With the first two phases of the UFL’s dispersal draft process complete, teams now look to phase 3, the UFL Super Draft, to enhance their pre-training camp rosters. In phase 1 teams were able to protect up to 42 players from their own roster.
In the case of the XFL’s surviving teams, they were also able to protect players who had previously signed letters of intent to play for their respective teams in 2024. The second phase allowed surviving XFL and USFL teams the right to select up to 20 players from their respective league’s pool of players who weren’t previously protected or players who were members of contracted teams.
While the Houston Roughnecks organization carries an XFL identity, they are the old USFL’s Houston Gamblers and participated accordingly. Phase 3, The Super Draft, takes place on January 15, when all UFL teams can select any players who were not protected or selected in phases 1 and 2.
This list will not include players like Jordan Ta’amu. In this article, we’ll take a deeper dive, primarily focusing on three 2023 All-XFL players and one 2023 All-USFL player who UFL teams may turn to in the next phase of stocking their rosters. All four just happen to be defensive standouts.
In 2023 Caeveon Patton played ten games for the Orlando Guardians leading the XFL in tackles by a defensive lineman. Patton, a 6-2, 290-pound DT, collected 40 tackles (13 solo and 27 assisted), earning All-XFL honors.
Prior to playing for the Guardians, the former Texas State lineman signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 as an undrafted rookie free agent. He was waived prior to the start of the season. After his standout season with the Guardians, Caeveon went to training camp with the Atlanta Falcons, but was released prior to the start of the 2023 NFL season.
Delontae Scott earned 2023 All-XFL honors turning in a 7.5 sack season in his 8 games with the San Antonio Brahmas. The 6-5, 245-pound rusher out of SMU also made 36 tackles (18 solo, 18 assisted). Scott’s professional football career started in 2020 when he was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Green Bay Packers.
While he didn’t make the team, he did spend most of the year on Green Bay’s practice squad. Delontae’s career took him to Pittsburgh in 2021 where he was a member of their practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster in week 11. Stints with the Steelers and Carolina Panthers’ practice squads in 2022 preceded joining the Brahmas in 2023.
Delontae went to camp with the Falcons later that year but did not make the final roster.
Former Michigan Wolverine Lavert Hill earned All-XFL honors in 2023 playing ten games for the St. Louis BattleHawks. The 5-10, 190-pound DB intercepted 2 passes and had 25 tackles (12 solo and 13 assisted). In 2020 Hill joined the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted rookie free agent.
Lavert went on to spend training camp and/or practice squad time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns before joining the BattleHawks in 2023. His outstanding play in the XFL resulted in another NFL training camp opportunity with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was waived prior to the start of the 2023 NFL season.
Mark Gilbert earned All-USFL honors for his 10-game run with the Pittsburgh Maulers in 2023. The 6-1, 190-pound Gilbert collected 4 interceptions and made 33 tackles (29 solo, 4 assisted). Prior to joining the Maulers, the former Duke Blue Devil made his way to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad in 2021 after joining the team as an undrafted rookie free agent.
Prior to week 8, the Detroit Lions poached Gilbert from Pittsburgh. Mark went on to participate in 8 regular season games for the Lions in 2021 but was released prior to the start of the 2022 season. In October of 2022 Gilbert re-signed with the Steelers as a member of their practice squad but was not elevated to participate in any regular season games. After his outstanding season with the Maulers, Gilbert went to training camp with the Miami Dolphins but came up short in his bid to make the team.
Other familiar names that may pop up on Super Draft Day include the following:
Quarterbacks
Brandon Silvers (Houston Roughnecks 2023)
Jalan McClendon (Vegas Vipers 2023)
Quentin Dormandy (Orlando Guardians 2023)
Josh Love (Michigan Panthers 2023)
Running Backs
Brian Hill (St. Louis BattleHawks 2023)
Rod Smith (Vegas Vipers 2023)
John Lovett (Vegas Vipers 2023)
Reggie Corbin (Michigan Panthers 2023)
Wide Receivers
Jeff Badet (Vegas Vipers 2023)
Darrius Shepherd (St. Louis BattleHawks 2023)
Johnnie Dixon (New Orleans Breakers 2023)
Trey Quinn (Michigan Panthers 2023)
Joe Walker (Michigan Panthers 2023)
Cedric Byrd (Houston Roughnecks 2023)
Javonte Kirklin (Houston Roughnecks 2023)
Charleston Rambo (Orlando Guardians 2023)
Tight End
Sal Canella (Arlington Renegades 2023)
Offensive Line
Mike Horton (Arlington Renegades 2023)
Linebackers
John Daka (Houston Roughnecks 2023)
Emmanuel Ellerbee (Houston Roughnecks 2023)
Terrance Plummer (Orlando Guardians 2023)
Defensive Lineman
T.J. Barnes (Arlington Renegades 2023)
Jacoby Jones (Orlando Guardians 2023)
Maximillian Roberts (Vegas Vipers 2023)
