This is a very different Houston Gamblers team entering the 2026 season after the rebrand from the Roughnecks and an almost completely different coaching staff.
Kevin Sumlin has returned to coach the Gamblers for the first time since he was with the franchise in 2022, when they went 3-7 in the USFL. Sumlin now inherits a team that went 5-5 last season and showed a ton of promise late in the year.
As part of the changes, the Gamblers hired a new defensive coordinator, Marvin Sanders, who had long served as the defensive coordinator for the Arlington (now Dallas) Renegades. Sanders brought over safeties coach Ted Bolin, who was also on Sanders' staff last year with the Renegades. Bolin and Sanders sat down with reporters at UFL Media Day to discuss everything from training camp to what the league means to coaches.
How Houston Gamblers training camp is going so far
Sanders was asked about the first two weeks of training camp and how it has been going with the Gamblers' new-look defense. He showed optimism that things are heading in the right direction.
"Well, one thing is our guys are having fun. I think that's where it starts. They have fun, but they've really been locked in and focused on what we need to do to try to move this team forward early on. So it's been really fun."
Last season, Houston was tied for the league lead in turnovers created with 17, with Sanders' Renegades defense leading in fumbles with nine and second in takeaways with 16. That kind of success shows that the Gamblers should be good this season despite having different players, but it could also mean tough decisions have to be made. Sanders discussed the possibility of cutting some starting-caliber players on the team when training camp ends.
"It really is, and every day we're evaluating every day, but you talk about talent. We do have some talent. I think the league-wide has increased from a talent perspective, so it is going to be tough to come down to the final number. But luckily, we got a couple of weeks. Camp has been a little longer, so everybody can really get a quality amount of reps to decide."
Standouts from Houston Gamblers training camp through two weeks
Houston is stacked on defense with talent, including Kyon Barrs, Malik Fisher, Anthony Hines III, Marvin Moody Jr., and more. Looking at the secondary, Markel Roby and Eli Walker have been two of the most talented safeties in spring football over the years. Bolin shared who in the secondary has stood out at training camp.
"Yeah, I think all those guys are really getting better every day. Between Eli, he flies around really well. Roby does a really good job seeing the field. Glenn's the nice young prospect that we're looking at, too. He's a really good player. Avery's doing the same thing, plays all over the place, too. Nico was with the coach before last year, too, so just has a really good feel of defense."
Sanders focused on the unit as a whole to see who has been the standout at training camp and has noticed it through the first two weeks.
"If you look at our linebackers, they're really talented, but it always starts up front with a big guy, but everybody knows about Big Richard and guys like Malik (Fisher). So Lonnie Phelps has really, in the last few days up front, has done a really good job. So it always starts up front for us. It makes the back-end a lot easier. And on the back-end, I think Carlton Johnson, who played sparingly a little bit for us last year with the Renegades, has stepped up as a role as a nickel."
Sanders brought over four former Renegades defensive players from last season, including Johnson, Nico Bolden, Charlie Thomas III, and Barrs. When asked about Barrs after his short run with the Arizona Cardinals last year, Sanders spoke highly of what he has done and what he means to the Gamblers' defense.
"He's a very talented player. When you talk about a guy who's run my system before, he stabilizes that defensive front, and then he can explain, 'Yeah, Coach Sanders gets on us,' but he knows me better, and so he can be my mouthpiece to the players."
Bolin shared one player who got his attention at camp.
"Yeah, for me, just having more of a D-line background, too. I'm always looking at those guys. And one that's sticking out to me is Izzy, Izzy Antwine. He played more last year, too, but he's really doing a really good job inside."
What the UFL means for coaches
So many times, when the UFL or spring football in general is discussed, it usually focuses on the players and their chances to play in the NFL, but what about the coaches? UFL NewsHub asked Sanders about what this league means for coaches as they progress in their careers.
"Well, for a young coach is really good. I'm not saying I'm a veteran, but I do it because I absolutely love what the league stands for and giving the young man an opportunity to get more film to possibly play at a higher level. And so that's why I do it, because same way when I coach high school, coach college, I just really enjoy coaching the guys, trying to get them to be the best version of themselves. And if it leads to another opportunity, we're all blessed for that opportunity. But for me, I just want to coach. And if somebody recognizes me for what I did, I'm thankful, but I'm in it for them."
Gamblers fans will be interested to see how this new-look defense will look entering the 2026 season.