The 33rd Team, Riddell, and Vokol To Participate In Second Installment of UFL’s Football Advancement through Sports Technology Program –
The United Football League today announced five companies that it will work with throughout the upcoming 2026 spring football season as part of the second cohort of its innovation program, FAST – Football Advancement through Sports Technology.
“The UFL remains committed to working with like-minded partners and technologies that can fuel and enrich the game of football through the FAST program,” said Scott Harniman, Senior Vice President, Innovation & Media, UFL. “All of the companies selected in the 2026 cohort offer unique innovations that can add value to the game for coaches, athletes, officials, and even fans.”
Launched in 2025, FAST is the UFL’s technology-focused innovation division. Designed to advance the game of football, the program works with both established and emerging sports media and technology companies to test and launch innovations and services that will improve the sport.
The FAST program will focus on five key emerging areas for the 2026 season by teaming up with the following partners, who were selected to work with the league on six-month research and development projects. This year’s lineup includes:
EA SPORTS
Povora
The 33rd Team
Riddell
Vokol
Based at UFL HQ in Arlington, Texas, where training camps and regular season practices are held for all eight UFL teams, FAST provides its technology partners with access to over 600 players and coaches for testing and development. In addition, it gives those partners executive guidance, football-specific expertise, operational support, and experimentation.
Each company will participate in the UFL Tech Showcase taking place at the host city of the 2026 UFL Championship Game on Saturday, June 13. The site of the championship will be announced at a future date.
EA SPORTS: TRACAB CAMERAS
As part of the FAST program, EA SPORTS will deploy its TRACAB optical tracking system across 24 regular season UFL games during the 2026 season, marking an expansion of the technology into American football. TRACAB captures high-fidelity volumetric player movement data in real time, tracking 21+ joints per player and generating hundreds of millions of data points per game. The data will support ongoing innovation in interactive sports experiences and performance analysis, while continuing to explore how real-world data can deepen understanding of football.
POVORA: CapCam Live Broadcast Integration
POVORA’s CapCam will be worn by designated UFL Officials during featured ESPN games this season. This innovation allows for tilt control, ensuring the camera’s perspective can be adjusted remotely providing a unique view of the action on the field. The technology has been deployed across professional sports and was most recently used during the NCAA College Football Playoff and Championship. The UFL working with Povora and ESPN will integrate live audio with the video directly into the broadcast. The UFL Technology team will experiment by placing CapCam on Head Coaches and Coordinators throughout the season to provide the highest level of transparency in sports.
RIDDELL: InSite Analytics Equipped Axiom3D Helmets
InSite Analytics is a proprietary smart helmet technology with a subscription-based reporting service that provides football programs with head impact data from practices and games. This tool provides team staff with better information to identify potential opportunities to reduce head impact exposure through adjustments to player technique and game preparation, thereby helping improve athlete and team performance. In line with new helmet standards introduced to enhance player health and safety, the UFL purchased over 450 new Riddell Axiom3D helmets equipped with InSite Analytics. The UFL was the first to adopt this technology broadly at a league level signaling the UFL’s focus on data-based solutions. Syracuse University, which operates as a Football Intelligence team through its partnership in FAST will help analyze and visualize the UFL’s head impact data throughout the 2026 Season.
VOKOL: AI Audio Creation
Vokol is an AI-powered audio creation engine that allows sports leagues to turn written or data-driven content into branded, lifelike audio in seconds. To maintain the UFL's position as a tech accelerator, the FAST division will utilize Vokol to solve a game recap "production bottleneck." Instead of manual voice-overs for every game, the plan is to automate high-fidelity, branded audio recaps that live directly on theUFL.com. The UFL Technology team will test integration between Vokol and the league’s live stats and official data partner, SportRadar to help power these game recaps.
The 33rd Team
The 33rd Team is a premier football resource and technology provider. To maintain the UFL's position as a tech accelerator, the FAST division will utilize The 33rd Team’s flagship product, "Zenith," to incubate and design the future of football data and video tools. The collaborative integration of The 33rd Team’s Zenith platform with UFL player tracking partner (Sportable) and official data partner (Sportradar) will attempt to yield a unique, UFL specific real-time analytics dashboard using AI-Driven Modeling to produce a “beyond the box score” resource for the league, its teams, and its players.
United Football League Announces Fast Partners for 2026 Season by Mark Perry
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3 days ago
A look at 2025 UFL Friday on FOX TV ratings and what 2026 may deliver with Nielsen changes
It was considered a boon for the UFL last year when they were included in FOX's Friday night sports lineup in the spring, joining college football in the fall and college basketball in the winter. A dedicated, primetime timeslot on broadcast television was seen not only as a stamp of approval for the league from part of its ownership group, but also the potential to draw the highest viewership numbers and expose the product to the largest possible audience they'd have on a weekly basis.
Things didn't exactly go as planned. Let's take a look at the UFL's viewership totals in comparison to its sports counterparts.
2024-2025 Season
College Football (12 games): 2.313 million average viewership; .50 average 18-49 demo
College Basketball (12 games): 1.145 million average viewership; .23 18-49 demo
UFL (10 games): 612.8 thousand average viewership (622.6k including 7-10 min. pre-game); .12 18-49 demo
As you can see, the UFL fell well short of its peers in the same timeslot. It didn't help that the kickoff game, St. Louis vs. Houston, was uncompetitive from very early on. That first game drew 690k, so there wasn't even an initial bump at the outset for those curious about the product. It did end up being the highest-rated game, showing a pretty low ceiling. The lowest viewership number came from Memphis vs. Birmingham in week five, drawing 467k viewers, up against the NBA Playoffs and night two of the NFL Draft.
Despite many making the move to streaming and broadcast TV numbers being down across the board from years past, a primetime slot on network TV is still considered important real estate. Those numbers are certainly more critical and more widely distributed than the UFL's ratings in weekend afternoon slots (which were also down from 2024). In some ways, it's a surprise that FOX allowed the UFL back on Friday nights in 2026.
But back they are, and here is how well the other sports performed in the second year of the Friday night sports lineup.
2025-2026 Season
College Football (10 games): 2.100 million average viewership; .41 18-49 demo
College Basketball (10 games): 1.520 million average viewership; .28 18-49 demo
Women's Volleyball (2 games): 702.5 thousand average viewership; .13 18-49 demo
Repeats of scripted programming (8 shows): 831.9 thousand average viewership; .08 18-49 demo
The first thing to note is the change in the way Nielsen is measuring ratings this year. It's called Big Data + Panel, and it mixes analytics with traditional panel data to get, supposedly, a more accurate view of how many people are watching a given program. Andy Nemmity had a great write-up back in October about the change and what it meant. It's geared toward wrestling fans, but even UFL fans who want to track ratings information will find it informative. It's found here.
It should be noted that the process is a work-in-progress and not everyone in the industry is happy with the results that have come from those changes. That could signal some tweaking on the part of Nielsen over the course of the next several months, or even years.
One big takeaway so far is that live sports have benefitted from this new measurement system. On all of its stations, the NFL was up from 2024, by about 10%. College football was up 2%. The NHL on ESPN was up 40% for the first four months of action. The NBA saw its highest Christmas Day TV rating in 15 years, and national broadcasts across numerous platforms have been up as much as 89% over 2024-2025. And the still in-progress March Madness ratings are at all-time highs.
If there's a reason to be optimistic about the UFL's ratings this year, the above can be used as evidence. It's not a guarantee, though, as we can see from the UFL's Friday night FOX partners. The year-over-year numbers show that college football was down, but college basketball was up, and by a pretty healthy margin.
The real issue is the repeat programming: If FOX can get just as high a rating (though lower in the 18-49) from a rerun as they can the UFL, then what's the incentive to keep the league in this coveted timeslot? With Mike Repole now in charge of marketing, the hope is all of the efforts he's made, from switching three markets, to emphasizing more intimate settings for games, to the overall tone and branding of the league will help make a difference in television viewership.
The UFL will not live or die based on success on Friday nights. However, it may be their best opportunity to bring new eyeballs onto the product, which they need to not just sustain but thrive. If they can't even approach respectable numbers there, then they may be relegated to weekends-only moving forward. The good news is the bar is low, and any kind of growth will be seen as a positive sign, not just on Friday nights but taking into account all days and times.
A look at 2025 UFL Friday on FOX TV ratings and what 2026 may deliver with Nielsen changes by Greg Parks
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3 days ago
The Future of the Stallions in Birmingham Beyond 2026 Comes Down to Attendance
When the 2025 United Football season ended with the championship game at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri, it didn’t take long for rumors to begin swirling about the future of several franchises within the league.
Mike Repole named Head of Business Operations
During the offseason, billionaire entrepreneur Mike Repole joined the ownership group and assumed the role as head of business operations. Repole, co-founder of Vitaminwater and BodyArmor, made known his desire of relocating several franchises to smaller, more TV friendly venues.
Birmingham put on Notice for poor Attendance
In addition to his desire to relocate as many teams as possible to smaller playing venues, Repole also targeted several markets that were underperforming at the gate. Among those, the Birmingham Stallions, winners of two USFL titles as well as the inaugural UFL championship, came very close to being relocated.
Birmingham Spared: For Now
After weeks of uncertainty, it was determined that the Stallions would remain in Birmingham. According to AL.com, Repole decided not to relocate the Stallions because “he viewed Birmingham as a strategic market with a deep-rooted passion for football that not yet had been fully captured by the league’s marketing efforts.”
A.J. McCarron named new Stallions Head Coach
In December of 2025, former Alabama and NFL quarterback A.J. McCarron was named to replace Skip Holtz, who stepped down as head coach after four seasons. McCarron, a Mobile, Alabama native, will be making his coaching debut, on any level, when the Stallions open the season on the road at Louisville this Saturday.
Attendance Critical for Birmingham in 2026
Despite their on field success, attendance has been an ongoing issue for Birmingham. Repole has publicly made that fact known. According to AL.com, Repole has set a goal for Birmingham to average at least 15K per game in 2026. Falling significantly lower that that number could spell trouble for Birmingham beyond the 2026 season.
The Future of the Stallions in Birmingham Beyond 2026 Comes Down to Attendance by Gary Thrasher
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3 days ago
Columbus Aviators QB Jalan McClendon Spoke to Media Before Week 1 vs. Orlando Storm
The Columbus Aviators are set to play their first game as a team as they travel to Orlando to play the Storm in Week 1 of the 2026 UFL season, but one thing is already set in stone before kickoff: Jalan McClendon is QB1.
McClendon entered training camp as the favorite, as he has established himself as one of the most underrated quarterbacks in spring football since the XFL in 2020. Last season, he started more than half the season for the Houston Roughnecks, passing for 1,464 yards and six touchdowns to three interceptions, adding 94 rushing yards and another score.
Despite having a new team to lead, McClendon seems to be at ease with his new role as a Day 1 starter. He spent time with reporters to discuss his experience with the new coaching staff, Week 1 preparation, and his return to the UFL.
Jalan McClendon talks about preparation against the Orlando Storm
McClendon and the Aviators are in an interesting situation: they haven't seen this Storm team play yet, but know most of the coaching staff, led by head coach Anthony Becht, from when they were with the St. Louis Battlehawks. When UFL NewsHub asked McClendon how preparations are going for the game, he discussed what they are doing to get ready.
"Pretty good. We're installing everything and just like Week 1 kinks, you know, like nobody has real true game film or tape on anybody. So just looking at like joint practices and things and the St. Louis film because it's the staff from the previous year. But man, it's looking good. Like, I think things are coming together. Things are clicking on all cylinders. So just trying to fine-tune some things and just keep things turning in the right direction."
It's a different approach to the 2026 season for McClendon, as he has been used to being the backup for teams like the Roughnecks, DC Defenders, Vegas Vipers, and LA Wildcats, but this is the first time he has been named the starter for Week 1. Even with the job being his, McClendon refuses to take it easy now that his moment has come.
"It feels good. I think that's everybody's goal. Everybody wants to play and start Day 1. And finally, having that happen for me, I think it's a good thing. But more than anything, I try to keep the same chip on my shoulder. In my mind, I visualize it as they look at me as a QB3 still. So, I take that same approach every day and never take it for granted, but always take advantage of it and just be thankful and grateful for the opportunity."
Columbus Aviators' coaching staff with Ted Ginn Jr. and Todd Haley
McClendon is working with a whole new coaching staff led by first-time head coach Ted Ginn Jr. Even though he may not have the experience at the position, Ginn's quarterback is liking what he is seeing so far.
"Yeah, I love Coach Ginn. And obviously, he's a wide receiver, like an offensive guy. But surprisingly, like he does spend time on offense, but he spends a lot of time on the defense. I think he's doing a good job of leading guys and being the head coach. And obviously, I think he's a player's coach, but more than anything, he wants to take care of business. And he makes sure that we take that same approach and that we definitely get that feeling and vibe from him that, yeah, off the field we can be cool, but, between the lines, it's definitely business. Make sure you take care of business and, like, he'll take care of what— so he's doing a good job of leading everybody, leading the staff, and, like, getting the staff to be on the same page and teaching up. Giving us information. So I think he's doing a phenomenal job, and I think you guys all see that in the near future."
Ginn isn't the only new coach McClendon is working with as the Aviators' offensive coordinator; Todd Haley, who has been a head coach at the NFL and the spring football level. McClendon talked about what it has been like working with Haley.
"In his Hard Knocks days with the Browns, he was a completely different guy. But, now I think he's kind of took a more calm approach. From my understanding, he wants the QB to, take control of this thing. Like, he wants it to be QB ran. He wants to give us the freedom to call it and run it. He just wants to really have this thing be a QB-led offense. And I love that. And he refers to his time with the Steelers and how Ben (Roethlisberger) used to just run the show and stuff like that. So I think he kind of takes that same approach, and he just wants to let his players play. Obviously, put us in the best position, but he also wants to let us be free and let us go out and play and execute and have fun."
UFL experience in 2026 versus what it has been like in the past
Most UFL fans have noticed that the vibes this season are very different from those in past years. For McClendon, he's got the same feeling as he credits new UFL co-owner Mike Repole on how his approach has been to the league.
"I think it's more like organized and like put together. Not saying that the previous leagues and ownership wasn't put together, but I think it's more like tight-knit, and like the trajectory of it is like going in the right direction. I think Mike Repole is doing a really good job of making sure he's taking this thing and lead us in the right direction, and I know he's a big marketing guy and pushing the markets for Louisville, and Columbus, and Orlando. And with the halftime performances, those are pretty big names. It's some pretty big people coming to do the halftime performances. So I think he's doing a good job of wanting to be a fan fun kind of event. That everybody can attend, that it's not like an expensive thing. It can really be a family-oriented weekend, and you can enjoy yourselves watching football and having a good time."
McClendon will have the opportunity to prove his worth as QB1 coming up in Week 1 against the Storm.
Columbus Aviators QB Jalan McClendon Spoke to Media Before Week 1 vs. Orlando Storm by Anthony Miller
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3 days ago
WR Tyler Hudson Returns To Louisville As Jonathan Adams Is Placed On Injured Reserve
Just days before the start of the UFL season opener, the Louisville Kings placed star wide receiver Jonathan Adams on injured reserve. The news couldn’t come at a worse time as Louisville prepares to debut against the three-time championship Birmingham Stallions. Former L.A. Rams wide receiver Tyler Hudson, who was cut last week from the final roster, has been recalled to replace Adams.
Hudson, a native of Spring, Texas, is returning to Louisville, where he played for the Louisville Cardinals. In 2022, he earned second-team All-ACC honors as a junior. Hudson became the seventh player to record 1,000 yards receiving in a season. Posting 69 receptions for 1,034 yards with four touchdowns, he earned a target rating of 95%, with four games over 100 yards receiving that season. In addition, Hudson proved his versatility as a punt returner.
A Standout Talent For The Louisville Cardinals
In his pre-draft profile on Nfldraftbuzz.com, Hudson was described as a precise route runner with quick feet and good body control. But when he wasn't selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, the 6’2” 197 lb. Hudson joined the Rams as an undrafted free agent.
During the 2023 preseason, he was one of a handful of NFL rookies looking for an opportunity in the wake of Cooper Kupp’s hamstring injury. Kupp had been the team’s leading receiver the previous season with 75 receptions for 812 yards with six touchdowns, despite missing eight games because of an ankle injury. Among that group of hopeful rookies was a young talent by the name of Puka Nacua, who burst onto the NFL scene that season.
An Elite Talent In Europe
Waived by the Rams in August of 2023, Hudson found his way to the European Football League. It was there that Hudson made his biggest impact. As the star receiver and MVP of the Dresden Monarchs, Hudson was named the 2025 GFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Achieving a standout performance that season, Hudson posted 110 receptions for 1,995 receiving yards with 27 touchdowns and a two-point conversion. In addition, Hudson also established himself as a force on special teams with 770 return yards, including a 100-yard touchdown.
Fresh off the success of that memorable season, Hudson returns to Louisville to play for Chris Redman and Steve Logan's offense, where he now has a chance to make an impact in a city that is only too happy to welcome him back.
WR Tyler Hudson Returns To Louisville As Jonathan Adams Is Placed On Injured Reserve by Sue Levine
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3 days ago
Stallions Add Competition to QB Room with Donovan Smith
A new competitor has joined the Birmingham Stallions' quarterback room just mere days before they play their first game of the 2026 UFL season.
Per the UFL Communication Department's X page, the Stallions signed quarterback Donovan Smith to the roster. Smith had just spent training camp with the Houston Gamblers, but lost the starting job to Nolan Smith and was released in favor of Taulia Tagovailoa.
https://x.com/ufl_pr/status/2036630573028946057
During his college career, Smith played two years at Texas Tech and two more with the Houston Cougars. In 44 career games, he threw for 6,354 yards and 45 touchdowns to 31 interceptions, adding another 845 rushing yards and 19 scores.
Donovan Smith joins the Birmingham Stallions QB room
Smith most likely would be at the bottom of the depth chart at quarterback for the Stallions. Birmingham head coach A.J. McCarron named Matt Corral as the starter, with Taylor Elgersma and Michael Hiers as the backups.
The Stallions are unlikely to carry four quarterbacks on the roster, so one of them will most likely be cut from the team. No official announcement has been made, as the Stallions' roster on the UFL website still lists all four quarterbacks as of the time this article was written.
One thing about Smith is his athletic ability, which makes him a good fit for spring football, but he has struggled with accuracy throughout Gamblers training camp as well as in college. Unless there are injuries to Corral or whoever else is remaining at quarterback for Birmingham, it doesn't seem likely that Smith is going to end up getting much playing time and could use the 2026 season to learn and develop as a professional from one of spring football's best quarterbacks ever in Coach McCarron.
This was a good move for the Stallions to upgrade the quarterback room and add another potential weapon to an offense loaded like no other in the UFL.
Stallions Add Competition to QB Room with Donovan Smith by Anthony Miller
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3 days ago
Championship to Legacy, Harris Eyes Long Term Success in DC
DC Defenders Head Coach Shannon Harris has been a breath of fresh air since he took over the Defenders last season on an interim tag. Harris stepped into the spotlight after former Defender’s head coach Reggie Barlow stepped down and decided to coach Tennessee State, along with NFL legend Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams. People had doubts about whether Harris could guide this ship for the rest of the season, but he later proved his doubters wrong by winning the 2025 UFL championship. Now, with the interim tag officially off and a city that has embraced him. Harris is now looking to build his legacy within the UFL. As we head into week 1, with the Defenders heading into St. Louis to take over the Battlehawks, it would be a good way for Head Coach Shannon Harris and the Defenders to make a statement as to who is the best team in the UFL.
Harris has a talented roster coming back for the 2026 season, which includes Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, running back Deion Jackson, Wide receiver Braylen Sanders, and a loaded defense that is guided by rising star defensive coordinator Blake Williams, who has helped build one of the most physical defensive secondaries in the league. Harris has accepted the challenge to lead this team after his predecessor left, and now, he has shown that he has built a team that could potentially be a dynasty moving forward.
Avion Plummer
Championship to Legacy, Harris Eyes Long Term Success in DC by Avion Plummer
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3 days ago
UFL Names Sportable Official Connected Ball and Player Tracking Partner
League-Wide Partnership Will Power Real-Time Broadcast Graphics and Next-Generation Engagement for UFL Games on FOX Sports
The United Football League (UFL) today announced that it has named Sportable its Official Connected Ball and Player Tracking Partner as part of the league’s continued commitment to innovation, fan engagement, and next-generation football data.
“We’ve said from the beginning that innovation would be a defining part of the UFL, and this partnership is another important step in delivering on that vision,” said UFL President & CEO Russ Brandon. “Sportable’s technology will help us bring fans closer to the game, create new dimensions for our broadcast presentation, and continue building a league that embraces the future of football.”
Beginning this season, Sportable’s connected football and wearable player tracking technology will be deployed across all 43 UFL games, powering real-time data capture and helping deliver new broadcast enhancements on FOX and in-stadium graphics and game presentation by providing greater football insights and more immersive fan experiences.
The deal continues the league’s partnership with Sportable through FAST – Football Advancement through Sports Technology. Launched in 2025, FAST is the UFL’s technology-focused innovation division. Designed with the intent to advance the game of football, the program works with both established and emerging sports media and technology companies to test and launch innovations and services that will improve the sport. Sportable participated in the program last year.
Following that initial deployment, the UFL will now roll out Sportable’s portable, wireless tracking system across the full league in 2026. This year’s edition of the partnership will provide precise, real-time data including ball location, speed, spin rate, and player positioning, supporting the league’s broader data and innovation strategy while creating new opportunities for storytelling and analysis across UFL broadcasts on FOX Sports.
In 2025, Sportable worked with the FAST program, where the company demonstrated how connected ball and player tracking technology could support both football operations and broadcast. That work laid the foundation for this expanded multi-year partnership.
“Our focus is always on identifying technologies that can create real value for the league, our teams, our broadcast partners, and our fans,” said Scott Harniman, UFL Senior Vice President of Media and Innovation. “What stood out about Sportable was not just the technology, but its ability to operate in a live football environment and translate into meaningful applications both in the live broadcast but also in our venues for fans. Bringing real time player and ball data into our stadiums only amplifies what we believe is already the highest level of transparency and access in professional sports today.”
“We’re proud to support the UFL as the league continues to push the game forward through innovation,” said Dugald Macdonald, CEO of Sportable. “From the beginning, it was clear that the UFL had both the vision and the intent to use technology in ways that can genuinely enhance the sport. We’re excited to help bring that vision to life across the 2026 season.”
“The UFL has been an outstanding partner throughout this process - collaborative, ambitious, and clear in its vision for the future of the league,” said Blaine Scully, SVP of Strategic Partnerships at Sportable. “We’re proud to support that vision with technology that delivers value across player and team performance, broadcast, and fan engagement, while advancing the league’s broader strategic goals.”
As part of the rollout, Sportable’s connected footballs will be produced in partnership with Big Game Football Factory, helping ensure the technology is integrated into footballs built to meet the standards of elite competition.
“We’re excited to support the UFL and Sportable in bringing this world class technology to the field,” said Chris Calandro, CEO of Big Game Football Factory. “This partnership represents an important step forward for football innovation, and we’re proud to play a role in helping deliver the quality and consistency required to make it successful at the professional level.”
Sportable’s technology will be fully operational ahead of the 2026 UFL season, with data integrated into the league’s broader broadcast and innovation ecosystem throughout the year.
UFL Names Sportable Official Connected Ball and Player Tracking Partner by Mark Perry
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4 days ago
48 FCS Players set to take part in 2026 UFL season
As the UFL season is set to kick off in less than 72 hours, teams have made their rosters final in preparation for the 2026 season. With the UFL marketing themselves as a league of opportunity the league has shown itself to be an avenue for players from “smaller” or lesser-known colleges to showcase themselves at a professional level. This season 48 players from FCS schools (formally known as I-AA), will hope to make an impact for their prospective team this upcoming season.
**Note names provided via the UFL website, and are current as of 9:30pm on 3/24/26**
Birmingham Stallions (4):
Michael Hiers Samford
Zack Johnson North Dakota State University
Armani Taylor Prioleau South Carolina State
Jojo Tillery Wofford
Columbus Aviators (6):
Rashard Davis JMU
Noah Dawkins The Citadel
Michael Lawson Western Illinois
Jaylon Moore UT-Martin
Jalen Morton Prairie View A&M
Aiden Sayin UPenn
Dallas Renegades (6):
Emmanuel Butler Northern Arizona
Josiah Ezirim Eastern Kentucky
Brendan Hall Montana State
Donald Payne Stetson
Bobby Price Norfolk State
Willie Taylor III Eastern Kentucky
D.C. Defenders (7):
Brian Abraham University of Albany
Mike DiLiello Austin Peay
Devonnsha Maxwell UT-Chattanooga
Derick Roberson Sam Houston State (Now an FBS School)
Sam Kidd JMU (Now an FBS School)
Ty Scott Missouri State (Now an FBS School)
Joe Wallace Sam Houston State (Now an FBS School)
Houston Gamblers (6):
Kenny Dyson Bryant
Malik Fisher Villanova
Nolan Henderson Delaware (Now an FBS School)
Gareth Warren Lindenwood (on IR)
Lujan Winningham Central Arkansas
Marcus Yarns Delaware (Now an FBS School)
Louisville Kings (9):
Travis Bell Kennesaw State (Now an FBS School)
Carter Bell South Dakota
Cam Gill Wagner
Jalen Jackson Villanova
Nash Jensen North Dakota State
Nick Kubitz North Dakota State
Mike McCallister Youngstown State
Jaden Shirden Monmouth
Ian Wheeler Howard
Orlando Storm (5):
Elijah Dotson Northern Colorado
Mike Edwards Campbell
Jason Ivey North Carolina A&T
Isaiah Mack UT-Chattanooga
Chris Rowland Tennessee State
St. Louis Battlehawks (5):
Ryan Coll Richmond
Harrison Frost Mercer
Jarveon Howard Alcorn State
Kevon Latulas Missouri State (Now an FBS School)
Justin Smith Norfolk State
Several players on the above-mentioned lists are expected to play a significant role for their teams this coming UFL season. The UFL is scheduled to begin its 3rd season of play on Friday March 27th, the Birmingham Stallions taking on the Louisville Kings.
48 FCS Players set to take part in 2026 UFL season by Patrick Rifino
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4 days ago
Ranking UFL Teams by Position Group (Defensive Edition)
This is part two of my rankings of each UFL position groups heading into the first week of the 2026 regular season. This edition focuses on the defense and special teams, with a final ranking based on a 1-8 score from each group. The offensive position groups ranking column can be found here.
Defensive Line
1. Dallas Renegades: Patrolling the interior will be 330-pound Siaki Ika, a Baylor product. Kevin Strong Jr. and Antwuan Jackson will also see time there. On the outside, there's plenty of pass rush juice with Willie Taylor III, Taco Charlton and Tashawn Bower. This has the potential to be a dominating group.
2. St. Louis Battlehawks: Pita Taumoepenu led the UFL in sacks last season off the edge. Fan favorite Travis Feeney joins him on the outside. Tackle Carlos Davis comes over from Birmingham and Taylor Stallworth from Michigan. New to the UFL is Neil Farrell Jr., who will be asked to clog the middle in the run game.
3. D.C. Defenders: D.C. brings back several players along the defensive front from last year's championship squad, including Joe Wallace, Devonnsha Maxwell, Dennis Johnson and Derick Roberson. Former NFL 2nd round draft pick Boogie Basham was a late add in camp. His job will be to rush the passer. End Derek Parish has some versatility: He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023 as a fullback.
4. Birmingham Stallions: One of the more intriguing additions to the league this year is DE Isaac Ukwu, a 2024 draft pick of the Michigan Panthers who spent the '24 and '25 pre-season with the Detroit Lions, including three sacks in three exhibition games two years ago. He'll now terrorize UFL quarterbacks.
5. Orlando Storm: The Storm are much deeper at defensive tackle than at end. Isaiah Buggs and Isaiah Mack will play on or near the nose, with youngster Fabien Lovett learning behind those two veterans. Chris Garrett is one of several former Battlehawks who made the move south with Anthony Becht. A noted special teamer, he should get more opportunities to rush off the edge.
6. Columbus Aviators: Kenny Willekes is the star here. If Columbus can find a consistent presence opposite him, they may prevent some inevitable double teams. The identity of that other end remains to be seen. Walter Palmore and Caeveon Patton are spring football veterans who are steady if unspectacular.
7. Houston Gamblers: Another team with a strong interior and questions on the outside. Rashard Lawrence and Jerrod Clark are two big bodies. Kyon Barrs comes over from the Renegades and a stint in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals in 2025. In a combined eight starts last year, ends Malik Fisher and Christopher Allen only had 1.5 sacks among them.
8. Louisville Kings: Despite being last on the list, there is upside here. Travis Bell could be effective on the inside, along with Josiah Bronson and DeVere Levelston. The pass rush could come from R.J. Oben, Daniel Grzesiak, Jaylon Allen, or several others. All it takes is for one or two of them to emerge as threats.
Linebackers
1. Dallas Renegades: The ageless Donald Payne is back for his fourth season as a Renegade. Andrew Dowell was a bright spot for Memphis last year, an early-season pickup who developed into a starter. Likewise, Kalen DeLoach came in toward the end of the year for Dallas. Expect a bigger role for him this year. J.T. Tyler made 95 tackles across the last two seasons in Houston.
2. Houston Gamblers: Anthony Hines III and Marvin Moody are a strong inside linebacker duo. Both will bring leadership to the defense as well. Former Renegade Charlie Thomas III will factor in, as will newcomer Eugene Asante, a former Auburn Tiger who ran a blazing 4.48 40-yard dash.
3. St. Louis Battlehawks: Tackling machine Jordan Williams will play a big role in stopping the run. Expect St. Louis fans to embrace his on-field play. Michael Barrett could turn out to be one of the best outside signings for 2026. A former safety, Tariq Carpenter will provide depth and special teams value.
4. D.C. Defenders: The first signee from the 2025 UFL Showcases, Brandon Smith has NFL experience. Curtis Jacobs on the outside and Micah Baskerville on the inside have high upside; they've just got to prove it at this level. Depth may be an issue if injuries hit.
5. Orlando Storm: The dissolution of the San Antonio Brahmas meant the separation of Jordan Williams and Tavante Beckett. Williams ended up in St. Louis while Beckett is in Orlando. With Mike Rose retired, he'll likely take over a similar role in coordinator Donnie Abraham's defense. Darien Butler, DaShaun White and Andrew Parker Jr. should all find a spot on defense.
6. Birmingham Stallions: Tae Crowder and Kyahva Tezino were two top tacklers for Birmingham last season. Crowder had two interception returns for touchdowns as well. Olu Fatukasi was a reserve in St. Louis last season. Dyontae Johnson and Darin Gilbert are question marks.
7. Louisville Kings: I'm a big fan of Steele Chambers but he struggled a bit in pass coverage last year. Antonio Grier might end up being a nice addition. Nick Kubitz brings a championship pedigree from his time at North Dakota State.
8. Columbus Aviators: Nobody stands out as a player that can take over a game, but there are interesting pieces here and the upside is high. Start with Jailin Walker, a former Indiana Hoosier with 4.41 speed. Storey Jackson has largely been a special teams ace. Xavier Benson is a limited athlete but a thumper against the run.
Defensive Backs
1. St. Louis Battlehawks: Both corner and safety positions are deep this year. Luq Barcoo returns to spring football after excelling with San Antonio in the XFL in 2023. Myles Sims developed last year as a rookie in St. Louis. All five corners have spring experience. At safety, former Birmingham Stallion A.J. Thomas is joined by top tackler Jordan Mosley. Depth is provided by Kameron Kelly and Daniel Isom, who've both played extensively the past few years.
2. Houston Gamblers: Former first round NFL draft pick Damon Arnette returns after spending some time with the Houston Texans last fall. Roman Parodie has made a lot of plays in camp. Major Burns was a late add but he showed enough in a short time to make the squad at safety. Markel Roby is back in Houston, a bright spot for the Roughnecks the past few seasons.
3. D.C. Defenders: It's a familiar look in D.C. as six of nine DBs return from 2025's team. They're led at corner by Deandre Baker and Gareon Conley, two former first round NFL draft picks. Newcomer Azizi Hearn should see time on defense. At safety, Gabe Taylor, brother of the late Sean Taylor, is a great story playing in the city in which his sibling excelled as a pro.
4. Orlando Storm: A cut-down day claim of Brandon Sebastian, who was released by Dallas, will help a relatively new defensive backfield adjust to coordinator Donnie Abraham's scheme as Sebastian played under Abraham with the Battlehawks the last few years. Lamar Jackson, Micah Abraham, and Mark Gilbert make for a deep corner group. Nate Meadors and Jaylen Mahoney should be the clubhouse leaders to start at safety.
5. Louisville Kings: Louisville kept seven corners and just three safeties, though a few corners could cross-train at the safety spots. Kenny Robinson and Keaton Ellis are veterans on the last line of defense. Cam Dantzler started four games for Memphis last year and returned an interception for a touchdown.
6. Dallas Renegades: Ajene Harris is a ballhawk who forces QBs to cut the field in half. Former Ohio State Buckeye Shaun Wade could rise up as the starter opposite Harris. Qwynnterrio Cole and Steven Jones Jr. are the standouts at safety. Depth is a question here.
7. Birmingham Stallions: The Stallions loaded up at safety with six compared to just four corners. A few of the DBs have a history in Birmingham including Steven Gilmore, Mario Goodrich, Jojo Tillery and Tre Norwood. Lukas Denis comes over from St. Louis and should compete for time at safety, as should Alex Cook.
8. Columbus Aviators: Kedrick Whitehead is known as much for his special teams play as his work on defense, but he may end up starting at one safety spot. D.J. Miller was a find for Michigan last year and he's now in Columbus. O'Donnell Fortune and Cam Smith, two former South Carolina Gamecocks, are expected to see significant snaps. There really isn't much of a difference in the teams ranked 4-8 here.
Special Teams
1. D.C. Defenders: All three specialists are back for a third season together in D.C. in 2026. Kicker Matt McCrane is looking to rebound after somewhat of a down year last year and already started the season on a high note by winning Mike Repole's kicking competition.
2. Birmingham Stallions: Ryan Langan and Colby Wadman are steady at long snapper and punter respectively. With Harrison Mevis now in the NFL, the Stallions recruited former Renegade Jonathan Garibay to kick. He performed well in Arlington in 2024 before finding himself out of the league last season.
3. Houston Gamblers: Punter Mike Rivers showed a live leg for the Roughnecks last season. His battery mate, LS Marco Ortiz, is also back. They added John Hoyland at kicker. He was briefly in training camp with the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie last year.
4. St. Louis Battlehawks: Kicker Tucker McCann was last in the NFL in 2001. He hit a 57-yard field goal in college. Ryan Sanborn was one of the top punters coming out in the 2024 NFL Draft. Similarly, Matt Hembrough was a top snapper in 2023 and signed a free agent deal with the Arizona Cardinals at the time.
5. Orlando Storm: Head coach Anthony Becht's Battlehawks teams were always very good on special teams. This year, though, he's going with a relatively untested kicker in Michael Lantz. Jack Browning should be solid as a punter and Alex Matheson comes over from St. Louis to snap.
6. Columbus Aviators: The retirement of punter Jake Camarda as the pre-season closed could've been a tough pill to swallow, but Columbus was able to secure veteran Brad Robbins at the position. He'll be the tasked with leading as Ryan Coe and Payton Bunch don't have much pro experience.
7. Louisville Kings: Mac Brown is back in bright green after wearing the colors for the 2023 Orlando Guardians as their punter. Long snapper Jordan Silver will see his first pro game action since leaving college in 2022. Kicker Tanner Brown's last NFL stop was a two-day stint on the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons in 2024.
8. Dallas Renegades: Dallas is going with two young players in Colton Theaker and Brendan Hall as their specialists. It's a big jump for the 6'9" Hall in coming from Montana State. Antonio Ortiz, at long snapper, will be the veteran glue to hold this group together.
Final Tally
1. D.C. Defenders (21 points)
2. Birmingham Stallions (28 points)
3. St. Louis Battlehawks (30 points)
4. Dallas Renegades (31 points)
5. Orlando Storm (35 points)
6. Houston Gamblers (40 points)
7. Columbus Aviators (51 points)
8. Louisville Kings (52 points)
D.C. will look to become the dynasty Birmingham had been, but the Stallions haven't fallen far from their halcyon days. The new teams may struggle early on but as they gel, they could threaten for playoff spots at the end of the season. Then again, all of this could mean nothing: I had San Antonio ranked number two last year and D.C. at number six. We'll see how close I get this year as all of this is on paper: On Friday, they play games for real.
Ranking UFL Teams by Position Group (Defensive Edition) by Greg Parks
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4 days ago
Built to Repeat, Jordan Ta'amu at the Center of DC's Success.
Jordan Ta'amu steps into 2026 as one of the top QBs in the UFL. After years of trying to get over the hump and win a championship, he finally did it last season as the defenders defeated the Michigan Panthers to capture their first championship. Now that Ta'amu has the pressure off his back, he steps into the new year with a revamped offensive line, a talented WR corps, and a run game that should be sufficient to help DC become one of the top efficient offenses in the UFL. Ta’amu has not become one of the elite running quarterbacks in the game today, but has gradually become one of the top passers in the UFL as well. Last year, he was second in the UFL in passing yards with 2,153 and passing touchdowns with 17. Not to mention, he finished the season with a 92.9 QBR. I expect to see similar numbers as we head into the new season.
Ta’amu enters his fourth season with offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss, and their chemistry throughout the years has been unmatched as they look to pick up where they left off last year. He will be reunited with some of his favorite targets in wide receivers Braylon Sanders and Ty Scott. Not to mention one of the top rushers last year, Deon Jackson. It will take some time for this offense to get adjusted as the 1st game of the season approaches. However, with the veteran leadership of Jordan Ta'amu and the ability to grab hold of this offense, we shouldn't see too much of a slowdown as the season progresses.
This week, the Defenders will travel to St. Louis to face their rivals, the St. Louis Battlehawks, under new Head Coach Ricky Proehl and a new-look secondary that remains a mystery as we head into the new season. This could potentially be another signature win for Ta'amu if they were to beat the Battlehawks. As long as the Defenders have Jordan Ta'amu under center for the regular season, we could find the DC Defenders back in the UFL championship again. It is unclear how long Jordan Ta'amu will continue to play in the UFL, but one thing is clear: the city of DC has embraced their star quarterback, and Jordan Ta'amu has embraced them back.
Avion Plummer
Built to Repeat, Jordan Ta'amu at the Center of DC's Success. by Avion Plummer
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5 days ago
Curt Menefee, Joel Klatt Headline The 2026 FOX UFL Season
FOX UFL FRIDAY Springs into Action with a Matchup Between The Birmingham Stallions and First-Year Louisville Kings
Kevin Kugler, Devin Gardner, Brock Huard, Jenny Taft and Jake ButtRound Out Stellar FOX UFL Broadcast Roster
On-Field Aerial Drones, Unique Inside-the-Game CommunicationStar in Tech Forward Approach to UFL Broadcasts
LOS ANGELES – Veteran broadcaster and Emmy Award winner Curt Menefee once again teams with critically acclaimed analyst Joel Klatt to lead the FOX Sports broadcast team into action for a supercharged third season of the United Football League (UFL), it was announced today by Brad Zager, FOX Sports President and Executive Producer.
Menefee and Klatt are on the call for the FOX UFL Friday season opener on Friday, March 27 at 8:00 PM ET, when the Louisville Kings, led by coach Chris Redman, make their UFL debut hosting the AJ McCarron-coached Birmingham Stallions at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville. It marks the first game of a 10-game FOX UFL Friday slate on FOX.
On Saturday, Menefee and Klatt continue the opening weekend action as the Houston Gamblers and coach Kevin Sumlin battle the Dallas Renegades, led by coach Rick Neuheisel at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, Saturday, March 28, at 4:00 PM ET on FOX.
Two-time University of Michigan All-American tight end and former Denver Bronco Jake Butt will report from the sidelines of both games.
Additional FOX UFL broadcasters throughout the season include Kevin Kugler, Devin Gardner, Jenny Taft and Brock Huard. Mike Pereira and Dean Blandino return as rules analysts.
FOX DEPORTES
FOX Deportes, scheduled for a 10-game UFL slate in 2026, including the UFL Playoff game on June 7, is led by play-by-play announcers Rodolfo Landeros and John Laguna, alongside veteran analyst Jaime Motta. In addition to live broadcasts of each game, the network’s daily sports program, TOTAL SPORTS 360, offers highlights, interviews and additional content throughout the season.
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
FOX Sports continues its technology-forward approach to spring football with innovative camera angles including Beverly Hills Aerials in-action drones, Pylon Cams, SkyCam, referee Hat Cams and the popular Megalodon. Unique inside-the-game audio will continue with 12 players mic’d for each game, along with the ability to listen in on all coach and referee communications.
Curt Menefee, Joel Klatt Headline The 2026 FOX UFL Season by Mark Perry
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5 days ago
UFL Power Rankings Week 0: DC Aims to Defend Top Spot
The UFL is kicking off 2026 looking completely different. Nearly every team has a new head coach. The Michigan Panthers, San Antonio Brahmas, and Memphis Showboats are gone, replaced by the Columbus Aviators, Orlando Storm, and Louisville Kings. There was major roster turnover league-wide.
The DC Defenders look to defend their title as UFL Champion as we enter the next chapter of the UFL.
Crown Holder ?: DC Defenders
The DC Defenders finished the season as UFL Champions and were the Crown Holder since snatching it from the Battlehawks in the XFL Division Championship.
Court Jester ?: Orlando Storm
The Orlando Storm begin the season as “Court Jester” by right, having inherited the remnants of the San Antonio Brahmas, who finished the season with a 5-game losing streak last year.
If a team defeats the Crown Holder, they steal the Crown and become the new Crown Holder. If a team loses to the Court Jester, they become the new Court Jester, freeing the previous holder.
1. DC Defender (2025 record: 6-3, Reigning UFL Champion)?
Week 1 Opponent: vs. St. Louis Battlehawks
The DC Defenders got hot at the right time last season and finished the year as UFL Champions. The defeated St. Louis on the road 36-18 in the XFL Final before dropping 58 points on the Michigan Panthers in the Championship to win 58-34. DC is the only UFL team to have the same head coach (Shannon Harris) they had last season and had the least roster turnover, and should benefit from that stability.
DC’s spot at the top could be challenged if trends from last regular season rise up again. DC only had a +1 point differential despite being in a division with a team that finished -138. Jordan Ta’amu was excellent in the playoffs for DC, but they may require more consistency throughout the regular season this year.
2. St. Louis Battlehawks (2025 record: 8-2)
Week 1 Opponent: vs. DC Defenders
The St. Louis Battlehawks would have been a clear number 1 team last season if not for such an abysmal passing game. The Battlehawks will be coached now by Ricky Proehl, who may add a spark to the passing game with his 15+ years of experience as an NFL receiver. Brandon Silvers and Harrison Frost are in competition for the starting quarterback position.
With many roster changes, it may be difficult to replicate the 2025 success with much turnover on the offensive line and RB Jacob Saylors now with the Detroit Lions. St. Louis does have returning their talented duo of edge rushers in Pita Taumoepenu and Travis Feeney.
3. Birmingham Stallions (2025 record: 7-3)
Week 1 Opponent: vs. Louisville Kings
A new era begins for the Birmingham Stallions, who will now be coached by A.J. McCarron. Skip Holtz left big shoes to fill after the Stallions won 3 championships in 4 seasons and are coming off a 7-3 season. At quarterback, Matt Corral is very dangerous and will look to bounce back from a down year interrupted by injuries. Corral has the tools to win league MVP and the potential of possibly improving an NFL team if he can tighten up a few aspects of his game this season.
4. Dallas Renegades (2025 record: 5-5)
Week 1 Opponent: vs. Houston Gamblers
The Dallas Renegades are under a new head coach, Rick Neuheisel, as they rebrand from the Arlington Renegades. The Renegades did make some questionable decisions in final roster cuts, particularly at the guard position, releasing Jake Burton, who had the 2nd highest pass blocking grade from PFF last season, and Abdul Beachum, who had the 5th highest among guards. Beachum had the highest pass block grade among guards in 2025.
QB Luis Perez has had the best passing grade in each of the last 2 seasons from PFF. Perez has shown in the past a high capability to make plays under pressure.
The Renegades were the most snake-bitten team over the last 2 seasons, playing a lot of good football but struggling to have that transfer into the win column. I look forward to seeing what they will look like this season.
5. Columbus Aviators (2025 record: 6-4)
Week 1 Opponent: vs. Orlando Storm
The Columbus Aviators are a new franchise that inherits the bones of the Michigan Panthers, who made it to the UFL Championship last season. The UFL parted ways with Panthers Head Coach Mike Nolan, and the Aviators will be coached by Ted Guinn.
The team boasts a strong running back room of Toa Taua, John Lovett, and Zaquandre White. However, it is hard to imagine the offense being as good without MVP QB Bryce Perkins, who is now a Winnipeg Blue Bomber. Jalen McClendon is a likely candidate to be the starting quarterback this season for the Aviators after playing for Houston last year.
Look to DE Kenny Willekes and DT Walter Palmore to anchor the defensive line.
6. Houston Gamblers (2025 record: 5-5)
Week 1 Opponent: vs. Dallas Renegades
Houston finishing the year 5-5 last year was a story of triumph. Houston was 3-5 with 2 games left to play and won at home against DC 24-21 and then won 19-12 against Michigan to close out the season. Defeating the 2 teams who ended up in the Championship was a positive way to close out the season for a team that’s had a lot of struggles over the last 2 seasons.
Houston is now under head coach Kevin Sumlin. The starting quarterback is unclear at this time as the team is signeing Taulia Tagovailia and releasing Donovan Smith per PFN's James Larsen. The team also has Hunter Dekkers and Nolan Henderson on the roster, who showed a lot of promise on the team in their brief playing time last year at quarterback.
7. Orlando Storm (2025 record: 1-9)?
Week 1 Opponent: vs. Columbus Aviators
The Orlando Storm inherited the roster of the San Antonio Brahmas, but are the least recognizable roster compared to their 2025 counterpart. Each team was allowed to protect up to 12 players ahead of the UFL Draft, and the Storm elected to only protect 6 players. The St. Louis Battlehawks had a great rushing game under Anthony Becht, who is the head coach of the Storm. Expect a big year from RB Jashuan Corbin. The Storm are expected to have either Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Jack Plummer starting at quarterback.
The defense is revamped after the Brahmas allowed the most points last season. Returning LB Tavante Beckett and Safety Nate Meadors, who played for the Battlehawks last season, are a couple of players to keep an eye on.
8. Louisville Kings (2025 record: 2-8)
Week 1 Opponent: vs. Birmingham Stallions
I don’t know what to expect from the Louisville team. Putting the Louisville Kings last is not fair, given that we don’t know what to expect from this new franchise, which is composed of the remnants of the Memphis Showboats. The Showboats had the lowest overall team grade from Pro Football Focus in large part due to low passing grades. The team has a quarterback room in which all 3 passers are new to the UFL. Jason Bean is the expected starting quarterback on this Chris Redman-coached team.
Expect major shakeups to these week 0 Power Rankings after week 1.
UFL Power Rankings Week 0: DC Aims to Defend Top Spot by Jonathan Clink
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5 days ago
Ranking UFL Teams by Position Group (Offensive Edition)
After a relatively normal off-season leading into 2025, upheaval was the name of the game again leading into 2026. Three new cities and franchises have arrived, rosters were overhauled and several new head coaches are on the scene. As we approach the Birmingham vs. Louisville opener on Friday night, here's how I see the position groups stacking up across the league, starting with the offense (the defense, special teams and total ranking will appear tomorrow).
Quarterbacks
1. Dallas Renegades: Luis Perez and Austin Reed are a strong one-two punch. Luke Lehnen provides some different looks as a runner. Will we start seeing a fall-off in Perez's play this year?
2. D.C. Defenders: All three QBs are back for D.C., along with Offensive Coordinator Fred Kaiss. It's continuity no other team in the league has at the position. Jordan Ta'amu can still sling it with the best of them; his backups are relatively untested.
3. Birmingham Stallions: Taylor Elgersma was a late arrival in camp, otherwise he may have been the favorite to start. Matt Corral has experience at this level but his play has largely been uneven. Still, when he's hot, he's really good.
4. Orlando Storm: Head Coach Anthony Becht thinks he has two starters in Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jack Plummer. Both are intriguing options with vastly different skillsets. How Becht and his Co-Offensive Coordinators utilize them in games will be an early season storyline to watch.
5. St. Louis Battlehawks: Though not official yet, the presumption is Michael Pratt is added back to this room. That immediately lifts St. Louis a couple of spots. Without him, they've got journeyman Brandon Silvers and former Seattle Sea Dragon third-stringer Harrison Frost. Don't be surprised if Pratt is vaulted into a starting role at some point.
6. Houston Gamblers: Another team with a late move at the position as the team reportedly added Taulia Tagovailoa, likely to replaced Donovan Smith as third string. Nolan Henderson is athletic and Hunter Dekkers has some NFL training camp experience.
7. Columbus Aviators: Can Jalan McClendon repeat his 2025 magic? Birmingham lured Jalen Morton out of retirement last year and he's back, along with Buckeye star Julian Sayin's brother, Aidan.
8. Louisville Kings: Jason Bean has the pedigree of being the number one overall College Draft pick of the Memphis Showboats in 2024. He'll be the starter and brings a dual-threat presence. N'Kosi Perry and Chandler Rogers offer questionable depth.
Running Backs
1. D.C. Defenders: The quality runs three-deep in the nation's capital. Deon Jackson performed well as the starter last year and Abram Smith finally seemed fully recovered from his 2024 ACL tear when the playoffs came around. Xzavian Valladay could probably start for some UFL teams.
2. Birmingham Stallions: If Anthony McFarland can stay healthy, he'll be a weapon in the run and pass game. Tyrion Davis-Price and Snoop Conner bring a few years each of NFL experience and can grind out yards if necessary.
3. Orlando Storm: The UFL's leading rusher last year, Jashaun Corbin, moves east from San Antonio to Orlando. He'll likely be happy running for Becht, whose offense helped put Jacob Saylors in the NFL. Elijah Dotson offers solid depth.
4. Columbus Aviators: From being cut at the end of training camp to leading the league in rushing touchdowns, Toa Taua will now tote the rock for Columbus. He's joined by two other relocated 2025 UFL players in ZaQuandre White and John Lovett.
5. Louisville Kings: Benny Snell and Jaden Shirden have thunder-and-lightning potential in the Louisville backfield. Ian Wheeler looks to get back to form after suffering a torn ACL with the Chicago Bears in 2024.
6. Dallas Renegades: It was a mixed bag for Dae Dae Hunter as Dallas's lead back last year. He returns, but his backups are new: Lorenzo Lingard, who had some opportunities with Houston last year; and former New Orleans Saint Ellis Merriweather.
7. St. Louis Battlehawks: One of two teams that are keeping four backs, Jarveon Howard and Kevon Latulas are back, along with Kylin James and Rahjai Harris. We'll see how the team ends up splitting carries.
8. Houston Gamblers: Kirk Merritt has shown flashes of being an effective player - he just needs to avoid injury. He's not a bell-cow back, though, and it remains to be seen which of the other three steps forward to be the chain-mover.
1. D.C. Defenders: Ty Scott, Cornell Powell, and Braylon Sanders are all explosive, downfield threats. Add in the size of Erik Ezukanma and Seth Williams, as well as the pass-catching ability of Briley Moore at tight end, and this is a recipe for another banner offensive year for D.C.
2. Orlando Storm: K.J. Hamler and Chris Rowland lead the charge for the Storm in their inagural campaign. Hamler in particular has had a strong camp. Elijah Badger and Aron Cruickshank could do some damage, too. Tight ends are mostly blockers for Becht, and he kept three instead of his usual two this season.
3. Birmingham Stallions: Speed will not be in short supply in Birmingham. John Ross and his 4.2-40 is the most interesting of the bunch. Gadget player Laviska Shenault should see plenty of manufactured touches. Deon Cain has been the #1 receiver for Birmingham in the past and should be in that conversation again this year. Expect TE Jordan Thomas to see an expanded role with Jace Sternberger retiring.
4. Louisville Kings: A couple of Renegade transplants in Isaiah Winstead and JaVonta Payton lead this room. Lucky Jackson was a fantastic off-season addition, coming off multiple NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. Offensive Coordinator Steve Logan has spoken highly of TE Zach Davidson. Fellow TE Tre' McKitty is worth watching, too.
5. Dallas Renegades: The team lost some key receivers, though they return Tyler Vaughns and Deontay Burnett. Drake Stoops is likely to man the slot. There's a big hole to fill at tight end with Sal Cannella now in the NFL. Seth Green will get the first crack at replacing him.
6. St. Louis Battlehawks: In typical A.J. Smith fashion, just one tight end is rostered for St. Louis. The run-and-shoot offensive coordinator emphasizes size in his receivers and he has that with Hakeem Butler, Justin Smith and James Bostic. Expect Jahcour Pearson to be on the receiving end of a lot of screens and efforts to get him into space.
7. Houston Gamblers: Jontre Kirklin has excelled at this level before, but was inconsistent last year. Was that a product of a struggling San Antonio team, or something more? Justin Hall is a target monster and security blanket for whatever QB emerges as starter. Jalen Cropper could be the one who stands out as the most productive. The tight ends are raw and unproven.
8. Columbus Aviators: There's a pretty stark drop-off between seven and eight here. Based on social media posts of training camp, Keke Chism may be the one to break out as the star of this group. Columbus will have two spring football veterans at tight end in Gunnar Oakes and Alize Mack.
Offensive Line
1. Birmingham Stallions: Birmingham has been known to consistently possess one of the best offensive lines in spring football. This year should be no different. There are seven possible starters on the roster, many of whom have experience in spring football starting lineups over the years. 2. St. Louis Battlehawks: What had been an unusually consistent set of starters from 2023-2025 has been broken up, but the quality may not suffer greatly. It all starts with Mike Panasiuk as the lynchpin in the middle. There are new additions from recent NFL camps and practice squads that are likely to push for time. 3. Dallas Renegades: Luis Perez is not the fleetest afoot, which makes strong pass protectors a must. Getting Keaton Sutherland from Birmingham was a coup, and he'll pair with the returning Marcus Minor at guard. Raiqwon O'Neal, Josiah Ezirim and Alex Akinbulu are strong tackle candidates. 4. Columbus Aviators: A couple of former Michigan Panthers (Ryan Nelson, Cohl Cabral) team with a couple of former San Antonio Brahmas (Aaron Monteiro and Chuck Filiaga), among others. Bless Harris and Chris Glaser are new to the UFL but should compete for starting roles. 5. Houston Gamblers: Houston boosted its status here with the training camp acquisition of Gottlieb Ayedze from D.C. He'll help fortify one of the tackle spots. Jack Kramer is a returnee at center, one of the best in the league. There are some question marks elsewhere along the line. 6. D.C. Defenders: There are a few intriguing first-time spring footballers here like Jaelyn Duncan and Trey Wedig. D.C. returns a couple of starters from last year, but nowhere near the retention numbers they have at other positions.
7. Orlando Storm: It's a complete retool from last year for Orlando. They inherited San Antonio's roster, though they kept only Zuri Henry. They didn't carry over any Battlehawks from Becht's previous stop, either. The coaches will have some work to do to turn this into another year of the Knights of Columbo. 8. Louisville Kings: From the Memphis Showboats came the Louisville Kings, and strangely, they decided to keep several linemen from last year's 2-8 squad. We'll see how that translates with a different coaching staff and supporting cast.
Ranking UFL Teams by Position Group (Offensive Edition) by Greg Parks
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5 days ago
Mike Repole Wants the UFL to Reach 32 Teams: Inside the Plan to Grow Spring Football
UFL co-owner Mike Repole wants to take the league from eight teams to 32. He said so in an interview with Sports Business Journal's Ben Fischer, published days before the 2026 season kicks off on March 27.
The 32-team target is an expansion of Repole's original goal. When he joined the ownership group last July, he set a target of 16 teams by 2035. That number has now doubled.
Repole also told Fischer he wants his apparel company NoBull to surpass Nike. That gives you a sense of how the man thinks.
Who Is Mike Repole?
Repole is a 57-year-old entrepreneur from Queens, New York. Forbes estimates his net worth at $2.5 billion. He made his money by building consumer brands and selling them to Coca-Cola — first Vitaminwater for $4.1 billion in 2007, then BodyArmor for $5.6 billion in 2021.
His investment firm, Impact Capital, acquired a minority stake in the UFL in 2025 along with control of business operations. Despite holding a minority position, the other owners — Fox Sports, RedBird Capital Partners, ESPN, Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia — gave him authority to run day-to-day operations.
"Make no mistake, Mike is leading the charge," UFL CEO Russ Brandon told Fischer. "There's no one within my executive team, or within the organization, with any doubt who's leading the operation, and it's Mike Repole."
What Has He Done So Far?
Repole moved fast after coming on board. He relocated three franchises last summer — Memphis, San Antonio and Michigan became Columbus, Louisville and Orlando. He changed six of eight venues, pushing the league into smaller stadiums to create a better atmosphere for fans and TV cameras.
His logic was simple: too many empty seats made the product look bad on television. Brandon told Fischer he would have given that many venue changes a 5% chance of happening before Repole got involved.
Repole also put the NoBull logo on new team uniforms and named the Louisville Kings with a horse logo — a nod to his thoroughbred racing operation, Repole Stable, which has more than 300 horses and $61 million in lifetime earnings.
The Louisville Kings' April 30 home game at Lynn Family Stadium falls one day before the Kentucky Oaks, where Repole has a contender in the horse Zany. Two days after that, his horse Renegade runs in the Kentucky Derby. That cross-promotion is not a coincidence.
The Noise Strategy
Repole has taken a direct approach with fans. When Birmingham Stallions supporters complained about new uniforms, he responded on X by telling them to buy season tickets and protest at the stadium.
"What do I have to lose, right?" Repole told Fischer. "No one's ever engaged with the fan base. And I guarantee no owner in [expletive] history is doing what I'm doing right now."
The strategy is about attention. The UFL's problem is not football quality or broadcast distribution. It is relevance. Not enough people know or care about the league. Repole believes noise — even negative noise — is better than silence.
"We've got to get some noise. We've got to be the squeaky wheel," Repole said.
Fan reaction on Reddit was mixed. One user said Repole came across poorly but credited him with generating more offseason activity than spring football has ever seen. Another said having an owner who says things on occasion beats past leadership that appeared not to care about the league at all.
The Numbers He Needs to Beat
The UFL averaged 645,000 viewers per game in 2025, down 20% from its first season. Attendance averaged 12,162, down 5%. Both numbers need to go up in 2026 for the league to show investors the trajectory is moving in the right direction.
Orlando's chief venues officer, Allen Johnson, told Fischer that getting 10,000 fans through the gates on a regular basis would count as a success. He also said the league needs to target families with kid-friendly game times and promotions.
https://x.com/RepoleStable/status/2033896909945880717
The Ownership Group
Repole sits on the UFL board alongside Fox Sports, RedBird Capital, Disney, Johnson and Garcia. Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks and ESPN's Burke Magnus handle media strategy. RedBird's Kevin LaForce and Brandon lead the NFL relationship. Garcia and Johnson oversee social and digital content. RedBird's Gerry Cardinale and Shanks manage the overall enterprise.
The board approves major decisions — markets, venues, team names and football rules. But Repole's Impact Capital has a separate operating agreement to manage the business, giving him wide latitude on branding, marketing and market-level engagement.
Former Fox Sports EVP Larry Jones, who still sits on the UFL board, told Fischer the league needed someone willing to get out into cities and build relationships with local officials and fans.
"We could get money from a lot of people, but we couldn't get this type of expertise, this enthusiasm and willingness to be out there," Jones said.
The Tom Brady Connection
Repole and Tom Brady first connected on a phone call in 2021 that lasted nearly three hours. In 2024, NoBull acquired Brady's TB12 wellness brand. They remain business partners.
"He's got the most incredible way about him in terms of his communication, in the way he gets his point across," Brady told Fischer. "Our personalities fit perfectly together."
Brady's advice for Repole: learn to shut it off sometimes.
What's at Stake in 2026
If the UFL completes its third season, it will become the first non-NFL, 11-man pro football league to play three consecutive seasons since the original USFL did in 1985. That is the baseline.
The bigger question is whether Repole's approach — smaller venues, market engagement, constant promotion and a willingness to generate attention by any means — can reverse the decline in viewership and attendance.
"I want to win the Triple Crown," Repole told Fischer. "I want NoBull to be bigger than Nike. I want the UFL to have 32 teams. That's what I want to do."
The season opens Friday, March 27 when the Louisville Kings host the Birmingham Stallions at Lynn Family Stadium. Eight teams will play a 10-game schedule, with the championship on ABC.
Mike Repole Wants the UFL to Reach 32 Teams: Inside the Plan to Grow Spring Football by Mark Perry
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5 days ago
Fanatics Flag Football Classic Showed Team USA Dominance with Attendance Concerns by Anthony Miller
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5 days ago
Columbus Aviators Set 2026 Roster
ALL-UFL TALENT ANCHORS INAUGURAL SQUAD
The Columbus Aviators today announced their 50-man roster ahead of the franchise’s inaugural UFL season. The team concluded its final practice of training camp on Wednesday.
The Aviators enter their first season with a blend of proven production and emerging opportunity, including three players who earned All-UFL honors in 2025—offensive tackle Ryan Nelson, tight end Gunnar Oakes, and cornerback Kedrick Whitehead Jr., who was also named UFL Special Teams Player of the Year.
Running back Toa Taua led the UFL in rushing touchdowns (6) last season despite appearing in just seven games, while quarterback Jalan McClendon ranked third in passing yards (1,464), completions, and attempts over that same stretch.
The Columbus roster includes three quarterbacks, three running backs, six wide receivers, three tight ends, eight offensive linemen, eight defensive linemen, six linebackers, 10 defensive backs, and three specialists. (Cage)
The Aviators open their schedule on the road this Sunday, March 29 at 8 p.m. ET against the Orlando Storm, before returning to Historic Crew Stadium for their home opener on Friday, April 3 at 8 p.m. against the DC Defenders.
Highlighting the “614 Kickoff” celebration, GRAMMY® Award-nominated, multi-platinum singer and songwriter Gavin DeGraw will perform at halftime.
As part of the opening weekend, UFL teams are offering a special incentive for fans to participate in the UFL Kickoff Challenge, including a 33 percent discount on home opener tickets purchased during the two-week window. The offer provides fans an opportunity to secure a discounted seat for opening weekend—including the chance to experience the home opener celebration and performance by DeGraw. All ticket information can be found at UFLAviators.com.
2026 COLUMBUS AVIATORS ROSTER 26.3.23
0 Ross Devin WR Colorado
1 Fields II Tony MLB West Virginia
2 Morton Jalen QB Prairie View A&M
3 Chism Keke WR Missouri
4 White ZaQuandre RB South Carolina
5 Lovett John RB Penn State
6 Wells Antwane WR Mississippi
7 Moore Jaylon WR Tennessee-Martin
8 McClendon Jalan QB Baylor
9 Smith Cam CB South Carolina
10 Dawkins Noah OLB Citadel
11 Thompkins Fred ILB UNLV
12 Sayin Aidan QB Penn
13 Fortune O'Donnell CB South Carolina
15 Dent Akeem FS Florida State
18 Taylor Roc WR Memphis
20 Jackson Storey ILB Liberty
21 Miller Jr. D.J. CB Kent State
22 Jones Tre'Von CB Minnesota
23 Shelton Nehemiah CB San Jose State
25 Fuller Quashon DE Maryland
28 Woods Kyree CB San Diego State
30 Benson Xavier LB Oklahoma State
32 Whitehead Jr. Kedrick CB Delaware
33 Black Henry SS Baylor
35 Taua Toa RB Nevada
40 Coe Ryan K California
41 Lawson Michael CB Western Illinois
48 Willekes Kenny DE Michigan State
50 Bunch Payton LS Virginia
52 Plant Jr. Adam DE UNLV
56 Stone Jr. Ron DE Washington State
57 Walker Jailin MLB Indiana
58 Harris Bless T TCU
64 Glaser Chris G Virginia
65 Quarshie Wisdom G Temple
67 Monteiro Aaron G Boston College
69 Cabral Cohl C Arizona State
71 Farniok Matt G Nebraska
75 Nelson Ryan T Virginia
77 Filiaga Chuck OL Minnesota
81 Martin Tay WR Oklahoma State
83 Robbins Brad P Michigan
84 Oakes Gunnar TE Eastern Michigan
87 McDonald Cam TE Florida State
88 Mack Alizé TE Notre Dame
96 Patton Caeveon DE Texas State
98 Jenkins Patrick NT Tulane
99 Palmore Walter DT Missouri
Columbus Aviators Set 2026 Roster by Mark Perry
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6 days ago
St. Louis Battlehawks Set Roster for 2026 Season
Mix of Returning Core and New Talent Opens Proehl Era
The St. Louis Battlehawks today announced their 50-man roster to begin the 2026 UFL season, marking the first under Head Coach Ricky Proehl, who will make his head coaching debut this season. The team concluded its final training camp practice last Wednesday.
“From the beginning, we’ve stressed playing disciplined football—staying poised, controlling emotions, and not putting ourselves in bad situations,” said Battlehawks Head Coach Ricky Proehl. “The toughest part of this process is weighing more than just ability. It comes down to preparation—how a player prepares physically and mentally—and what he brings to the team every day. Are they selfless? Have they truly bought into what we’re building in that locker room? That’s playing for each other. The group we’ve put together reflects that standard, with a strong core of leadership and the right mix of new talent ready to contribute.”
The Battlehawks enter the 2026 season with proven production across all phases, led by 2025 All-UFL selections center Mike Panasiuk and Defensive Player of the Year Pita Taumoepenu. The roster also features a strong returning core, including wide receivers Hakeem Butler and Gary Jennings, along with 2025 UFL Sportsman of the Year Travis Feeney. The returning core is complemented by new additions who reflect the discipline, preparation, and team-first mindset emphasized throughout camp. Butler, a former All-League selection, remains one of the UFL’s premier offensive playmakers, while Jahcour Pearson returns after leading the league with an 11.8 punt return average. Overall, 14 players return from last season’s roster.
The St. Louis roster includes two quarterbacks, four running backs, seven wide receivers, two tight ends, eight offensive linemen, six defensive linemen, seven linebackers, 10 defensive backs, and three specialists. The team will sign a third quarterback to reach the 50-man roster limit.
The Battlehawks open their season this Saturday at The Dome at America’s Center with an 11 a.m. CT kickoff against the defending UFL champion DC Defenders on ESPN.
The game is part of the previously announced “Spirit of St. Louis” Kickoff Weekend, a citywide celebration honoring the passion, culture and history that define St. Louis and the community the Battlehawks represent. The weekend will feature a special t-shirt giveaway to the first 10,000 fans attending as part of a stadium-wide “Blue Out,” turning The Dome into a sea of Battlehawks blue as the season officially gets underway.
Nelly and the St. Lunatics–featuring Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, City Spud, and Slo Down will perform at halftime.
As part of opening weekend, UFL teams are offering a special incentive for fans to participate in the UFL Kickoff Challenge, including a 33 percent discount on home opener tickets purchased during a two-week window. The offer provides fans an opportunity to secure a discounted seat for opening weekend, including the chance to experience the home opener celebration and halftime performance. All ticket information can be found at UFLBattlehawks.com.
2026 ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS ROSTER 26.3.23
0 Barcoo Luq CB San Diego State
1 Pearson Jahcour WR Mississippi
2 Ojemudia Michael S Iowa
3 Darby Frank WR Arizona State
4 Kelly Kameron S San Diego State
5 Jennings Jr. Gary WR West Virginia
6 Sims Myles CB Georgia Tech
7 Taumoepenu Pita LB Utah
8 Jackson Blake WR Mary Hardin-Baylor
9 Carpenter Tariq LB Georgia Tech
10 Smith Justin WR Norfolk State
11 Frost Harrison QB West Georgia
12 Silvers Brandon QB Troy
14 Clarke Nevelle CB Central Florida
15 Williams Jordan LB Baylor
17 McCann Tucker K Missouri
18 Bostic III James TE Ohio
19 Isom Daniel CB Washington State
21 Hawkins Tayler S San Diego State
23 Mosley Jordan S Maryland
24 Beauplan Abraham LB Marshall
25 Latulas Kevon RB Missouri State
26 James Kylin RB UNLV
27 Sanborn Ryan P Texas
29 Fresch Sean CB Rice
32 Thomas A.J. S Western Michigan
41 Howard Jarveon RB Alcorn State
44 Linton Steve DE Baylor
47 Harris Rahjai RB East Carolina
51 Bentley Lavonta LB Colorado
52 Barrett Michael LB Michigan
53 Hembrough Matthew LS Oklahoma State
55 Payne Leonard DT Colorado
56 Feeney Travis LB Washington
61 Panasiuk Mike C Michigan State
63 Haynesworth Sincere C Tulane
69 Coll Ryan T Richmond
70 Ashmore Bradley T Vanderbilt
71 Stewart Corey T Purdue
72 Rolland Spencer T North Carolina
75 Cohen Javion G Miami (Fl)
76 Gouraige Richard T Florida
81 Neville Tyler TE Virginia
87 McBride Steven WR Hawaii
88 Butler Hakeem WR Iowa State
91 Harris Demone DE Buffalo
92 Farrell Neil DT LSU
95 Stallworth Taylor DT South Carolina
96 Davis Carlos NT Nebraska
St. Louis Battlehawks Set Roster for 2026 Season by Mark Perry
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