This is part two of a two part series on the very different looking Memphis Showboats for 2025.
Memphis coach Ken Whisenhunt officially cleaned house with his final roster cuts to usher in a brand new Showboats team. The team announced their final 50-man roster and one thing is immediately evident. Out of the 50 man roster, only 14 veteran Showboats players survived the final cut.
When General Manager Jim Monos and Whisenhunt promised big changes for this year, they clearly had a vision of the type of player they wanted for the team. They’ve achieved their desired result and it’s one with a very familiar look.
Surprise Roster Cuts For Memphis Offense
In order to achieve the 50-main roster, there were a number of surprise cuts. One the most surprising was running back DeWayne McBride. The former Minnesota Viking had a strong training camp and Whisenhunt was full of praise for his performance and the leadership he brought to the team. Seeing McBride cut was an unexpected move.
Jacob Warren, the 6’6″ 253 lb. Tennessee Volunteers rookie tight end was another surprise. The versatile UFL rookie was a semi-finalist for the Campbell trophy last year and could have played multiple positions. Another unexpected roster casualty was offensive lineman Leka Uhatafe.
How The Roster Cuts Effected The 2025 Showboats Offense
In McBride’s absence, the backfield responsibilities will be split between Jacob Kibodi and Deneric Prince as the lead back. Prince, the former Tulsa star was credited with 1,728 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, along with 162 receiving yards and a touchdown reception. As an undrafted free agent, Prince spent time on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad during their Super Bowl LVIII winning season.
At tight end, newcomers Chris Pierce Jr. and Ryan Izzo will join returning player Jay Jay Wilson. Following Uhatafe’s release, 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. Jenson is one of several former Maulers’ players to make the final cut.
With Whisenhunt’s final lineup coming into focus, expect to see E.J. Perry as the starting quarterback in week 1 against the Michigan Panthers. Returning Showboats veteran wide receivers Jonathan Adams and Dee Anderson will be joined by newcomers Isaiah Washington and Kai Locksley.
Although his name doesn’t appear on the roster, the team was quick to reassure fans that All-UFL team wide receiver Daewood Davis is still with the team. Davis will return once he receives his medical clearance.
Final Roster Announced For the Showboats Defense
With brand new defensive coordinator Jarren Horton at the helm, it’s not surprising that he recruited a number of key players from his championship Pittsburgh team. Whisenhunt and Horton have completely transformed the old Showboats defense. They retained only five players from a year ago, instilling a core group of former Maulers defenders in their place.
Assisting Horton with the rebuild effort are two former assistant coaches from his successful tenure with the Pittsburgh Maulers. Marc Hull is in charge of special teams and linebackers, while Steve Meyer is responsible for managing defensive quality control efforts.
Returning UFL Veteran Players
The defensive line is made up of returning Showboats players Josiah Bronson, P.J. Hall, cornerbacks Kyle Woods and Nehemiah Shelton, with NFL veteran John Atkins, Sr. anchoring the line. Atkins is an imposing presence at 6’3″ and 320 lbs. Signed in 2018 to the Detroit Lions practice squad, Atkins eventually made his way to the active roster, appearing in 12 games and recording 20 tackles.
Another familiar USFL Maulers player on the roster is safety Eli Walker. He is joined by former Arlington Renegades safety, Tenny Adewusi.
Other defensive players include UFL Newcomers Zeke Vandenburgh, 2024 Memphis draft pick Yvandy Rigby, New England Patriots linebacker Steele Chambers and NFL veteran Obi Melifonwu.
A Familiar Core Five
Horton and his team are well acquainted with five of the newly recruited defense players. Defensive end Nasir Player, safety Eli Walker, DE Izayah Green-May, defensive tackle Owen “Boogie” Roberts, and cornerback Mark Gilbert were all members of the 2023 championship Maulers team.
Named to the All-USFL team in 2023, Roberts was a defense standout with 32 tackles (19 solo), and three sacks. As an EDGE defender, Player was one of the sack leaders on the Maulers’ defense with 28 tackles. including three for a loss that year.
Playing on special teams as well as defense, Walker showed his versatility, recording 37 tackles, one interception, one sack, and nine punt return yards. He and Player teamed up in Pittsburgh to force fumbles and capitalize on turnovers.
A former cornerback with the Maulers, Gilbert is the only member of the group with previous UFL experience. As a member of the UFL’s 2024 Championship Birmingham Stallions team, Gilbert recorded 25 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery, and five pass defenses.
Green-May is the newest recruit as a mid-season replacement in Pittsburgh but he was a solid contributor and the coaches saw real potential in him. Now all five have made the Showboats final cut. The familiarity they have with each other and the coaching staff should provide a definite advantage given the UFL’s relatively short training camp
Special Teams Standout
The one unit that didn’t require much overhauling was the special teams unit. One of the best kickers in the ULF, Matthew Coghlin returns for his second season. Last year, Coghlin was a boon to the Showboats struggling offense, converting 18/19 field goals including a 55-yarder as his longest. He added another 25/25 extra points. Turner Bernard returns as long snapper and former Maulers’ Matt Mengel, is the new punter for the team.
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.
