Coming into the first season of the UFL, the San Antonio Brahmas were the ultimate underdog, expected to be on the bottom teams in the new league. So far, the Brahmas have exceeded everyone’s expectations by being one of the hottest teams in the league after soundly defeating the DC Defenders in Week 1 and coming back from a large deficit to beat the Memphis Showboats in Week 2.
As positive momentum builds for the Brahmas, and as they prepare to face the Saint Louis Battlehawks in Week 3, the Brahma faces a different opponent, the battle of attrition.
As the Brahmas work each week to prepare themselves to take the next step in their quest to lead the XFL division, they find themselves dealing with a few significant obstacles.
To start Week 3, the UFL sent out a press release stating that the Brahmas have moved their placekicker Donald “Deestroying” De La Haye and starting center Alex Mollette to injured reserve and released wide receiver TJ Vasher.
Losing De La Haye is a significant loss for the Brahmas due to “Deestroying” being the only placekicker on the Brahmas roster. While De La Haye has yet to attempt a field goal, his deep kickoffs have been effective at helping the Brahmas defense win the battle of starting field position. In addition to his kicking duties, De La Hayes brings with him a large fan base due to his popular YouTube channel. The Brahmas will need to address the loss of their kicker within the next 24 hours.
Offensively, Alex Mollette is the glue that holds together a Brahmas offensive line that has helped San Antonio have one of the top offensive units in the UFL after the first two weeks. Backup center Sam Tecklenburg will step into the role and bring NFL experience. One significant advantage of having Mollette at center is his prior experience with offensive coordinator AJ Smith’s offense. Transitioning to a new center will be a big challenge for the Brahmas as they attempt to continue producing at a high level on offense.
Moving On From TJ Vasher
TJ Vasher returned to the Brahmas after playing nine games for San Antonio during the 2023 XFL season. In 2023, Vasher had 16 receptions for 173 yards and two touchdowns. During the off-season, the Brahmas brought in a host of talented receivers, including Jontre Kirklin and Marquez Stevenson. While Kirklin and Stevenson’s production has been outstanding, it has left no room for Vasher.
Vasher is moving on after not seeing an opportunity to play for the Brahmas during their first two games. The Texas native came to the Brahmas as an undrafted free agent after spending time with the Dallas Cowboys. Vasher is a talented receiver and may find himself on a different UFL roster sooner rather than later.
Follow me on X: @AaronSauter7
Help Us Improve!
We value your feedback and want to make the UFL News Hub better for you. Please take a moment to complete our survey and share your thoughts with us.
Thank you for your support!
