Tag: USFL

Report: USFL star and former Aggie TE Jace Sternberger signs deal with Buffalo Bills

Former Texas A&M star tight end Jace Sternberger is getting a second shot at the NFL after signing with the Buffalo Bills.

Former Texas A&M tight end Jace Sternberger is officially getting a second shot at the NFL. After impressing in a workout with the Buffalo Bills Monday morning, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that Sternberger had signed with the Bills.

The former Aggie is coming off a breakout season in the USFL, leading the league with seven touchdowns while finishing fourth in receiving yards. Sternbeger joins a competitive tight end room in Buffalo that features veteran Dawson Knox and 2023 first-round draft selection Dalton Kincaid out of Utah.

Sternberger helped lead the Birmingham Stallions to their second consecutive title, thwarting the Pittsburgh Maulers 28-12 in the championship game.

This marks Sternberger’s second go-around in the NFL after entering the league as a third-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2019. He appeared in 18 games in two seasons in Green Bay, totaling 12 receptions for 114 yards and one touchdown.

After playing his first two collegiate seasons at Kansas, Sternberger finished his college career at Texas A&M with All-SEC and consensus All-American honors in 2018. He appeared in 13 games for the Aggies, catching 48 passes for 832 yards and ten touchdowns.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=5]

USFL interceptions leader Mark Gilbert works out for Broncos

Mark Gilbert, who led the USFL with 4 interceptions this spring, worked out for the Broncos on Monday.

The Denver Broncos worked out USFL defensive back Mark Gilbert on Monday, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Gilbert (6-1, 190 pounds) played college football at Duke, earning first-team All-ACC recognition in 2017 before injuries derailed his 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons. Gilbert went undrafted in 2021 and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a college free agent.

He began his rookie season on Pittsburgh’s practice squad before later being signed to the Detroit Lions’ active roster. After being cut by the Lions last October, Gilbert returned to the Steelers’ practice squad.

Gibert’s practice squad contract expired after the 2022 season and he spent this spring playing in the USFL for the Pittsburgh Maulers. He totaled 32 tackles and a league-high four interceptions in the USFL this season.

It’s unclear if the Broncos view Gilbert (26) primarily as a cornerback, safety or slot defensive back. Denver has a deep safety depth chart so Gilbert would make sense as a potential cornerback addition.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

USFL Champion Jace Sternberger invited to work out with the Buffalo Bills

Sternberger gets second crack at the NFL with his tryout in Buffalo

With NFL camps starting in the next few days, teams are looking to fill out their rosters hoping to maybe find a diamond in the rough. Also, the emergence of a few of these summer leagues is allowing players to stay in playing shape and get plenty of game tape stacked up. The Dallas Cowboys have dipped in the USFL pool a few times and the Buffalo Bills are going to give Jace a look.

Sternberger’s roller coaster ride from his All-American campaign at Texas A&M to being out of the NFL within a few years has found that spark again. He made highlight-reel plays all season in the USFL on the road to an All-USFL selection where he set the league record for receiving TDs in a season.

There was going to be a team eventually to bring him into a camp for a look and we wish Jace the best with his tryout with the Bills.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=7]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdd4pnb49trk727 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=]

Former Texas A&M TE Jace Sternberger had record setting year in USFL

Jace caps off championship season as the league record holder for TD catches in a season

Jace Sternberger is writing his name all through the USFL record books. It was announced a few days ago by the USFL that the 2023 Champion Jace Sternberger has set a modern season record with seven touchdown catches.

Sternberger did not have the NFL career out the gate he thought would materialize and found himself on the outside looking in. The talent was always there but sometimes the opportunity never fully presents itself. For Jace, he found his chance in the USFL and he made the most of it in 2023.

Not only did he set the USFL receiving touchdown record he made the All-USFL team and capped off the season as a USFL Champion. Sternberger wrapped up the season with 33 catches (12th), 517 yards (4th), 7 touchdowns (1st), and 15.7 yards per reception (2nd).

The former All-American showed he can still be a big receiving threat while on the field and will hopefully get another look with an NFL club. If not he can always head back to the USFL to grow his game until the next opportunity comes his way.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=7]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdd4pnb49trk727 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=]

Packers to sign USFL MVP QB Alex McGough

The Packers are signing QB Alex McGough of the Birmingham Stallions and the USFL’s MVP in 2023.

[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8169″]

The Green Bay Packers will give the USFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2023 a chance to compete for a backup job behind starting quarterback Jordan Love.

According to Bill Huber of SI, the Packers are signing quarterback Alex McGough, the leader of the USFL champions and the league’s MVP in 2023.

McGough completed 180 of 267 passes (67.4 percent) for 2,105 yards (7.9 yards per attempt), 20 touchdowns and five interceptions over 10 regular season games. He also rushed for 403 yards and five more scores. Over two postseason games, McGough threw eight more touchdown passes and rushed for one touchdown as the Birmingham Stallions won the USFL title.

In Green Bay, McGough will compete with fifth-round pick Sean Clifford and Danny settling for the opportunity to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Love. He was in demand around the NFL after his terrific season in the USFL, but the quarterback depth chart in Green Bay should give McGough a terrific chance to stick on the roster or practice squad.

McGough was a four-year starting quarterback at FIU between 2014 and 2017 and a seventh-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2018. He spent time with Seattle and the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans at the NFL level.

Packers working out QB Alex McGough, the MVP of USFL in 2023

The Packers are hosting a workout on Tuesday for USFL MVP quarterback Alex McGough.

[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8169″]

The Green Bay Packers are hosting a workout on Tuesday for quarterback Alex McGough, who was the MVP of the USFL’s 2023 season.

Aaron Wilson of KPRC-2 in Houston was first to report the news. Bill Huber of Packers Central confirmed the report.

The Packers are attempting to find the right mix of backup options behind starter Jordan Love. The current quarterbacks on the roster are Love, fifth-round pick Sean Clifford and Danny Etling. Neither Clifford nor Etling have NFL regular-season experience.

McGough, an All-USFL pick, created 25 touchdowns and led the Birmingham Stallions to an 8-2 record and a USFL title during the 2023 season. He captained the No. 1 offense in the league, threw a league-high 20 touchdown passes, produced over 2,500 total yards and led the league in passer rating.

One of his favorite targets was former Packers tight end Jace Sternberger.

McGough played four seasons at FIU. He was a seventh-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2018 draft and later spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.

Wilson reports over a third of the NFL has some level of interest in McGough after his standout season in the USFL.

Jaguars sign Doug Pederson’s son, TE Josh Pederson

Former 49ers, Saints, and Chiefs tight end Josh Pederson is joining his dad’s team in Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville Jaguars made the addition of tight end Josh Pederson official on Monday. To make room on the roster for Pederson, the Jaguars released undrafted rookie tight end Leonard Taylor.

Pederson, 25, is the son of Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson and previously spent time on the rosters of the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, and Kansas City Chiefs, although he never made an appearance in a regular season game with any of those teams.

Most recently, Pederson played for the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL). In 10 games with the Gamblers, Pederson recorded 24 receptions for 325 yards, second most on the team.

Prior to his professional career, Pederson was a two-time All-Sun Belt selection during his time with the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.

Rumors that Pederson would join his father’s team in Jacksonville first gathered steam late last week when Draft Diamonds reported that the Jaguars planned to sign the tight end.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Former Aggie Jace Sternberger becomes USFL Champion

Former Aggie Jace Sternberger becomes USFL Champion

On July 2nd, the USFL held its championship game at the Tim Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, OH. The Birmingham Stallions entered the night looking for back-to-back championships, but the top offense in the league was up against the best defense in the league. I know they say defense wins championships, but that was not the case in this game.

The Stallions did what they have been doing all season… put up points. This time, your guy Jace did not reach the endzone, but he was still a big factor adding three catches for 65 and a staggering 21.7 average per reception.

That helped lead the Stallions to a 28-12 victory for their second consecutive title. Congrats to Jace on a wonderful season where he led the league in receiving touchdowns en route to becoming a champion. He talked about how his resurgence in the USFL would hopefully open the door for another NFL opportunity. After such a dynamic year, there is bound to be at least one or two teams looking to bring him in for a look before it’s all said and done.

We wish Jace the best of luck and are proud to see him succeeding at the next level!

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=7]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdd4pnb49trk727 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=]

Former Notre Dame walk-on wins second USFL title as head coach

Skip!

For the second year in a row the Birmingham Stallions are champions of the USFL. The Stallions defeated the Pittsburgh Maulers, 28-12, on Saturday night at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

The Stallions are led by head coach [autotag]Skip Holtz[/autotag], son of legendary Notre Dame coach [autotag]Lou Holtz[/autotag]. Skip was also a real-life Rudy. He started his college schooling at Holy Cross before transferring to Notre Dame.  He walked onto the football team and lettered in 1986 after playing every game on special teams.

Skip has coached the Stallions both seasons since the USFL returned.  They’ve gone 21-3 in that time and won both league titles.

Not a bad start to the former head coach at Connecticut, East Carolina, South Florida and Louisiana Tech.

Birmingham Stallions repeat as USFL champions

The Birmingham Stallions are the USFL champions for a second straight year

Alex McGough was dazzling, throwing 4 touchdown passes on Saturday, as the Birmingham Stallions downed the Pittsburgh Maulers, 28-12, for the USFL Championship.

McGough was not named MVP of the game despite his performance as the Stallions won their second straight USFL title.

The honor went to wide receiver Deon Cain, who caught 4 passes for 70 yards, with 3 going for touchdowns.

The loss ended Pittsburgh’s hopes of a miracle title. The Maulers were 2-6 before putting together a late-season streak to gain the playoffs and championship game.

Coach Skip Holtz’ Stallions are 21-3 over the two seasons for the new USFL.

Holtz’ dad, former college and NFL coach Lou Holtz, was in attendance at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, OH.