United Football League 2024 rosters: Ranking the eight teams’ talent

By RJ Young, Fox Sports National College Football Analyst

The United Football League‘s initial rosters for its 2024 season were announced Monday.

Following the merger of the USFL and XFL, each of the eight UFL teams selected players from its respective conference’s player pool in a dispersal draft. The full list can be viewed here.

Heading into training camp next month, some teams already have come away with players who have made their mark on spring football over the last two years and enjoyed memorable careers at the collegiate level.

The USFL and XFL have had a combined 150 alumni receive NFL contracts over the past two seasons. Two USFL alums, KaVontae Turpin and Brandon Aubrey, earned NFL Pro Bowl selections as members of the Dallas Cowboys.

Players who perform at a high level can return to the NFL or, in the case of Aubrey, get a first chance. USFL and XFL postseason award winners become high-demand players at the NFL and CFL level.

So here you’ll find no Jordan Ta’amu. No Alex McGough. No Frank Ginda. No McCleod Bethel-Thompson.

Here’s how things shook out for each squad, with noteworthy selections highlighted.

• Italics: Denotes 2022 All-USFL selection
• Bold: Denotes 2023 All-USFL or All-XFL selection
• +: Denotes two-time selection across both leagues

1. Birmingham Stallions

Skip Holtz’s two-time USFL champions return not just their head coach but key members on both the 2022 and 2023 title teams. Among them are wideout Victor Bolden, quarterback J’Mar Smith and tight end Jace Sternberger.

However, the Stallions left the first dispersal draft without the 2023 USFL MVP, quarterback Alex McGough, and the league’s best kicker, Brandon Aubrey.

Still, no team has been as dominant as the Stallions over the last two years, winning 21 of 24 games and going undefeated in the USFL playoffs.

Former Kansas State QB Adrian Martinez projects as the Day 1 starter. In 2022, he helped lead the Wildcats to a Big 12 title while passing for more than 2,800 yards and rushing for more than 500, with 27 total TDs.

The addition of former Philadelphia Star Channing Stribling makes the secondary formidable. Stribling recorded seven INTs in 2022 and eight over the past two years.

Number of All-USFL players selected: 6

Noteworthy players:

Adrian Martinez, QB, Kansas State

Chris Orr, ILB, Wisconsin

Kyahva Tezino, ILB, San Diego State

Scooby Wright, ILB, Arizona

J’Mar Smith, QB, Louisiana Tech

Willie Yarbary, DL, Wake Forest

Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson

Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M

Channing Stribling, CB, Michigan

Calvin Ashley, OT, Auburn

Victor Bolden, WR, Oregon State

JoJo Tillery, S, Wofford

Deon Cain, WR, Clemson

Carlo Kemp, DE, Michigan

Marcus Baugh, TE, Ohio State

CJ Marable, RB, Coastal Carolina

Binjimen Victor, WR, Ohio State

Marlon Williams, WR, Central Florida

Read the complete Fox News article here.