On Thursday, UFL teams pared their rosters from 64 down to 50, signaling the end of training camp and the beginning of regular season preparation. Many of the releases were surprises, speaking to the increased depth at every position across the league in what is now the fourth straight year of major spring football. Below is each team, the team’s most surprising cut, the most surprising player retained, and a general analysis of the initial 2025 roster.
Most surprising cut: WR Juwan Manigo
The team’s primary return specialist in 2024, Manigo is a cool story: A Delaware Valley University product, Manigo played football in Mexico where he was noticed by UFL decision-makers. Standing just 5’7″, Manigo could create mismatches with the defense given his size, speed, and escapability. Ultimately, Manigo failed to contribute in a meaningful way on offense in 2024, and with only 50-man rosters, Arlington may have decided not to use a spot on a player they viewed as a returner only.
Most surprising keep: CB Jayden Price
The Renegades brought back several defensive backs from last season, as well as a few newcomers, opting to keep 10 in total. Price’s entrance into the UFL came after he was released from the practice squad of the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats, an ominous sign for his UFL chances. Traded from Birmingham to Arlington in November, the team liked enough of what they saw to keep him over Delonte Hood, who started four games for Arlington last year and earned a few NFL tryouts this past season. As a bonus, Price can return punts, which is where he may end up seeing most of his action.
Roster analysis: Arlington enters the season with just two running backs and one empty spot on their roster. A third back is a possibility to be added before opening day. The team is also flush with offensive tackles, thin on the interior, though they could be cross-training some of the outside players to move inside. Arlington claimed a league-high two players on cut-down today, both offensive linemen coming from Birmingham. The Renegades practiced against the Stallions last week, so they got to see those players up close.
Most surprising cut: LB Elijah Sullivan
A key reserve and top special teams player (he finished third on the Stallions in special teams tackles in 2024), Sullivan was beaten out by Chapelle Russell and Tae Crowder, two new additions at inside linebacker. The player he backed up last year, DeMarquis Gates, is also off the roster, so the Stallions, a team that has prided itself on consistency and roster stability in their three championship seasons, will be breaking in new faces at that spot. Birmingham has a new defensive coordinator after two-and-a-half seasons of John Chavis; that may have played a part in some of the changes as well.
Most surprising keep: DT Willie Yarbary
An injury kept Yarbary out for much of 2024, and when he did see the field, he didn’t make much of an impact playing behind Carlos Davis. The Stallions brought in DT Demetrius Taylor in the off-season, and the thought was he may take Yarbary’s backup role. Taylor made the Detroit Lions out of training camp in 2022, so the talent is there for him. However, Yarbary was able to retain his spot along the Birmingham defensive line.
Roster analysis: Birmingham brought back players at every position except rush end, where they have four new faces. All four of those players are capable of getting to the passer in Myjai Sanders, Bradlee Anae, D.J. Coleman and Ronnie Perkins. Most of them have pretty significant college contributions, with three of them being previous NFL draft picks. The team also brought back several players who were Stallions in past seasons before going on to the NFL and missing last year’s UFL debut. QB Alex McGough, WR Davion Davis, WR Austin Watkins and TE La’Michael Pettway are among them. Of the eight corners on the team, six of them are new.
Most surprising cut: DE Quincy Roche
D.C. finished in the bottom half of the league in sacks last year, so improving the pass rush was likely a priority for general manager Von Hutchins in the off-season. The thought was adding Roche, an edge player with 2.5 NFL sacks, would help in that department. The re-signing of DE Davin Bellamy just a few days ago may have sealed Roche’s fate. The team brings back four defensive ends from last year; had one or two not returned, Roche’s path to a roster spot would’ve been made easier.
Most surprising keep: C Johari Branch
D.C.’s roster lists him at offensive tackle, but at 6’3″, he’d be short for that position. He has played predominantly guard and center in college and in the pros, where he was most recently on the IFL’s All-Rookie team for the Massachusetts Pirates. D.C. has just two other offensive tackles, so Branch may be cross-training at all positions to be a super-sub. Branch was added to the roster after training camp began, which put him behind the rest of his competition. Yet he was able to beat out veteran spring league players like Darius Harper and John Yarbrough.
Roster analysis: Despite a 4-6 record, D.C. seems content to run it back with many hold-overs from last season dotting the roster. On Thursday, only two players were waived that ended the year on the team’s roster in 2024. The position that underwent the most significant upheaval was offensive guard, where Liam Fornadel went on to the NFL and Yarbrough was was let go. The three players vying for starting roles at the position this year are all young, with two or fewer years of pro experience each. On defense, only Deandre Baker returns at corner; there are five new players there, including two that were on other UFL teams in 2024 in Bryce Thompson (San Antonio) and Kiondre Thomas (Houston).
Most surprising cut: RB T.J. Pledger IV
Pledger finished 2024 as Houston’s backup running back and leading rusher, also showing a knack for catching the ball out of the backfield with 16 receptions. Starter Mark Thompson was not retained for 2025, so that should’ve paved the way for Pledger to potentially start. Instead, he’s off the roster completely, his spot taken by the dynamic Kirk Merritt and newcomers Lorenzo Lingard and ZaQuandre White. While Pledger’s 3.3 yard per carry average last year wasn’t sterling, neither was White’s 2.7 yard per carry average with the Defenders.
Most surprising keep: OT T.J. Bradley
Houston’s main weakness last season was its offensive line that couldn’t protect the quarterback and couldn’t open lanes in the run game. Enter Bradley, who was signed only days ago, seemingly to fill out the camp roster before cuts. Bradley was last seen in spring football in 2023 with the Orlando Guardians. He was one of several players Orlando tried at its offensive tackle spot, incurring similar issues to Houston last year. Suffice it to say, Bradley was not viewed as a solution to the problem. Two years later, he’s back in spring football, having made Houston’s team after just a few practices.
Roster analysis: The special teams battery is completely new from 2024, though K J.J. Molson may return when healthy. Until then, Chris Blewitt will hold down the kicker position. A new general manager this off-season in Will Lewis brought in a lot of new players, some of whom he’s familiar with from his days as San Antonio Brahmas GM in 2023. Three players with Brahmas ties made the initial Houston roster. There is only one true guard in Samuel Jackson, though C Avery Jones played a little bit of guard in college. Avery Gennesy, listed as a tackle, was the team’s starting left guard last year and will likely return to that role. The Roughnecks led the league by agreeing to terms with eight of their 10 draft picks. Four ended up making the squad.
Most surprising cut: RB DeWayne McBride
In press conferences during camp, head coach Ken Whisenhunt lauded the leadership of McBride in the running back room. That wasn’t enough for him to be one of the three backs Memphis kept heading into week one. All four players in camp at the position were new, with no previous spring football track record or film to rely upon. What may have done McBride in is his lack of pass-catching skills: At UAB, McBride only caught five passes his entire career. That saddled him with the early-down back label and limited his role in offenses.
Most surprising keep: DE Izayah Green-May
With a new coaching staff, it’s difficult to say anyone making the team was a surprise. So I decided to choose the one that had already taken a front office position in college before opting to return to football. Green-May is listed as the University of Wisconsin’s Assistant Director of Player Personnel. He was a Badger for five years before finishing his college career at Northern Illinios. Green-May’s production never lived up to his measureables, though he briefly played with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL in 2023.
Roster analysis: Fourteen of the 50 players ended the season on the Showboats’ roster last year, making Memphis basically an expansion team. Both College Draft picks that signed made the roster. One name to watch: Obi Melifonwu, a safety and former NFL second round draft pick who, according to defensive coordinator Jarren Horton, is playing more at linebacker. At 6’4″ and 224 pounds, Melifonwu is in that LB/S ‘tweener mold. Horton, the former Maulers defensive coordinator, must feel right at home on a Memphis team with eight players who finished the 2023 season on Pittsburgh’s roster. Memphis supplemented its roster with players that played for other UFL teams in 2024, notably QB E.J. Perry (Michigan), G O’Shea Dugas (Birmingham), DE Damarcus Mitchell (Birmingham) and DT Antwuan Jackson (St. Louis).
Most surprising cut: G J.D. Duplain
Okay, this is where I get to eat crow: I had Duplain as one of my players to get excited about for 2025 last month. I know, imagine getting excited about an offensive guard, right? I thought given the roster construction in camp, Duplain had a path not only to playing time as a rookie, but also to potentially starting. I was incorrect. Jacob Burton remains Michigan’s only true guard, though either Cohl Cabral or Noah Johnson could also start there, depending upon which one of them starts at center.
Most surprising keep: OT Keith Russell
Instead of keeping Duplain as extra depth at guard, Michigan has rostered five offensive tackles, one of whom is Russell. Russell played at Missouri Western State, a Division II program. He was recognized for his play, named to the All-MIAA First Team after his final season. After the NFL Draft, he was one of 13 players invited to Atlanta Falcons rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, though he was not signed. Not only was Russell kept over Duplain, he also beat out Chidi Okeke and James Walker, both spring football veterans.
Roster analysis: Michigan may be the team that features the fewest new players – just 18 of the 50 were not on the team last season. Two of them are specialists, as with K Jake Bates onto the NFL, B.T. Potter was signed to kick in Ford Field for the Panthers. Potter beat out two other kicks brought in to challenge him in camp. The positions with the most turnover compared to last year: wide receiver, offensive tackle and safety, all with three new at the position. Michigan kept six safeties and four cornerbacks, an unusual way to balance the defensive back room. Of four draft picks signed, three made the team.
San Antonio Brahmas
Most surprising cut: LB Zach McCloud
San Antonio is always looking for pass rushers, so it’s surprising to see them let one hit the waiver wire. McCloud signed with the Brahmas last January and made the team, though he was inactive for the first several weeks. In limited snaps, he still managed two sacks before landing on injured reserve, where he finished out the season. He’s a candidate to be called back if injuries strike the position. Rashod Berry, a former college tight end, replaced McCloud at OLB.
Most surprising keep: DE Toby Ndukwe
This was a really difficult decision, as there really aren’t any legitimate surprises that snuck onto the Brahmas roster. Ndukwe is another player that will rush the passer from a hybrid DE/OLB position. After five years at SMU where he only started five total games, Ndukwe transferred to Sam Houston State for his final season, where he was a full-time starter. Even then, he only collected half a sack. Ndukwe spent time with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL and Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL but never saw significant regular season action.
Roster analysis: It seemed like the majority of San Antonio’s camp roster was receivers or defensive backs. They ended up keeping a whooping eight receivers, along with seven corners. With TE Cody Latimer, retired Alize Mack returns for his third year as a Brahma and Izaiah Gathings will contribute in that WR/TE mold of Latimer. Reports have Kellen Mond the slight favorite to win the QB job over the experienced Kevin Hogan and former Roughneck Jarrett Guarantano. All four defensive ends are new this season in San Antonio.
Most surprising cut: WR Andy Isabella
One of the few off-season UFL signings that actually grabbed mainstream sports media attention, Isabella was expected to be a prime target of whichever quarterback would replace A.J. McCarron. Instead, Isabella was not one of the seven receivers to make the St. Louis roster. He’s perhaps the most surprising cut league-wide, not just in the Lou. A slot-only player, Isabella lost out to Jahcour Pearson, who had an underwhelming 2024 coming off a pre-season injury. Only one other player at the position in St. Louis is under 6’0″, and that’s 5’11” Blake Jackson, so there’s no obvious Pearson understudy now that Isabella is out.
Most surprising keep: CB Nick Whiteside
Whiteside beat out 10-game XFL 2023 starter Keylon Kennedy for one of the final corner spots. Whiteside went to Saginaw Valley State college and did not run a 40-yard dash in the lead-up to the 2023 NFL Draft, which can be a red flag for scouts. Potentially not fast, Whiteside wasn’t terribly strong either, putting up just eight reps on the bench press. Nevertheless, he beat the odds and got into two games for the Washington Commanders in 2023 before being cut at the end of 2024’s training camp. He didn’t latch on anywhere else this past season until St. Louis came calling.
Roster analysis: Like San Antonio, this appears on paper to be a deep roster devoid of any obvious holes. Despite being a former tight end, head coach Anthony Becht has now kept only two tight ends on the initial roster two years in a row. Most teams keep three. Four of five starters on the offensive line return. Defensive tackle depth improved with the additions of Isaiah Mack, Phil Hoskins and Kyler Baugh. One of them may kick out to end as Freedom Akinmoladun is the only true defensive end to make the team. Seven of eight linebackers are back. Four College Draft picks made the team. Two Battlehawk 2023 safeties return after spending 2024 on NFL rosters in Lukas Denis and Nate Meadors.
