The Dallas Renegades are about to make their final roster cuts as new head coach Rick Neuheisel faces some tough decisions.
There's been a lot of praise for the talent level of this Renegades team, with over 10 players back from last year's team, but a revamped offensive line, along with some new weapons on both sides of the ball, has changed expectations in Dallas. It helps to have star quarterback Luis Perez back on the team for another season as he looks to get the team to a league title for the first time since the XFL in 2023.
Instead of Bob Stoops leading the way, it's Neuheisel who has decades of experience winning at the highest level of college football and spring football. He sat down with reporters at UFL Media Day to chat about the past three weeks of camp and what to expect with roster cutdowns here.
Rick Neuheisel on Renegades Roster Cutdown
UFL NewsHub asked Neuheisel about bringing the Renegades' roster down to 50, given how highly he has spoken of the team's depth. He knows there are about to be some tough decisions ahead.
"It's an excruciating thing to do because you've become close to them over the last three weeks. We have nobody on the team that's a malcontent. We have nobody on the team that hasn't performed and is worthy of being in the league now. So the questions are what's best for the team? And that comes down to skill sets. And it isn't the fault of anybody. It's just there are some complementary skill sets that probably fit more in terms of the pieces you need to be successful as you envision what a season will look like. But what I've told all of them pre-having made any of these decisions is if something were to happen over the course of the season creating attrition, I'm going right back to the guys we had in camp rather than looking elsewhere because I think they're all so deserving. And to me, they're Renegades."
Earlier in the week, the Renegades added defensive end Eyabi Okie-Anoma to an already deep room. Neuheisel spoke about the decision to bring him in and how it could affect their roster cuts.
"Well, we just wanted to see, you know, pass rushing is such a skill, and with a few days left in camp and, you know, still hadn't reached 64, we were allowed 64 guys. Again, perhaps building for the future. Maybe he bursts onto the scene and becomes, you know, a really skilled pass rusher. It's not really fair to him to expect that, but we wanted to see where he was, and we were given that luxury."
Dallas Renegades' quarterback room/offensive update
Everyone assumes Perez will enter the 2026 UFL season as the starting quarterback, but the quarterback room is deep, with Austin Reed joining the team and Luke Lehnen back for his second season in Dallas. Neuheisel told UFL NewsHub the latest on the quarterbacks and how they have been looking.
"I'm happy with the quarterback room. I know Luis has all kinds of experience and certainly will lean on that. But I think the other two kids have fared well. And, you know, I can see a future for those guys with this team and beyond."
Many wonder what kind of offense the Renegades will have with Noel Mazzone as the offensive coordinator, collaborating with Neuheisel to design and set it up. Neuheisel shared what fans can expect going into the 2026 season.
"We've got a little of everything. That'sā I mean, it's multiple. It's going to require defensive coordinators' full attention. And then the question is, how good can you get at all of it? Right. And I've been really impressed at how it's gone in and the effort that the kids have put forth to get it. And I'm excited about it. I really am. I think we have a chance to be a really good offense."
Rick Neuheisel on coming back to coaching after a seven-year absence
The last time Neuheisel stepped on the sidelines as a coach was for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football. For him, it was simple to get back into a rhythm and be in the driver's seat of a franchise.
"It's been fun getting back and being able to be the culture creator, if you will. I've loved it immensely, and it's also been fun getting back into coaching on the offensive side of the ball. I don't meddle much on defense. I've got great coaches over there, but on offense, I feel like I've got an idea or two up my sleeve. So it's been fun kind of getting back into it and, you know, getting close to the different kids on the team, but the best part has been getting to meet all these guys because they're wonderful kids and young men, and I think they've got great futures."
The end of training camp is going to be tough on Neuheisel and the rest of the Renegades coaching stuff, but it also sparks the beginning of prepping for the opening weekend of the 2026 UFL season as they get ready for the Houston Gamblers.