Like with Retirements the UFL has seen massive player movement the past several months. Staying in line with last year, the CFL has made plenty of noise reaping the rewards of UFL players who’ve found themselves on the waiver wire of UFL teams. Since the UFL began training camp, leading up until cut day, multiple CFL teams have begun making their way up North in hopes of extending their careers.
March 6th
Bailey Gaither Wide Receiver B.C. Lions
Gaither was a borderline All-USFL WR in 2022, while having a complimentary 2023. The former San Jose State alum found himself out of football in 2024, however signed with the Houston Roughnecks for the upcoming UFL season. After being waived in August of last year, Gaither starts anew with the B.C. Lions for his first stint in the CFL.
March 10th
Josh Love Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
Love has spent the past Three years in the UFL/USFL with the Pittsburgh Maulers, Michigan Panthers, and last season with the Memphis Showboats. Upon a massive overhaul of the Showboats QB room, Love found himself without a team as the UFL broke camp. A veteran QB with 20 total TDs, and almost 2,700 passing yards Love hopes to find a hope in the CFL joining spring football alums like Shea Patterson, Jack Coan, Harrison Frost, Terry Wilson, and Eric Barriere all who’ve spent time on CFL rosters last year.
March 11th
Christian McFarland Defensive Back Montreal Alouettes
McFarland heads to the CFL after earning Two USFL Championships with the Birmingham Stallions. McFarland spent 2024 with the Showboats in a reserve role and now looks to join the Alouettes in hopes of finding a spot in their Defensive Backfield with former spring football alums Cre’Von LeBlanc (Arlington Renegades), and Lorenzo Burns (Birmingham Stallions).
March 17th
Chris Jackson Defensive Back Edmonton Elks
Jackson was a reserve Defensive Back for Birmingham after spending time in with the Titans after the past several years. Jackson appeared in Four games for the Stallions before ending up on injured reserve. Jackson opted to sign back with the Stallions in August before being waived in January. He signed with the Elks last week.
March 18th
Ben DeLuca Defensive Back Calgary Stampeders
Unsigned by the Battlehawks for 2025, DeLuca heads to the CFL after two injury plagued seasons in “St. Louis”. The UNCC alum hopes to complete the pro football trifecta, after appearing in a UFL and NFL game, with him now on the Calgary Stampeders roster.
Tyshun Render Defensive Lineman Hamilton Ti-Cats
Render has been around in the USFL/UFL since 2022 joining the New Jersey Generals after his time with the Miami Dolphins. Render put together Three solid seasons in spring football totaling 62 tackles and 5.5 sacks with the Generals and Showboats. With the Showboats massive wave of cuts in January Render found himself heading up North with the Ti-Cats.
March 19th
Quenton Meeks Defensive Back Montreal Alouettes
Meeks like many on this list begins his transition to the CFL after several years down south. After several years on and off NFL rosters, Meeks found success with Tampa Bay Bandits/Memphis Showboats from 2022 to 2024. Meeks like Render was among the several waves of Showboats releases after Jim Monos and Ken Whisenhunt took over the franchise. Meeks goes to the Alouettes for his first stab at the CFL.
Binjimen Victor Wide Receiver Edmonton Elks
Victor was a reserve WR for Birmingham during their 2024 championship season. The former Buckeye opted to return to Birmingham for 2025 season however, was released in February. Victor heads up north like many for his first attempt at the CFL.
Tiyon Evans Running Back Calgary Stampeders
After cups of coffee with the Rams and Panthers, Evans found himself with Houston Roughnecks signing with the team in December of 2023. Despite promise, Evans served as a reserve Running Back behind T.J. Pledger, and Mark Thompson before being released in May of 2024.
March 24th
Juwan Manigo Wide Receiver B.C. Lions
Manigo was one of the UFL’s most surprising releases during this wave of cuts. The former LFA star was one of the UFL’s most exciting returners totaling over 1000 All-Purpose Yards in 2024. While many expected him to take the next in the Renegades Offense, Manigo finds himself taking his talents up north now with the B.C. Lions.
Keylon Kennedy Defensive Back Edmonton Elks
Kennedy battled through injuries last season, after a stellar season in 2023 with the Vegas Vipers. After failing to make the Battlehawks 2025 roster the JuCo Alum now looks to make his mark with Edmonton this season.
As the 2025 UFL season begins, it appears that both retirements and players opting to join different leagues as many players seem to be at a crossroads in their careers. With CFL teams beginning to fill out their rosters, look for many UFL alums to begin to head North for the upcoming year. The UFL is scheduled to begin on March 28th, with the CFL beginning play June 5th.
1 Comment
by Ken Granito
I love this article. I tend to think of it as relationship 101. Two people meet. There is a good relationship, but one person (UFL team) sees something shiny and new while looking for their perfect someone. The person who is released can either quit or look for the next opportunity. In this case they found their next opportunity. As they go to training camp (date, etc) they will find out if there is a place for them in the new league. With limited foreign players only so many players will be retained, leaving them to again be looking for work next year. Being hopeful the league expands by 2 teams for 2026 we may see some of the UFL brethren back in the league next year. IF the CFL signs a 10th team for 2027 possible further expansion we can see many players back for UFL teams on the 11 or 12th teams. So any experience these players get is awesome. It is interesting how when the USFL started the CFL was looked at as a place the league could go to get some good and established players. This worked with McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Wes Hills, Nate Holley, etc, but now it is the CFL that is doing very well with receiving players from the UFL that have been coached up. I still feel Bailey Gaither and Binjimin Victor have an awful lot to give. I still think Binjimin Victor actually has NFL potential if he could get his drops in order. Josh Love is 6th in the legacy UFL in both yards & TDs all-time, but throws too many picks. He runs the team very well, but still tends to want to throw before he sees. I wonder if with the bigger the CFL doesn’t become home to him. I know I will be rooting for Tyshun Render in the CFL, but if he gets passed over, I hope the Generals will be back and that he will at least get a camp invite, to see what he can do. If Cottrell came back, he will rotate his linemen and Render works very well in that situation. Either way, I wish them all luck as I feel these are our players.