On Sunday, March 30th, the UFL Memphis Showboats kick off their second season hosting the Michigan Panthers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Despite belonging to the same division, the two teams couldn’t be more different now.
Changes on the Coaching Staff
Panthers coach Mike Nolan returns after winning “UFL Coach of the Year” honors last season. However, earlier this week, Jim Turner was named the Showboats’ interim head coach after Ken Whisenhunt stepped away for personal reasons. While Whisenhunt’s departure is believed to be temporary, no timeline was given for his return.
Following a successful 7-3 season, the Michigan Panthers made the playoffs but finished second in the division to the league champion Birmingham Stallions. Coming off a 2-8 season, the Showboats are looking to rebound with new general manager Jim Monos and a new coaching staff chosen by Whisenhunt. Turner was one of only two coaching staff members to return. Tight end coach T.J. Vernieri returned along with Turner. He was given additional responsibility for the wide receiver unit. But now, following Whisenhunt’s absence, will share responsibility for offensive play calling with Turner.
When the Panthers take the field on Sunday, their team will look similar to last year’s with 68% of the players returning from last season.
By contrast, the Memphis roster bears little resemblance to last season. Only 14 players from a year ago made the team when the final roster cuts were announced. More than 70% of the players are new to the team. However, the good news is that most of the new members were recruited from the former USFL Champion Pittsburgh Maulers and have experience playing together.
New Faces At Quarterback
While both quarterbacks are new to their respective teams, Showboats’ (presumed) starting quarterback E.J. Perry played for the Panthers last year. Before his season ended prematurely due to a hamstring injury, Perry was enjoying a promising start with Michigan. A highly mobile quarterback, Perry has solid instincts and offers speed and agility. He also has arm strength, as demonstrated last season when he launched a 66-yard touchdown bomb to Marcus Simms. Perry is looking to have a big game against his former team and former teammates Bryce Perkins and Danny Etling.
Perkins, a former LA Rams QB, appeared in four games for the Panthers before a season-ending injury in June. A standout at UVA, Perkins set the UVA career record for total offense with 7,910 yards. He also set a single-season record in 2019 with 4,307 yards.
Familiar Faces At Wide Receiver
One of Memphis’s few units to survive relatively intact is the wide receiver group. Although All-UFL Team wide receiver Daewood Davis has not yet been medically cleared to return to the active roster, Jonathan Adams and Dee Anderson are returning from last year. UFL newcomers Kai Locksley and Isaiah Washington join the pair. It will be interesting to see who steps up as WR1 with a new quarterback still building chemistry with his receivers, in Davis’ absence.
One of the strengths of the Panthers has been their strong wide receiver unit featuring Simms and returning veterans Siaosi Mariner and Samson Nacua. Newcomers Jaylon Moore and Xavier Malone are joining Mariner and Nacua.
The Ground Game
The Panthers had a strong ground game last season thanks to the return of one of the better offensive coordinators in the league, Marcel Bellefuille. Although the team lost their number one back, Wes Hills, veterans Matthew Colburn and Nate McCrary are returning this season. Expect Colburn to get the starting nod. Look for big play potential from newcomer, Jaden Shirden, an explosive UFL rookie from Monmouth. Despite his small stature at 5’8” and 187 pounds, Shirden has impressive acceleration and can quickly create separation as he chews up yardage.
One of the areas Memphis cleaned house is with their running back unit. Deneric Prince and Jacob Kibodi, UFL newcomers, take over the Memphis backfield. Prince, the former Tulsa star, was credited with 1,728 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, along with 162 receiving yards and a touchdown reception. Kibodi briefly spent time with the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints on their practice squad a year ago.
The Offensive Line
The biggest difference between the two teams may come down to the offensive line. Last year, the Showboats had arguably the worst offensive line in the league while the Panthers had one of the best. This season, tackle James Tunstill, center Alec Lindstrom, and guard Jared Thomas are the only remaining members of the 2024 Memphis Showboats offensive line. They are joined by Arlington Renegades tackle Noah Henderson, former Carolina Panthers guard J.D. DiRenzo, USFL Pittsburgh Mauler guard Nash Jenson, and former NFL center Nate Gilliam.
The Panthers have a strong complement of returning o-line players, including standout guard Jake Burton and tackle Chim Okorafor.
The Defense Could Be The Difference
The key advantage Michigan could hold is its highly rated defense. Anchored by defensive Player of the Year, Breeland Speaks, the Panthers’ defense is stocked with returning players. Speaks, along with Frank Ginda and Bryce Torneden, made up one of the toughest defenses in the league.
However, the new Showboats’ defensive coordinator, Jarren Horton, knows a thing or two about putting together a championship-winning defense. He was responsible for completely transforming the league’s worst-rated defense in Pittsburgh and earning the Assistant Coach of the Year honors. With five returning Showboats defenders, including John Atkins Sr, and Nehemiah Shelton, along with several former championship Maulers’ talents, the Showboats’ defense is primed for a significant turnaround.
Finally, with Jake Bates finding tremendous success in the NFL and the Panthers featuring a brand new kicker in BT Potter, Memphis has the edge on special teams. Matthew Coghlin, one of the best kickers in the UFL, is returning for the Showboats’ second season. Coghlin ranked number two in the USFL with a 95% rate. He converted 18/19 field goals with a 55-yard boot as his longest. He was perfect with 25/25 extra points.
The Memphis Showboats will launch their second season on Sunday, March 30th at 11:00 a.m. CT at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Tickets are still available for the home opener. The game will be televised on ESPN.
