The United Football League’s roster additions in February 2025 include several notable players with NFL experience. Former Panthers fifth-round pick DT Daviyon Nixon joins the Arlington Renegades following NFL stints with Carolina, Seattle, and Miami. The DC Defenders added QB Spencer Sanders, who passed for 9,831 yards and 70 touchdowns during his college career at Oklahoma State before transferring to Ole Miss.
In total 13 players signed with numerous players retired or have been waved. We break them all down.
Arlington Renegades
Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa
Carolina Panthers selected Nixon in the fifth round (158th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. At Iowa, he recorded 74 tackles and 8.5 sacks across his college career. In the NFL, Nixon played 14 games over two seasons with the Panthers, recording 15 total tackles and 0.5 sacks.
Stats:
- College: 74 tackles, 8.5 sacks (Iowa)
- NFL: 15 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 2 QB hits (Panthers)
Keaton Sutherland, G, Texas A&M
Sutherland started 31 of 42 games at Texas A&M. He spent time with six NFL teams: Bengals, Dolphins, 49ers, Commanders, Texans, and Jaguars. In the NFL, he appeared in six games with two starts.
Stats:
- College: 42 games, 31 starts
- NFL: 6 games, 2 starts
DC Defenders
Mason Brooks, T, Western Kentucky, Ole Miss
Brooks played four seasons at Western Kentucky before transferring to Ole Miss. He started every game in his final two seasons at Western Kentucky. Brooks spent time on practice squads with the Commanders, Panthers, and Colts.
Stats:
- Height/Weight: 6’6″, 315 lbs
- USFL: 4th overall pick by Memphis Showboats (2023)
Spencer Sanders, QB, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss
Sanders played four seasons at Oklahoma State. He finished his college career with 9,831 passing yards and 70 touchdowns. He also added 2,001 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns.
Stats:
- College Passing: 9,831 yards, 70 TDs, 40 INTs
- College Rushing: 2,001 yards, 18 TDs
- Pro Day: 4.62 40-yard dash
Houston Roughnecks
Josh Pederson, TE, Louisiana-Monroe
Pederson recorded 43 receptions for 567 yards and 9 touchdowns in his junior year at Louisiana-Monroe. He played for the Houston Gamblers in the USFL, recording 24 receptions for 329 yards in 2023. He appeared in three NFL games with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played for his father, Head Coach Doug Pederson, making him the first person to play for a father as head coach in the NFL since 1978.
Stats:
- College: 567 yards, 9 TDs (Junior year)
- USFL: 24 receptions, 329 yards (2023)
Reggie Roberson Jr., WR, SMU
Roberson played at West Virginia before transferring to SMU. He totaled over 2,700 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns in his college career. He spent time on the Tennessee Titans practice squad and recorded six catches for 67 yards across two preseasons.
Stats:
- College: 2,700+ yards, 23 TDs
- Height/Weight: 5’11”, 192 lbs
Rory Starkey, WR, Samford
Starkey played four seasons at Pennsylvania before transferring to Samford. He recorded 1,550 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in his college career. He spent time with the Patriots and Packers in 2024.
Stats:
- College: 1,550 yards, 14 TDs
- Height/Weight: 6’2″, 215 lbs
Memphis Showboats
Isaiah Washington, WR, Rutgers
Washington played five seasons at Rutgers. He recorded 74 catches for 927 yards and three touchdowns in 58 career games. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens but was waived in September 2024.
Stats:
- College: 74 receptions, 927 yards, 3 TDs
- Height/Weight: 6’3″, 210 lbs
J.D. DiRenzo, G, Rutgers
DiRenzo started 40 games at Sacred Heart before transferring to Rutgers. He started all 12 games at Rutgers in 2022. He appeared in three NFL games with the Carolina Panthers in 2023.
Stats:
- College: 52 total starts
- NFL: 3 games (Panthers)
Alec Lindstrom, C, Boston College
Lindstrom was a two-time First-team All-ACC selection at Boston College. He spent time on practice squads with the Cowboys, Rams, and Jets. He appeared in one NFL game.
Stats:
- College: Two-time First-team All-ACC
- Height/Weight: 6’3″, 296 lbs
Steele Chambers, ILB, Ohio State
Chambers played five seasons at Ohio State, starting as a running back before switching to linebacker. He rushed for 221 yards and one touchdown as a running back. He played in 37 games as a linebacker.
Stats:
- College: 221 rushing yards, 1 TD (as RB)
- Height/Weight: 6’1″, 226 lbs
San Antonio Brahmas
Briason Mays, C, Southern Miss
Mays played two seasons at West Virginia before transferring to Southern Miss. He appeared in 41 games with 31 starts over his college career. He started 23 games for Southern Miss, playing both center and tackle.
Stats:
- College: 41 games, 31 starts
- Southern Miss: 23 starts
- Height/Weight: 6’4″, 295 lbs
St. Louis Battlehawks
Frank Darby, WR, Arizona State
Atlanta Falcons selected Darby in the sixth round (187th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. In his college career at Arizona State, he recorded 67 receptions for 1,317 yards and 13 touchdowns across 40 games. He appeared in 16 NFL games with the Falcons from 2021-2023, recording two receptions for 29 yards.
Stats:
- College: 67 receptions, 1,317 yards, 13 TDs (Arizona State)
- NFL: 2 receptions, 29 yards, 16 games (Falcons)
- NFL Draft: 2021, Round 6, Pick 187
Breakdown Of February UFL Transactions
Here’s a chronological breakdown of the UFL transactions from February 10-18, 2025:
February 10, 2025:
Signings:
- Arlington: Daviyon Nixon (DT, Iowa)
Retirements:
- DC: Trenton Cannon (RB, Virginia State)
- Houston: Davius Richard (QB, North Carolina Central)
February 12, 2025:
Signings:
- St. Louis: Frank Darby (WR, Arizona State)
Retirements:
- Arlington: Ethan Greenidge (T, Villanova)
- Arlington: Lindsey Scott Jr. (QB, Incarnate Word)
February 13, 2025:
Signings:
- Memphis: Isaiah Washington (WR, Rutgers)
February 14, 2025:
Signings:
- Memphis: J.D. DiRenzo (G, Rutgers)
Retirements:
- San Antonio: Jordan Ferguson (OLB, Middle Tennessee)
February 17, 2025:
Waiver Requests:
- DC: Jason Poe (G, Mercer)
- DC: Niles Scott (DT, Frostburg State)
- Birmingham: O’Shea Dugas (OL, Louisiana Tech)
- Houston: Brian Burt (RB, Fresno State)
- Houston: Sean Brown (C, Mississippi Valley State)
Signings:
- Birmingham: Keaton Sutherland (G, Texas A&M)
- DC: Mason Brooks (T, Mississippi)
- DC: Spencer Sanders (QB, Mississippi)
- Houston: Josh Pederson (TE, Louisiana Monroe)
- Houston: Reggie Roberson Jr. (WR, Southern Methodist)
- Houston: Rory Starkey (WR, Samford)
- Memphis: Alec Lindstrom (C, Boston College)
- Memphis: Steele Chambers (ILB, Ohio State)
February 18, 2025:
Terminations:
- Birmingham: O’Shea Dugas (#74, OL, Louisiana Tech)
- Houston: Brian Burt (RB, Fresno State)
- Houston: Sean Brown (C, Mississippi Valley State)
Signings:
- San Antonio: Briason Mays (C, Southern Mississippi)
Retirements:
- San Antonio: Robert Barnes (#40, ILB, Colorado)
UFL training camp is set to start on February 27th in Arlington Texas. Most UFL teams are close to their training camp roster limits. We could see some more players retire before camp starts.
