The Birmingham Stallions have lost another 13 players to the NFL again this season. This brings their total of three seasons to 36 players who have signed NFL contracts directly following playing for the Stallions. This does not account for players who have signed contracts and returned to the Stallions in between, or players who have signed contracts but never suited up for Birmingham. Players like Deon Cain, and Joshua Pryor. Averaging 12 players signing NFL contracts or more a season is not a bad sales pitch for the Stallions staff when it comes to recruiting.
Heading into 2025 they have had to begin balancing re-signing players, with watching others leave for the NFL. Recently those re-signings have picked up.
QB J’Mar Smith
WR Marlon Williams
WR Binjimen Victor
G Deonte Brown
T Darius Harper
S TJ Carter
S Kenny Robinson
DB Trey Norwood
LS Ryan Langan
K Chris Blewitt
P Colby Wadman
DE Damarcus Mitchell
WR Gary Jennings
G/C Cole Schneider
CB Ike Brown
DB Neville Clark
DL Willie Yarbary
Quarterback Factory
The most important position on the roster has watched three players sign NFL contracts in three seasons with two coming this offseason when both Adrian Martinez and Matt Corral both found NFL teams with the Jets, and Vikings having professional starting experience under their belt since their last NFL contract. J’Mar Smith also saw interest from the Carolina Panthers. Every player who has started 2 games or more for Birmingham has now gone on to at least work out with an NFL team. The Stallions have essentially turned into a quarterback factory. Something NFL Coaches should be taking notice of.
J’Mar Smith, Quarterback
One quarterback has remained through it all, even though he saw his own NFL interest, and has now re-signed to return for year four. J’Mar Smith will enter his fourth season with the Stallions, and 8th under Skip Holtz between college, and the pros. He is essentially another coach on the roster at this point, knowing Holtz’s offense as well as any coach on the staff. It appears Smith is content on playing his entire career with the Stallions if that’s how the chips fall. This is considering he didn’t see the field in 2024 sitting behind Martinez and Corral.
With questions about how the rest of the quarterback depth chart will look come week one of the 2025 UFL season, the Stallions can rest easy knowing they already have one player they can ride into battle with. Whether we see the return of Alex McGough, Adrian Martinez, Matt Corral, the signing of draft pick Sam Hartman, or the return of guys like Jalen Morton, or Montell Cozart remains to be seen.
Larry Rountree III, Running Back
Larry Rountree III was a first-year UFL player in 2024, sitting behind two players who had established themselves with the Stallions he only saw action in 3 games. A former 6th-round NFL Draft pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021. He would play 16 games for the Chargers over the next two seasons, collecting 49 carries for 106 yards, and 1 touchdown. The 5’10 210 pound bowling ball of a running back also saw 3 receptions for 13 yards, returned 7 kicks for 117 yards, and 2 tackles.
Rountree is the type of back that will play on most special teams units, and often this is where most of his value comes from. With the Stallions in 2024, Rountree played nearly as many snaps on offense as on special teams: 51/35. He played on all four kick and punt coverage/return units. In just three games Rountree III produced: 16 carries for 88 yards 1 touchdown, 1 fumble, 3 targets, 2 receptions for 9 yards, and 2 special teams tackles.
Rountree did showcase his ability to get yards after contact averaging 3.1 yards per carry after contact. He forced 2 missed tackles, produced 4 first downs, and 2 plays over 10 yards. In the passing game he had 17 yards after catch (being targeted on two screens helped this number), and another 2 forced missed tackles. Rountree has proven himself in Birmingham in small sample sizes, now the question is if the Stallions will bring back Ricky Person Jr., or draft pick Emani Bailey (currently Bailey is on the Chiefs’ practice squad.)
Marlon Williams, Wide Receiver
Much like at Quarterback, there is one wide receiver who has been loyal to the Stallions throughout his time in spring football. Marlon Williams will return alongside J’Mar Smith once again. The Alabama native also will return for year four with the Stallions, helping keep a core of veteran leadership key on any successful team.
Williams will very likely top 1,000 career receiving yards with the Stallions in 2025. Currently, he has 61 receptions for 810 yards in the regular season. He also has 5 carries for 34 yards and 5 tackles. For some reason, Williams’s biggest impact has come in the postseason. Where in 4 games in 2022, and 2024 he collected 18 receptions for 215 yards and 1 touchdown. Williams and Smith seem to have a good rapport one more reason to bring them back together.
Binjimen Victor, Wide Receiver
Binjimen Victor a versatile veteran wideout has chosen to return for what will be his second season in Stallions colors after joining the team for the 2024 season. He saw snaps out wide, in the slot, as well as on kick and punt return units. Victor came out of Ohio State as an undrafted free agent in 2020, being signed by the Giants.
He spent the 2020 season on their practice squad being coached by Tyke Tolbert a former LSU receiver who has now been coaching his former position for 20 seasons. Also on that staff? Anthony Blevins who spent time assisting the Stallions’ defense in 2024. In 2021 and 2022 he spent time on the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad under position coach Tee Martin who has since moved over to quarterbacks with the Ravens. After the 2022 season wrapped up, Victor was not brought back to Baltimore and this left him to wait out his next opportunity.
He found that and more with the Stallions.
Deonte Brown, Guard
Brown is an Alabama alum, one of the few players to represent the state he played college football in, to continue his professional career as well. Now Brown agrees to return for year two. “Trusting the process” of the Stallions who have sent more players to the NFL than any other spring football team over the past three seasons.
Brown has now won three championships for the state of Alabama; 2017, 2020, and 2024 an impressive run considering he has spent six total seasons with Alabama, and the Stallions. The former 6th-round pick with the Carolina Panthers only tasted a losing season for the first time after being selected by Carolina. After losing a total of 6 games in college he would top that number in his first NFL season sticking with Carolina for most of their 37 losses in a three-season span.
Signing with the Stallions he would return to the winning ways he was accustomed to. He would help lead his team to an 11-1 record in 12 games in 2024 adding his third ring. However Brown did not do this as a starter, instead riding the bench and waiting his turn. He played in just 6 snaps until the playoffs when he saw 28 total in two weeks. His chances to start in 2025 may increase quickly if players like Matt Kaskey, Zach Johnson, and/or Armani Taylor stick in the NFL.
Darius Harper, Tackle
Darius Harper has also chosen to return. Having played significant snaps in seven of 12 games last season he could return to the starting lineup in 2025 after being relegated to backup status in his third season with the Stallions.
Serving as a 6th offensive lineman in 2024, he saw 206 total snaps on offense. Seeing his highest grade as a Stallion: 56.1 this doesn’t inspire confidence in him as a full-time starter especially when you consider he is one of the lowest graded pass blocking linemen on the team the last three years. Harper is one of those players that is unlikely to see NFL interest which makes him a safe re-signing of a player the Stallions know has a good grasp on their offense having played just under 1,200 snaps in three seasons.
Having allowed 47 pressures, including 9 sacks, 1 hit, and 37 hurries is a very high number which has resulted in his poor grades. It has not helped that he has been called for 5 penalties as well. His value lies in his ability to play both left and right tackle while occasionally lining up as a tight end as well. Since signing with the Stallions, Harper has worked out with the Colts following 2022 but has not seen interest since. While the goal is to help players get back to the NFL, teams are performing a balancing act trying to bring in some players they can retain long-term to build a veteran core to help teach the schemes and winning ways. Harper has become one of those guys for Birmingham heading into year four alongside J’Mar Smith, and Marlon Williams.
Cole Schneider, Center/Guard
Schneider has been an interesting case study of how NFL teams value UFL reps. In 2022 the Packers brought Schneider in as an undrafted free agent. He was released before preseason and found his way to the Stallions where he played his first professional snaps. During his first spring football season he took a total of 335 offensive snaps split between left tackle, left guard, center, and right guard with one snap as a 6th offensive lineman.
While he didn’t grade out well overall, this versatility and professional film helped him find his way back on the Packers. This time he was brought back and given a chance to play in preseason. He played 24 total snaps for Green Bay grading out at a 62.8 overall better than his overall grade from the USFL in 2023. Unfortunately, he was not retained and instead released with final cuts. He returned to the Stallions just over two weeks later not wasting any time in signing his contract for 2024.
Upon returning, Schneider took over as the starting center for Birmingham. He started every week he was healthy and missed just one game. He played 681 total snaps. This amounted to the single highest overall grade of his professional career at 65.8 overall playing every snap at center. He allowed just 1 sack and was called for just one penalty. Yet this was the time he did not get the call-up. Interesting decision by NFL teams, especially given how many offenses his experience in Green Bay translates to. Now Schneider returns for season three of spring football at just 26 years old, hoping he can get another opportunity in the NFL.
Damarcus Mitchell, Defensive End
After rumblings about his NFL interest this offseason Damarcus Mitchell has agreed to return for a second season with the Stallions. Signed by the Stallions in December of 2023, almost exactly 4 months after being let go by the Seattle Seahawks late in the 2023 cut-down process.
After spending two seasons on the bottom end of NFL rosters he joined the Stallions to prove what he could do at the professional level. Playing in five games for the Stallions during the regular season he played 97 snaps 65 of which came as a pass rusher. He produced 11 pressures, including 9 hurries, 1 sack, and 1 QB hit. He would also produce 3 stops or plays that constitute a failure by the offense per PFF.com.
Mitchell also played 57 snaps on special teams. Seeing snaps on kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and field goal block. He would grade out at a 69.8. He collected 5 special teams tackles and was called for 1 penalty. Not a bad performance for the young pass rusher trying to prove he can do more than just play defensive end for his next team.
Willie Yarbary, Defensive Line
Willie Yarbary is yet another player returning for year four in the USFL, and more importantly year four as a Stallion. He has been one of several important pieces to the culture and championship mindset returning year after year despite turnover around the core. The Stallions have won three straight championships with this approach, and why would they change it now?
Yarbary missed the first five games of the 2024 season due to an injury suffered before the season. Returning in week 6 he still found a way to have an impact for the Stallions, but it wasn’t what he or the team had hoped when he agreed to return for season three after producing 57 pressures, 40 hurries, 12 sacks, 7 batted passes, and 1 forced fumble in the previous two years.
He played in seven games on the year producing 12 tackles including 10 stops. He did not log a sack but still managed to produce 9 pressures, 7 hurries, and 2 QB hits. He was not credited with a missed tackle or called for a penalty on 212 defensive snaps.
Ike Brown, Cornerback
In 2022 Ike Brown played for the Larry Fedora-led New Orleans Breakers. He played in 9 total games missing two along the way. Playing 334 snaps for the Breakers he graded out at a 78.1. On the season he allowed just 8 receptions on 19 targets, including zero touchdowns. He was called for 2 penalties but also had 2 interceptions and 4 pass breakups. Allowing a 19.1 QBR when throwing his direction.
After the USFL season concluded the Las Vegas Raiders brought Brown in for what turned into the better part of two seasons. In 2022 the Raiders played four preseason games so they got a long look at Brown who played 116 snaps. He again graded favorably this time with a 71.1 overall grade. He had been targeted 9 times allowing just 3 receptions for 28 yards and no touchdowns. He also had 2 pass break ups, and 1 penalty called against him.
He stuck with the Raiders into 2023 and played in all 3 games. At this point having played in 16 games as a professional football player. He only played 41 snaps, and this time he graded poorly. Finishing the preseason with a 50.8 overall grade. He was waived in final cuts returning to the USFL, but this time on the super team the Stallions were building by snatching all the spring football stars who had signed NFL contracts. Brown was part of a revamped secondary in 2024.
This turned out to be one of his worst year grade wise according to PFF.com. His 54.5 was not nearly as impressive as it had been in 2022. He also allowed 250 yards total including 79 after the catch and 1 touchdown. He was also called for 1 penalty.
TJ Carter, Safety
Tj Carter has decided to return to the Stallions for his third season with the reigning champions of spring football. After spending the entire 2022 season with the Los Angeles Rams he opted to return via a futures deal, but he was let go in March of 2023. He waited just ten days to sign with the Stallions.
Carter was used in virtually every position across the Stallion’s defense in 2023. Returning in 2024, it was only able to suit up in one game playing a total of 58 snaps. Carter saw snaps in the box, at free safety, nickel back, out wide at cornerback, as well as on several facets of special teams. During his time with the Stallions, he has logged 35 tackles, 4 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception. This included 8 tackles on special teams.
The bad was evident; He was called for 5 penalties and missed 7 tackles in 2023. He was targeted on 29 total passes allowing 18 receptions for 202 yards, with 100 coming after the catch. Although this worked out to a passer rating of 68.5 allowed. Carter to my knowledge has not received any NFL interest since entering the USFL, but it’s hard to garner interest when you play one game out of 12 in 2024. His play on special teams would be invaluable at the next level if the 25-year-old ever gets that call. If not the Stallions seem to be happy to bring him back and continue to add integral pieces to that veteran core I keep mentioning.
Kenny Robinson, Safety
Kenny Robinson was one of the first players to be drafted straight from a spring football league. Opting to leave college early, and pursue the XFL due to financial concerns within his family, he was still draft-eligible when the XFL shut down. He would continue his college education online, and end up drafted in the 5th round only after collecting 21 tackles 1 sack, and 2 interceptions in just 5 games. He played 318 snaps with 51 coming on special teams.
Robinson was selected by the Carolina Panthers 152nd overall. The truth is while Robinson was a trailblazer at that time, and represented a win for the XFL, the likelihood of being drafted was still very high even if he had just sat out completely in 2020 due to what he did in such a short stretch of college. According to PFF.com, he graded out at 82.5 in 2017, and 67.1 in 2018. He collected 103 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 7 interceptions, and 5 pass breakups in just 23 games. He also played free safety, strong safety, outside cornerback, and slot cornerback in that short time.
After spending three seasons primarily on the practice squad for Carolina he signed a futures deal with Pittsburgh for 2023. This may have ended up being a mistake for the young safety who was again let go late in the cut process but did not return to the Steelers practice squad. After being let go he waited out the 2023 season trying to latch on with another team working out with the Bills early on but never being signed. This led him back to spring football this time with the UFL. This time operating with a bit more financial security given his time in the NFL.
Robinson could have reunited with his old coaching staff now mostly with the Arlington Renegades, but instead, he ended up signing with the Stallions, another Spring Football star to help build the Super Team forming in Birmingham. Once again the ever versatile Robinson played all over the secondary including in the slot frequently and became an incredibly valuable piece to the Stallion’s success on defense. Having been targeted 15 times he allowed just 6 receptions for 78 yards and 1 touchdown in 12 games. He would also log 1 interception and 3 pass breakups. Allowing just a 51.5 QBR when throwing his direction. Now the Stallions bring back three versatile defensive backs to begin their quest for a fourth straight championship.
Trey Norwood, Defensive Back
Norwood is a defensive back who has signed his first spring football contract with the Stallions for 2025. One of many NFL veterans who had fallen out of favor with the biggest league in the world, only to look to the Stallions as their best chance to find their way back. Norwood was originally a seventh-round NFL Draft Pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021.
He made it through two seasons in Pittsburgh returning to compete for a roster spot in 2023 with 27 games and 5 starts under his belt. Having played 631 snaps over two seasons on the surface he seemed poised to potentially grow into a larger role as he continued to develop. However, his performance over the past two seasons has left questions about the former 7th-round pick. Allowing 37 receptions on 54 targets with only 3 pass breakups and 1 interception.
He also allowed just over 400 yards including 200+ yards after the catch, and 2 touchdowns. Drafted as a cornerback he had been moved to safety with the Steelers and he saw snaps everywhere even on the line of scrimmage as a pass rusher. His overall grades were terrible during this stretch and ultimately he was let go in the final cuts of the 2023 season.
He would jump to the practice squads of the San Francisco 49ers, and later the Buffalo Bills. He would end up released and late December left a Free agent heading into the 2024 season. He did not immediately pursue spring football, deciding to wait out an NFL contract. Ultimately after watching a full NFL off-season go by he decided to sign with the Stallions for the 2025 UFL season. Norwood is truly a versatile defensive back who could see snaps at any of the five positions on any given play. It’s no accident he wound up playing significant snaps on a Mike Tomlin-led defense as a rookie and second-year player.
He strikes me as the kind of player who is very likely to be one and done in the UFL before returning to an NFL roster or practice squad. It’s interesting to me to see him passed over while other players who had signed for 2025 have already found NFL interest; Rachad Wildgoose, and Josh Pryor.
Nevelle Clarke, Cornerback
Nevelle Clarke’s path in professional football has been an interesting one to say the least. Clarke initially went undrafted landing with the Minnesota Vikings amidst the covid marred 2020 campaign. He was not given a chance to show what he could do in the preseason, and was released in final cuts. This would leave him on the open market for the rest of the 2020 season.
In 2021 he jumped to The Spring League playing with the Generals led by future USFL Head Coach Bart Andrus…who did not draft his former player, even though he had leaned heavily on that Generals roster to build his 2022 Stars roster. Clarke initially landed with the New Orleans Breakers led by Larry Fedora. In 2022 he was one of the best full-time starting cornerbacks in the league finishing the season top 5 in many categories. He was not immediately brought back in by an NFL team.
He returned to the Breakers in 2023, even though his former head coach…Larry Fedora did not. This time it was John Defilippo who took over. A man who had just helped coach a Super Bowl-winning roster in 2017. In 2023 Clarke again was a major contributor for the Breakers, but not at quite the same level as 2022. This time however when the season wrapped up, the Steelers offered him a contract.
He was given just 11 days to make an impression before being released once again. On November 2nd, 2023 Clarke returned to the USFL. This time choosing to sign with the Super Team being formed in Birmingham of former USFL/XFL players who had signed NFL contracts. In 2024 the Stallions used him primarily out wide and allowed him to start opposite of Ike Brown. He did not play in week 10, but suited up in 11 games on the year.
He ended the season with 24 tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 4 pass breakups, and allowed 23 receptions on 36 targets. He was called for just 2 penalties on the year. He returns for season four in the USFL.
Ryan Langan, Longsnapper
The Stallions have done everything they can to try and keep the core of their special teams together. One of the first players to sign a contract for 2025 was Langan who has been a steady contributor as the primary long snapper for the Stallions since 2022. He has now long snapped to three different kickers and two punters over his three seasons with the team. Langan has a very decorated career as a long snapper. Beginning in college with Georgia Southern he collected a list of honors:
2020 – All-America Third Team (Phil Steele)
2020 – All-Sun Belt Conference First Team (Phil Steele)
2020 – Patrick Mannely Long Snapper of the Year Finalist
2020 – All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention
2019 – All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team (Phil Steele)
2019-20 – Sun Belt Conference Honor Roll
2017-18 – Sun Belt Conference Honor Roll
This performance in college led him to find NFL interest after the 2021 NFL Draft even though with a covid year, and a redshirt year available he could have remained in school for at least one more playable season. Opting to come out with eligibility left, he was a priority free agent for the Chargers who signed him in early May. Langan lasted until just before final cuts when he was let go in late August. This left him available for the 2022 USFL Draft held in February of 2022. He was not selected in the draft process and instead signed just after the draft.
He has been with the Stallions ever since.
Colby Wadman, Punter
Wadman is another player returning for year four. Given the lack of current NFL interest, Wadman has chosen to return to the most stable home he has known as a professional football player. He has had a cup of coffee in Oakland, San Francisco, and Washington, and lasted two seasons with Denver.
Playing with the Stallions for three seasons he has punted 106 times for 4,839 yards. Of those punts, only 47 have been returned for 504 yards and 1 touchdown. His most impressive statistic might be that 37.7% of his punts have landed inside the 20-yard line. He also forced 22 fair catches, 12 touchbacks, and had 8 punts sail out of bounds.
Last season alone he punted 28 times, 10 landed inside the 20, 2 were touchbacks, 5 were downed, 2 were fair caught and 1 was blocked. He missed 4 games in 2024 with Dru Chrisman filling in temporarily. The Stallions showed remarkable loyalty to Wadman and Blewitt during this time and chose to stick with their guys when they were healthy. Wadman led the league in punt average in 2023, making the All-USFL team as well. He may not have NFL interest currently, but he does have three championship rings playing spring football, and he is only 29.
Chris Blewitt, Kicker
With the re-signing of Blewitt, the Stallions return the three specialists they started the 2024 season with. Blewitt did suffer an injury missing a few weeks, watching as Ramiz Ahmed stepped in for him. He returned late in the season and still managed to be a big-time contributor in 2024.
Playing in six games, including the first three, and from week 10 to the championship game. Blewitt was 11 of 12 on field goals in 2024, and in 2023 he was 27 of 33 on field goals a collective 84.4% conversion rate. One concern is his only miss came from beyond 50 yards. Although, he converted 7 of 10 kicks beyond 50 yards in 2023.
Final Thoughts
“Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance is good, football is good, everything is good. Balance bad, better pack up and go home.” Mr. Miyagi (probably). The Stallions have found a perfect balance between players that have come and gone in one year, and players that return year after year. This balance has kept them at the top of their league no matter what the name has been, or who the opponents were. Having watched 15 players sign NFL contracts, including Ramiz Ahmed, the Stallions could end up replacing over a fifth of their roster in 2025, although I would expect several players to return if released by the NFL.
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