OT Jahmir Ross-Johnson Stallions
The Stallions have selected eleven more players for the 2024 season bringing their roster to 73 players if the website is to be trusted prior to the Super Dispersal Draft. With the draft in the rear view, we are now on the highway to opening day with exactly 76 days remaining until week one of the UFL regular season. They still have a couple spots available should any intriguing recent NFL practice squad players.
Heading into this draft the Stallions had no glaring holes left. They had some positions that could use depth but overall their roster was stout. Offensive line depth is always a plus, and the team had left several key members of their backfield unprotected. This included Bo Scarbrough, Zaquandre White, and Bobby Holly all of which were brought back into the fold on Monday, after all you could only protect so many players, Zach Potter and Skip Holtz gambled that certain Stallions would be on the board when they selected.
Returning Members
The Stallions were able to bring back the aforementioned Scarbrough, White, and Holly, but also wide receiver Myron Mitchell, long snapper Ryan Langan, back-up quarterback Jalen Morton, and offensive line Jahmir Ross-Johnson. They also brought back Madre Harper who had been signed for the 2024 season but had not yet played in the USFL or XFL.
Of their eleven draft picks they brought back 8 players they previously had on their roster. Despite the fact that each roster was able to add up to 25 players in this draft depending on where they stood before it commenced, the Stallions have maintained an unbelievable amount of continuity.
The Stallions had four running backs carry the ball last season, Bo Scarbrough before his injury, Cj Marable, Zaquandre White, and Ricky Person. These four backs combined for 733 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns. After the season, Marable was signed by the New England Patriots, and White also received interest from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After both returned to the USFL both players given the choice decided to return to the Stallions. Then the dispersal draft came, and the team protected Marable, and Person. However they were able to go ahead and draft both Scarbrough, White, and fullback Bobby Holly. One of the best backfields in the USFL returns unscathed in 2024.
Morton, and Mitchell Return to the Offense in 2024
Not only did they bring back their entire backfield, they also managed to bring back Jalen Morton who has now been with the Stallions since late in 2022. He signed with Birmingham less than a month after his contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats expired. This locks up a back-up option at quarterback that is familiar with the offense. This was important after signing, and protecting Adrian Martinez in the draft process. Another Potter masterstroke.
As if their wide receiver corps wasn’t deep enough prior to the draft process, the Stallions brought back fan favorite Myron Mitchell as well. This leaves them with seven wide receivers on the roster. Every single receiver was on an NFL roster for some length of time since 2021. I have jokingly called the Stallions Team 33 because of the sheer amount of NFL experience they have on their roster, but there is no position that is more evident than wideout.
Protection Proves to Be Paramount
The Stallions clearly saw an opportunity to improve depth, and continue their reign as one of the best teams in the league by bringing back two key members of their team; LS Ryan Langan, and OL Jahmir Ross-Johnson and bringing in a new face OL Larnel Coleman.
Coleman is an interesting player who is likely just now hitting his peak as an offensive lineman after transitioning to offense from defense in college. After attending University of Massachusetts he was selected in the 7th round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He spent most of his first two seasons in Miami before spending time with the Panthers in 2022.
Since then he has been out of the NFL, and sitting on the open market. He originally signed a letter of intent with the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL before he was left unprotected in the draft process. The Stallions decided to take a chance on the former NFL lineman who hasn’t played in a season. This is a no risk high reward situation.
Secondary Help Incoming
The Stallions left no stone unturned and decided to select three defensive backs. One of those players had originally signed with the Stallions for the 2024 season; Madre Harper, while another, had played in the AAF, NFL, USFL, and XFL; Terrell Bonds, the third had been in the USFL, and XFL previously; Alijah Holder.
Harper is the only of the three who hasn’t gotten a taste of spring football to this point. Originally entering the NFL in 2020, Harper bounced around from the Raiders, to the Giants, Panthers, and Steelers before he found himself released in final cuts by the Steelers and left on the market all year. Not wanting to leave things to chance, Harper signed a USFL contract with the Stallions in October, less than two months after being let go by the Steelers.
Terrell Bonds
Bonds entered the professional world under much different circumstances. Undrafted out of Tennessee State he found his first opportunity playing in the Alliance of American Football with the Memphis Express. Bonds would go on to collect 17 tackles in 8 games before the league shut down and left him looking for an NFL opportunity. He signed with the Ravens and spent the rest of the 2019 season with them, and 2020 with them as well when he saw his first NFL action. When his deal expired, he signed a futures deal with Miami.
The Miami Dolphins brought Bonds in for the 2021 season via a futures deal. He lasted into late August before being let go. He would then look to the USFL for his next opportunity which came with the Pittsburgh Maulers. He added return duties to his resume, intercepted his first professional pass, and collected another 14 tackles. About a month after the USFL season ended he returned to Tennessee, this time with the Titans.
He lasted only ten days, but this allowed him to choose between the XFL and USFL in 2023, and this time he decided to enter the XFL Draft class. He would go on to play for Hines Ward and the San Antonio Brahmas. When Wade Phillips took over, he was left unprotected in the draft, and allowed to leave to the Stallions while the Brahmas loaded up on former Roughnecks.
Alijah Holder
Holder spent the first two seasons of his career with the Denver Broncos where the majority of his time was spent on the practice squad. He appeared in 10 games between the two seasons. After the 2020 season he was released and left on the market for about 3 months before the Lions signed him in May. With Detroit he made it until the preseason but that’s when he was let go and did not return.
Holden then decided to pursue the USFL in 2022 and signed with the Houston Gamblers. Playing for the Gamblers he collected 19 tackles, and 1 interception. After the 2022 season ended, with the XFL on the horizon, he decided to pursue his opportunities in the XFL. He would be selected in the 9th round of the Supplemental draft, one of many former Gamblers that made the jump to the new league. At 6’2 190 pounds he will continue to get chances at the professional level due to his athletic ability, even though he has never been the fastest guy in any league.
Now headed into 2024 he has returned to the “USFL” side of the merger, this time with the two-time defending champions.
Final Thoughts
The Stallions have gone from a great team to an elite team with their moves this offseason. Having walked into the offseason with a roster most UFL teams envied, they only got stronger via this draft process. Now with 73 players all fighting for limited spots on the roster, this training camp stands to be the most competitive in the history of the USFL so far.
