The UFL College Draft is Wednesday, July 17th in Arlington, Texas beginning at 10:00 a.m. CMT. It’s an exciting time for the UFL. Throughout the day, the league’s social media channels will be updated on the draft picks with a full recap available at the conclusion on theUFL.com.
The day-long event will consist of 10 rounds. The Memphis Showboats will have the first pick in every round as the reward for their “winner takes all” victory over the Houston Roughnecks on June 2nd to close out the 2024 regular season.
What To Expect
The eight UFL teams will preview over 12,000 eligible college-age athletes who participated in the recent NFL draft but weren’t selected. For an athlete who dreamed of signing with an NFL team throughout high school and college, the disappointment of not being drafted in April still hurts.
One option is a tryout as an undrafted free agent. It’s not uncommon for a UFDA to make the practice squad with an NFL team. But all too often, UFDAs remain on the practice squad or they’re frequently signed and released within weeks. It can become an emotional merry-go-round of being signed, released, re-signed to another NFL team, and then released without ever playing a single snap in an NFL game.
The UFL presents another option. On Wednesday, athletes will showcase their skills, and impress team executives with the chance of being signed to the UFL. For players who love the game, it’s a winning scenario.
The UFL Draft Is an Opportunity For Athletes To Play The Game They Love
More than anything else, spring football presents an opportunity for athletes to play the game they love rather than languish on the practice squad or team bench hoping for a chance to get in the game. Instead, signing with the UFL means they get dedicated coaching, the opportunity to improve their skills, and actual playing time.
One of the things the UFL has excelled at is spotting great talent and nurturing it. Whether it’s the opportunity for consistent weekly action or dedicated one-on-one coaching, athletes who might not have been “up to NFL standards”, blossomed under the tutelage of UFL coaching.
Birmingham Stallions and UFL 2024 MVP Adrian Martinez is a perfect example. Martinez was drafted by the New Jersey Generals in the second round of the draft with the 15th pick. Following the merger, as a member of the 2024 Birmingham Stallions, and under the direction of Coach Skip Holtz, Martinez transformed into a standout talent who led his team to the UFL League Championship.
A Path To The NFL
The UFL’s inaugural season proved that spring football is a legitimate path to the NFL. As of July 16th, fourteen UFL players have signed contracts with the NFL. Spring football has proven to be an advantageous launching platform to the NFL for talented players like Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys. With several of the most talented UFL players still available, it’s expected that there will be more NFL signings in the weeks and months ahead.
Some of the players who could still head to the NFL include Arlington Renegades quarterback Luis Perez. In only ten games, Perez passed for over 2,300 yards with 18 touchdowns. Wide receiver Hakeem Butler played with several NFL teams before his standout season with the St. Louis Battlehawks. Butler’s development and growth as a player this year prompted none other than San Antonio Brahmas (and former NFL) head coach, Wade Phillips to tell Butler he belongs in the NFL.
Wednesday’s draft promises to be another chance for talented players to get the tryout they deserve. All players who sign a UFL contract, including players who remain under contract from the 2024 season, will have an “NFL Out” clause during the NFL season.
UFL teams will hold exclusive rights to the players they select in the draft until the player reports to the team or the team gives up that player’s rights
