With the UFL regular season set to begin in less than 50 days UFL rosters saw a bit of a shake up with some surprising retirements prior to the 2025 season. Since our last article several more players have decided to hang up their cleats who have been a part of the spring football community since 2022, with some not even attempting to give their football careers one more go.
Nydair Rouse D.C. Defenders
Rouse has been a solid reserve Defensive Back for the Defenders, who joins the growing list of the retired during Reggie Barlow’s era. Rouse has been with the D.C. for the past two seasons after stints with the Packers, and BC Lions before coming to the XFL. The D-II product has totaled 11 for D.C. in 15 games, becoming the 4th member of the Defenders secondary to retire this offseason.
Matt White Memphis Showboats
Coming from FCS Monmouth, White has spent the last Three seasons with the Breakers/Showboats before retiring. White had been a consistent figure in the USFL/UFL, not only performing in the top of the league as punter, but contributing as a kickoff specialist. The retirement of White has allowed for fan favorite Matt Mengal to return to spring football with the Memphis Showboats as White’s replacement.
Lee Morris Memphis Showboats
Morris’s retirement doesn’t take him too far from the league, as the former Oklahoma WR hangs up the cleats and picks up a whistle for Memphis as a quality control coach. Morris, like White spent Two seasons with the New Orleans Breakers and 2024 with Memphis before transitioning to coaching. He totaled 27 receptions for 320 yds, and 2 TDs in his career.
Davius Richard Houston Roughnecks
A surprising retirement, Richard was a 2024 UDFA brought in early by the new look Houston Roughnecks. After a storied career at North Carolina Central, Richard was seen recently working out with Jordan Palmer at the UFL “hub” in the past month. Richard finished his career at North Carolina Central throwing for 8,968 yards and 73 touchdowns with just 29 interceptions, while also rushing for 2,575 yards and 44 touchdowns, among numerous accolades at the FCS level.
Trenton Cannon D.C. Defenders
Cannon may be another surprising retirement, as the off-season signing was coached by Reggie Barlow at Virginia State. Cannon has been out of football since 2022 due to an injury, and was recently placed on the UFL’s retirement list earlier this week. Cannon had appeared in 48 NFL games totalling 1085 All-Purpose yds and a TD in his career.
With UFL Training camp creeping up, players continue to weigh the options of what the next step in life entails moving forward. With salaries always a topic of conversation many mainstays of the league will continue to transition to hire paying opportunities in an effort to provide for themselves and families. Last season between the USFL-XFL merger and a lack of improvements in salaries many players found themselves looking for the next objective, making the hard choice to hang up the helmet. With training camp rapidly approaching more retirements are likely to be announced.
1 Comment
by Ken Granito
Thanks for keeping us in the know. I did not know about Nydair Rouse. Trenton Cannon was a really good kick returner. I feel watching the Jets he was often one hand grabbed to a foot away from breaking it on a kick return. He had really good moves. I feel he would translate to the passing game quite well and with the backs being so bad last season out of the backfield for DC with 16 catches for 56 yards and 0 TDs, he would have been a great add. IF healthy he should have been here a couple years back.
As some of my favorites are retired such as Trey Quinn, Chris Orr, Cody Latimer and Jake Lacina, and some USFL and XFL veterans remain unsigned such as Toby Johnson, Reid Sinnett, AJ McCarron, Mark Thompson, Garrett Groshek and Bailey Gaither, it seems the league is moving on from some of the players that have helped get it here. I understand with the league merger and the increased competition for spots in the league there are less jobs than there was. Next year there will be two new teams with possibly another two the year after, meaning there may be more of an opportunity for players still active in the game. e.g. I look at Garrett Groshek and I feel he was coming into his own with the USFL right before the merger. It was determined he was not a player with the merger coming, but I have always felt he could be in the UFL. Today he is an offensive analyst for Brevard College and possibly moved on with his life outside of playing. That stated if he is keeping himself in shape, maybe next year would provide him the opportunity to get back in the league. To many of the other players I hope for them to be happy, whether it coaching or finding a team to play with and improve his game.
Right now I am looking at players that have not yet been signed, that I hope to still see this year and if not this year, maybe next.
Some of these players I hope to see this year as there are some spots that still remain open:
QB: At this point only one spot remains and to pick a player that has a decent arm with good accuracy and mobility. Of the players in the league that I think could be a good fit, Case Cookus fits that thought process for me. It seems to me the alt football community is full of writers and podcasters always looking for the next big thing. To me Cookus foots the bill. Others that could play the part Dakota Prukop, Bryan Scott though I am not as sold on Scott as I once was. Also both Cookus and Prukop and very mobile.
RB: It seems to me teams in the UFL plan to bring 4 or 5 running backs to camp. To me there needs to at least be 4. As the UFL has done a poor job of providing making the public aware of transactions with the league I may have missed someone, but I believe the Stallions have just 3 and 5 other teams having 4. So to me there is at least one RB job, but there could be more. To that I hope that Darius Victor, Anthony McFarland, Wayne Gallman (I know it took some time to get the rust off, but if he is still game I would like to see what he can do with another year under his belt.) or De’veon Smith.
WR: It seems many spots are taken, but still hoping to see Vinny Papale, Darrius Sheppard, KD Cannon (a big play receiver) and Bailey Gaither. The speedy Josh Simmons, Terry Wright and JJ Koski could be receivers/kick-punt returners.
TE: Hoping Sal Cannella finds his way back to the league. From his USFL days it was clear how good he is, causing Bob Stoops to take him in the 1st round of the XFL draft. Since then he has flirted with, but never stuck in the NFL. That stated I think he has come to realize the UFL has a great number of things going for and hoping he will be back. Hoping also that Josh Pedersen finds himself back with the Gamblers/Roughnecks franchise. He has ability as a pass-catcher and I think he would provide a nice safety blanket for whichever QB wins that battle. Other possibilities include Kaden Smith, Mason Stokke, Braedon Bowman and Chris Myarick.
OL: Mason Brooks should sure up his game for the Memphis Showboats that drafted him. This experience will be excellent in helping him prepare for NFL camp this summer.
Matt Kaskey, Bobby Evans, Keith Ismael, Dakoda Shepley among others.
DL: It would be cool if Vic Beasley came back, but I feel they have enough experience with each other to know if this is something they want to run back, so I can’t really pass judgment. I would love to see Chris Odom back. Jaylen Twyman and Ethan Westbrooks remain unsigned as do Wyatt Ray, Delontae Scott and Tanzel Smart.
Linebackers seem pretty well stocked, but I do see Vontae Diggs and De’Juan Hines remain available. As for DBs I can’t get enough of a good read on, but obvious ones that remain available are Tae Hayes, Javelin Guidry with DJ Daniel, Paris Ford providing some good DB play and don’t forget the Ajene Harris. Let’s see who the UFL signs with just with less than 2 weeks until camp starting.