We’re lower than every week away from the second season of the United Soccer League. Beginning with the March 28 matchup between the St. Louis Battlehawks and Houston Roughnecks, eight groups will play a 10-game season that culminates in a championship recreation on June 14 on ABC and ESPN+.
Earlier than we get to that, this is a helpful cheat sheet on the UFL fundamentals, full with logos, stadiums, coaches and key gamers.
Arlington Renegades
Stadium: Choctaw Stadium
Coach: Bob Stoops
Key gamers: QB Luis Perez, TE Sal Cannella, WR Tyler Vaughns
The Renegades as soon as once more are led by Stoops, who gained 191 video games and the 2000 BCS nationwide championship in 18 seasons on the College of Oklahoma.
Perez is a spring soccer icon, as he quarterbacked Arlington to the final title within the XFL. He additionally has his high targets returning in Cannella (53 receptions, 496 yards, 6 TDs) and Vaughns (45 receptions, 502 yards, 3 TDs).
Birmingham Stallions
Stadium: Protecting Stadium
Coach: Skip Holtz
Key gamers: QB Matt Corral, QB Alex McGough, WR Deon Cain, TE Jace Sternberger, NT Carlos Davis, S A.J. Thomas
Holtz, the son of Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame coach Lou Holtz, has excelled in spring soccer, main the Stallions to a 32-4 file (together with playoffs) and three consecutive titles (USFL in 2022-23 and the UFL final 12 months). Previous to Birmingham, Holtz gained 152 video games over 22 seasons of school soccer.
Corral, the previous Ole Miss signal-caller, will battle McGough, the 2023 USFL MVP, to start out after 2024 UFL MVP Adrian Martinez signed with the New York Jets. Whoever wins may have returnees Cain and Sternberger as high targets.
The protection is led by All-UFL choices Davis and Thomas.
DC Defenders
Stadium: Audi Subject
Coach: Shannon Harris (interim)
Key gamers: QB Jordan Ta’amu, CB DeAndre Baker, WR/RET Chris Rowland
Harris replaces Reggie Barlow, who was 13-7 in two seasons in DC. He departed to take the top teaching job at Tennnessee State College. Harris has been the Defenders’ quarterbacks coach since 2023. He spent a number of seasons as an offensive assistant on the collegiate degree previous to becoming a member of Barlow’s workers.
Ta’amu is again after beginning all 10 video games and rating second within the UFL in passing yards. Rowland, an All-UFL alternative as a returner, added 20 receptions for 262 yards and three touchdowns. Baker, a 2019 NFL first-round decide, additionally was All-UFL.
Houston Roughnecks
Stadium: College of Houston TDECU Stadium
Coach: Curtis Johnson
Key gamers: QB Nolan Henderson, RB Kirk Merritt, MLB Christopher Allen
Johnson, a longtime NFL and faculty assistant, returns regardless of a 1-9 mark in his first season with the Roughnecks.
Henderson returns after showing in 5 video games final season. Merritt was damage within the Roughnecks’ second recreation, however there may be hope he can put some life into the working recreation. Allen joined Houston midseason and confirmed promise.
Memphis Showboats
Stadium: Simmons Financial institution Liberty Stadium
Coach: Jim Turner (interim)
Key gamers: QB Jason Bean, WR Daewood Davis, WR Joseph Scates, DE Jaylon Allen
Ken Whisenhunt had been scheduled to be the Showboats’ head coach, however took an indefinite go away of absence on March 24. Turner, Memphis’ offensive line coach, will fill in. He has a load of NFL and collegiate expertise as an assistant, however he has by no means been a head coach or coordinator.
Bean, a former Kansas quarterback, was the highest decide of the UFL draft. Davis was an All-UFL decide after posting 41 receptions for 446 yards and 5 TDs. Scates and Allen are former College of Memphis standouts.
Michigan Panthers
Stadium: Ford Subject
Coach: Mike Nolan
Key gamers: QB Danny Etling, WR Marcus Simms, S Kai Nacua
Nolan brings greater than 4 a long time of teaching expertise, the latest being a 7-3 file with the Panthers final 12 months. Nolan spent three-plus seasons as the top coach of the San Francisco 49ers and served as a defensive coordinator for eight NFL groups.
Etling appeared in seven video games and handed for 786 yards and three TDs. Simms was All-UFL after posting 23 receptions for 426 yards and three TDs. Nacua, one other All-UFL decide, anchors the protection after tying for the league lead in interceptions (three) and move breakups (eight) and main the group in complete tackles (47).
San Antonio Brahmas
Stadium: The Alamodome
Coach: Wade Phillips
Key gamers: QB Kellen Mond, WR Jontre Kirklin, LB Tavante Beckett
Phillips moved to the Brahmas after a profitable stint with the Roughnecks within the XFL in 2023 and promptly led them to the UFL title recreation. The 77-year-old was an NFL fixture for almost 50 years as a defensive coordinator and head coach, compiling a 90-73 file (together with playoffs) in nine-plus seasons as a head coach.
Mond, who performed at Texas A&M and is a San Antonio native, may emerge because the starter after signing with the UFL in October. He has one of many league’s finest receivers in Kirklin, who had 56 receptions for 615 yards and three TDs final season. Beckett, an All-UFL choice, led the protection in tackles (67) and tackles for loss (9).
St. Louis Battlehawks
Stadium: The Dome at America’s Heart
Coach: Anthony Becht
Key gamers: RB Jacob Saylors, WR Hakeem Butler, LB Willie Harvey Jr.
Becht returns for his third season teaching the Battlehawks after main St. Louis to a 7-3 file final 12 months. He spent 11 seasons as a decent finish within the NFL with 5 groups after being chosen by the Jets within the first spherical of the 2000 NFL draft.
Saylors led all UFL working backs in dashing with 460 yards final season. Butler led the UFL in receiving yards with 652. Every was named to the All-UFL group, as had been offensive linemen Jaryd Jones-Smith and Mike Panasiuk. All 4 return for the Battlehawks, which ought to assist because the group searches for a brand new quarterback.
