In case you are wondering who the last pick in the 10th round was, kind of the the UFL’s Mr. Irrevlevan, Marshall tackle Ethan Driskell earned the “honor.”
Who did the Memphis Showboats take with the first pick in the 2024 UFL draft?
The UFL is planning for its second season. On Wednesday, the fledgling league held its draft of college players.
There were several rules around player eligibility for the selection process. They must have not been selected in the NFL draft. Also, they will have an “NFL out” until Dec. 31, 2024.
Skip Holtz and Birmingham hit the championship trifecta, UFL in addition to a pair of USFL crowns
They are a Spring Football dynasty.
The Birmingham Stallions throttled the San Antonio Brahmas, 25-0, on Sunday in St. Louis. The victory gave Skip Holtz’s Stallions the UFL title. Tack it on to the pair of championships won in the USFL, and you have a title trifecta.
The victory avenged the lone loss of Birmingham’s season.
The Brahmas had downed the Stallions 18-9 in Week 9.
League MVP Adrian Martinez rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another in the title romp.
The Panthers downed the Panthers in the playoffs before crushing the Brahmas. They outscored their foes 53-0 after falling behind Michigan 18-3 in the USFL Conference championship game.
The shutout by Birmingham was the first in any UFL game in its inaugural season.
Some Stallions highlights:
After review, the TD is confirmed and the @USFLStallions add on another! 🙌
But now? It’s championship time in St. Louis. We’ve got two teams that are looking for a ring, one that won the XFL side of the league and the other who took down the USFL title, and who could end up winning a third straight championship trophy.
Let’s break it all down for you with everything you need to know about Sunday’s championship game.
Photo credit: CJ Halloran/UFL/Getty Images
Who’s playing in the UFL championship game?
That would be the Birmingham Stallions, who went 10-1 this year after winning two straight USFL titles, and the San Antonio Brahamas.
What time and when is the UFL title game?
It’s 5 p.m. ET on Sunday June 16, a good one to take in on Father’s Day!
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The San Antonio Brahmas are XFL Conference Champions in the UFL
The stage was set. The St. Louis Battlehawks had to defeat the San Antonio Brahmas on Sunday and they would play at home in the UFL Championship Game against the Birmingham Stallions.
The Brahmas had other ideas and played the role of party-wreckers, downing St. Louis, 25-15.
San Antonio is the XFL Conference Champion and will face the Stallions on June 16 in St. Louis.
The crowd of 30,237 at the Dome at America’s Center was muzzled early when the Brahmas took a 19-3 lead.
The Battlehawks then scored two touchdowns in 13 seconds and the place was rocking.
However, St. Louis was unable to score again and San Antonio got a pair of field goals to seal the victory.
AJ McCarron was quite honest during a TV interview on how he felt during the UFL playoff game
AJ McCarron was playing through pain during the St. Louis Battlehawks’ playoff game with the San Antonio Brahmas on Sunday.
Brock Huard interviewed the quarterback as the game was ongoing in the second half. McCarron, the former, Alabama great, didn’t mince words when asked how he was doing.
Immediately after the question and salty response, the Battlehawks forced a turnover and picked the football up for a scoop and score to close their deficit.
Matt Corral rallied the Birmingham Stallions into the first UFL Championship Game on June 16
The Birmingham Stallions scored 28 straight points on Saturday to vanquish the Michigan Panthers, 31-18, in the USFL Conference Championship game.
The victory moves the Stallions into their third straight title game. They won a pair of USFL championships and now will face the winner of Sunday’s San Antonio Brahmas-St. Louis Battlehawks clash in the UFL championship.
The victory was not easy. Birmingham fell behind 18-3 and starting quarterback Adrian Martinez was having an off-day.
Coach Skip Holtz inserted Matt Corral and everything changed in the Stallions’ favor.
Corral, an Ole Miss star and Carolina Panthers draft pick, was 9-of-11 for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the comeback.
“I am just blessed and fortunate to have the opportunity to coach such a group of fantastic young men.”@USFLStallions Head Coach Skip Holtz talks after Birmingham’s Conference Championship win pic.twitter.com/8mUjVxlxz6
We’ve gathered 15 names that we feel deserve extra attention from NFL teams as more than worthy of a roster spot this summer to contend for a spot on a 53-man roster. It’s not every UFL player deserving of a second (or first) chance, but we feel it’s a great starting point.
Photo credit: CJ Halloran/UFL/Getty Images
Some of these names are very familiar, while others might surprise you from where they started their NFL careers. Let’s break them down and detail while they’re all deserving of making professional comebacks in the league.
QB Luis Perez
Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports
The 2023 XFL championship MVP is really good at playing semi-pro football. He led the entire UFL this season in passing yards with 2,307 yards and touchdowns with 18. He’s made a few brief stops in the NFL, mainly with the Los Angeles Rams, but it feels like it’s time for a team to give him a meaningful chance to make his way in the big leagues. His season with the Arlington Renegades is over, so some team should give Perez a call.
WR Hakeem Butler
Ronald Cortes/Getty Images
Butler never really got his NFL career going after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. However, he’s really come into his own this season in the UFL. He led all receivers with 652 yards and scored five touchdowns, good for a four-way tie at second overall. If there’s a team needing some veteran competition this summer in training camp, Butler is an intriguing option with very recent success. He’s still in postseason play right now with the St. Louis BattleHawks but should be a free agent soon enough.
WR/KR Chris Rowland
Petre Thomas/USA TODAY Sports
Rowland was a prolific college football player at Tennessee State, and he feels like the perfect candidate to help an NFL team with the new kickoff rules. He had brief stints with the Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans before making a name for himself in the semi-pro leagues. Rowland was the All-UFL return specialist this past season, totaling 1,216 yards on 45 kick return attempts. He also scored the only kick return for a touchdown so far in the UFL this past regular season. Rowland feels like an incredibly smart signing for a team that needs some extra help to prepare for the new kickoffs and wants a little more depth on offense.
Saylors was the sole All-UFL running back this season, leading the league in rushing yards with 460 yards and tied for second with rushing touchdowns with five. He’s played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Falcons during his career, and his 2024 UFL run shows he’s capable of being an NFL rotational running back at best and a practice squad candidate at worst.
OT Bobby Evans
Sam Hodde/Getty Images
The 2019 NFL Draft third-round pick bounced around a few league teams before latching on with the Renegades this past season in his first semi-pro season. He thrived, helping Perez rack up yards and being named one of the two All-UFL offensive tackles this past season. Particularly for a team needing a swing tackle or just general depth on the offensive line, Evans could be a really nice fit who has NFL experience under his belt.
TE Jace Sternberger
Justin Berl/Getty Images
The former Green Bay Packers tight end and 2019 third-round pick has played for a number of NFL teams. However, it’s with the Birmingham Stallions this past season where he really shined. He was the All-UFL tight end for 2024, hauling in 454 yards and four touchdowns. Maybe he’s ready to compete for a roster spot at tight end for a team that needs depth?
OLB Breeland Speaks
Stan Szeto/USA TODAY Sports
A former second-round pick, Speaks has forged his NFL career as a true journeyman. He’s played for six franchises in his career, but he really found a home with the Michigan Panthers. Speaks led the UFL in sacks this past season with 9.5 and totaled 31 tackles. With that kind of production, it makes you wonder if he’s ready to firmly entrench himself in an NFL pass-rushing rotation. He’d be a tantalizing addition for a team needing depth there.
DT Carlos Davis
Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports
The All-UFL defensive tackle looks poised to make an NFL roster this summer, having totaled seven sacks on the interior for the Birmingham Stallions this past season. Davis spent last offseason with the Falcons and got close to making the roster. We think, particularly with that much of an impact on the quarterback at defensive tackle, he’s a good bet to be signed.
LB Willie Harvey Jr.
Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports
Harvey had a phenomenal season in the UFL with the BattleHawks, leading the UFL in tackles with 76 and totaling four sacks and nine tackles for loss. That kind of versatility at inside linebacker made him one of the All-UFL players at his position for 2024, and he might be the most intriguing player on this list outside of Rowland for an NFL roster right now with his production. He spent some time with the Cleveland Browns and should unquestionably get attention from another NFL team this summer once St. Louis’ season ends later this month.
LB Tavante Beckett
Raj Mehta/USA TODAY Sports
After spending about a season or so with the Detroit Lions in 2021, Beckett had his best season yet post-college with the San Antonio Brahmas in 2024. He totaled 67 tackles and was named one of the All-UFL inside linebackers. For any team needing help at linebacker, Beckett could provide solid depth and help out on special teams. Spending a year in the NFL can only help.
S Kai Nacua
Darren Yamashita/USA TODAY Sports
An NFL journeyman and the older brother of Los Angeles Rams star receiver Puca Nacua, Kai Nacua hauled in three picks this season with the Panthers and made the All-UFL team at safety. It feels like the elder Nacua should at least get another chance at an NFL roster this season, maybe with the Rams?
S A.J. Thomas
Mike Dinovo/USA TODAY Sports
The former Chicago Bears safety, like Kai Nacua, hauled in three picks this season and was named All-UFL at his position. The Birmingham Stallions safety deserves another chance at an NFL roster, particularly with his ability to snag the ball in the air and with his league honor.
CB Deandre Baker
Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports
The former New York Giants first-round cornerback and Georgia alum made his football comeback with the D.C. Defenders this season, and he played himself to one of three All-UFL honors at his position. His former draft status alone may intrigue some teams who have needs at cornerback as Baker tries to make his grand NFL return.
P Marquette King
Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports
King hasn’t punted in the NFL since 2018 with the Denver Broncos, but the football veteran is still playing quite well in the semi-pros. At 35, King is the oldest player on this list, but he was the All-UFL kicker with the Renegades this past season. He’s one of the most enjoyable personalities in all of football, too. We’re more than ready for King’s NFL comeback.
K Jake Bates
Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports
Bates spent the 2023 offseason with the Houston Texans, but it’s his viral 64-yard game-winning kick for the Michigan Panthers that stunned fans this past UFL season. He was the All-UFL kicker this past season, and we’re betting that he’s going to land in an NFL camp this summer to compete for a job.
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Check out what happened in Sunday’s UFL games in Week 2.
Week 2 of the UFL season wrapped up on Sunday with two games. In the first, the Birmingham Stallions remained undefeated, while the D.C. Defenders picked up their first win of the year.
What happened?
Stallions 20, Panthers 13
Birmingham kicker Chris Blewitt made four field goals to give the Stallions a 2-0 start. They outgained Michigan 305-202 but were 2-for-10 on third down. Defensively, they sacked Panthers quarterbacks seven times, three by Taco Charlton.
Defenders 23, Roughnecks 18
Houston dropped to 0-2 on Sunday.
The Defenders scored 11 fourth-quarter points and won after entering the final frame down six.
Former Cardinals quarterback Jarrett Gurantano was benched by the Roughnecks after going 3-for-8 passing for 23 yards. Former Cardinals running back T.J. Pledger led the Roughnecks with 47 rushing yards on 11 attempts.
Jordan Ta’amu threw two touchdown passes for the Defenders in the win.
The Defenders pick up their first UFL win on Sunday.
The D.C. Defenders returned home to Audi Field on Sunday to host the Houston Roughnecks in UFL Week 2 action. After a disappointing Week 1 loss to the San Antonio Brahmas, the Defenders won their first UFL game with a 23-18 win over the Roughnecks.
Dating back to their time in the XFL, the Defenders have won 10 consecutive games at Audi Field.
Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu completed a 17-yard touchdown to wide receiver Ty Scott with around six minutes remaining to give D.C. a 21-18 lead. The Defenders went for the two-point conversion and succeeded when Ta’amu found tight end Alex Ellis to extend their lead to 23-18.
The Roughnecks had another opportunity to win the game, but the D.C. defense shut down Houston, allowing only 18 yards on six plays to ensure the victory.
Ta’amu completed 16 of 32 passes for 212 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Next up for the Defenders are the Arlington Renegades next week in Texas. It’s a rematch of the 2023 XFL championship, where the Renegades pulled off a big upset over the Defenders.
In case you were wondering, the beer snake is alive and well at Audi Field.
The evolution of our first beer snake of the season 🍺🐍
