Ranking UFL Teams By Position Groups (offensive edition)

Game week has finally arrived for UFL season two and provided there’s no player strike – or no more extensive coaching shakeups – the first game of the year will kick off on Friday. Some of the eight team rosters look very similar to last year, while some look quite different. Here, I’ll rank each team by position group, with the offense up first and defense to come later in the week. Then, I’ll compile the rankings based on a 1-8 score and give each team an overall number – a power ranking of sorts to open the year.

Quarterbacks

1. Birmingham Stallions: Get used to seeing Birmingham at the top of these lists again; they come into the season with all three QBs having starting spring football experience.
2. San Antonio Brahmas: Kellen Mond is admittedly an unknown as he hasn’t gotten any significant pro playing time since college. Kevin Hogan is a backup that can step in if Mond falters, and Jarrett Guarantano showed flashes last year in Houston.
3. Michigan Panthers: I’m a big Bryce Perkins believer, but Danny Etling won’t let him take the starting job very easily. Rookie Rocky Lombardi will sit and learn this season in the hopes for an expanded role in the future.
4. Arlington Renegades: Luis Perez was the top passer in the league last year and is in his third year in this offense. That could make him even more dangerous. Holton Ahlers and Luke Lehnen come with strong college backgrounds but are untested in the spring.
5. Memphis Showboats: E.J. Perry and Troy Williams failed to distinguish themselves last year, but both were beaten up by their respective offensive lines.
6. Houston Roughnecks: Nolan Henderson’s movement skills kept Houston afloat in some games last year. Anthony Brown is an intriguing addition and they have solid depth with Jalan McClendon as well.
7. D.C. Defenders: I like Jordan Ta’amu but he was too inconsistent last year. D.C. has some young projects behind him, but the Defenders will be in trouble if those players have to start this year.
8. St. Louis Battlehawks: There’s a lot of upward mobility with this group despite being eighth. Early reports suggest Manny Wilkins and Max Duggan will both play in game one. That’s not a huge endorsement of Duggan, as Wilkins didn’t show much last year in opportunities he had with A.J. McCarron hurt
   

Running Backs

1. Michigan Panthers: Michigan likes to run the ball and they return Nate McCrary and Matthew Colburn, who had success last year. Adding speedy Jaden Shirden only makes the backfield more dynamic.
2. San Antonio Brahmas: Often seen as a pass-first offense, coordinator A.J. Smith was able to adjust when his running game became more successful than his passing game last year. John Lovett and Anthony McFarland are back to build on the work done during the team’s run to the championship game.
3. Birmingham Stallions: All three backs return from the title season of 2024, but their biggest running threat, QB Adrian Martinez, is gone. What effect will that have on the traditional ground game?
4. D.C. Defenders: The return of Abram Smith (torn ACL) should provide a big boost for D.C.’s offense. Deon Jackson should add some lightning to Smith’s thunder.
5. St. Louis Battlehawks: Jacob Saylors was the top rushing back in the league last year. There are question marks behind him in the rotation.
6. Houston Roughnecks: WR-turned-RB Kirk Merritt gave Houston a number of splash plays last season and could do the same this year. Lorenzo Lingard is intriguing as well, though ZaQuandre White flopped in D.C.’s attempts to find a fill-in for Abram Smith last year.
7. Arlington Renegades: I’m counting De’Veon Smith here even though his addition has yet to be acknowledged by the league. The last time we saw Kalen Ballage, he suffered a torn Achilles with the Brahmas in 2023.
8. Memphis Showboats: A lot of unknowns with how the rotation will shake out as all three are new to Memphis and spring football.

Receivers/Tight Ends

1. Birmingham Stallions: This receiver group runs deep, as do the tight ends. They’re strengthened by the returns of Austin Watkins and La’Michael Pettway, both of whom are back with the Stallions after being on NFL rosters during the 2024 UFL season.
2. Arlington Renegades: Part of the reason Luis Perez was able to put up such big numbers last year was the talent he had at receiver. Of the six wideouts on the roster, only one is new, and that will no doubt be a benefit. They also happen to have one of the best tight ends in the league in Sal Cannella.
3. San Antonio Brahmas: They’ve got eight receivers, many of whom have NFL experience. Jontre Kirklin and Marquez Stevenson are back as is Alize Mack at tight end, his third year as a Brahma.
4. St. Louis Battlehawks: Hakeem Butler (outside) and Jahcour Pearson (slot) are two of the best at their specific positions in the league. It’s a deep enough room that NFL vet Andy Isabella couldn’t make it. Their tight ends are mostly blockers, but Jake Sutherland can catch when called upon.
5. Michigan Panthers: An unheralded and perhaps underrated collection. Siaosi Mariner was a great early season pickup last year, as was Samson Nacua. Cole Hikutini managed to break a few big ones for the Panthers.
6. D.C. Defenders: The Defenders have had to replace numerous receivers the past few years. Ty Scott and Chris Rowland will be Ta’amu’s top two targets. Jaydon Mickens adds a veteran presence and return ability. Briley Moore performed well at tight end and will be joined by the large (6’4″, 250 lbs) Mason Fairchild.
7. Houston Roughnecks: Justin ‘Hall is the standout here. This position did not undergo the level of change others did in Houston. Two players, T.J. Vasher and Cam Sutton, were out of spring football last year after playing in the XFL in 2023.
8. Memphis Showboats: Without Daewood Davis, who is expected to return to the team when healthy, the depth takes a serious hit. Tight ends may be the most interesting, with Ryan Izzo and Chris Pierce, Jr. as new additions.

Offensive Line

1. San Antonio Brahmas: The Brahmas allowed the second-fewest sacks in the league last year, owed at least to the fact that A.J. Smith’s offense requires the QB to get the ball out quickly. Nevertheless, they have several starters returning from that unit.
2. St. Louis Battlehawks: Four out of five starters are back from last season. Whoever takes the QB job will be more mobile than A.J. McCarron, which should help. Keep an eye on Ryan Coll, who was signed just a day after being released by the Indianapolis Colts.
3. Birmingham Stallions: The interior should be strong, though there are questions at the tackle spots. Barry Wesley was a quality signing after starring for the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL in 2023.
4. Michigan Panthers: Like others on this list, the inside is expected to be more fortified than the outside. They brought in several new tackles, though the starters are unclear at this moment.
5. Memphis Showboats: This may not seem very high but this was the worst offensive line last year, so moving up three spots is not nothing. The most difficult thing to do for a team in transition like Memphis is to acquire quality offensive linemen and ask those players to gel quickly. Yet, they did bring in some nice talent like Nash Jensen.
6. Arlington Renegades: Arlington allowed the fewest sacks in the league last season; however, for the second year in a row, they made significant moves to upgrade the line. The fact that they claimed two linemen at cut-down day tells you they weren’t satisfied with what they had.
7. D.C. Defenders: D.C.’s issue is on the coaching end: They’re on their fourth offensive line coach in less than two years. What effect that has on the players themselves remains to be seen.
8. Houston Roughnecks: Head Coach Curtis Johnson has spoken highly of Zach Banner in his media calls, so expect him to start at one of the tackle positions. Houston’s offensive line struggled mightily last year; improvements appear incremental.

Greg Parks

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