Sports Illustrated FanNation Preseason 2024 All-UFL Team: Defense

The best returning players from the USFL and XFL will be taking the field together for the UFL in what should be the highest quality of play that spring football has seen in years.

As we discussed in the first part of this series, the merging of 16 total professional teams from the USFL and XFL into just eight means the UFL's rosters are brimming with big name talent and depth.

This high concentration of talent makes choosing an All-UFL team all the more challenging. Nevertheless, here are our preseason projections for the league's best players on defense.

Sports Illustrated FanNation 2024 Preseason All-UFL Team: Defense

Our picks for the best defenders the UFL has to offer going into its inaugural season.

Edge:

Breeland Speaks | Michigan Panthers

Speaks is one of the best two-way defensive linemen in the UFL in what is, by far, the league's deepest position. He had stretches of dominance last season, registering 9.5 sacks.

Pita Taumopenu | St. Louis Battlehawks

The 2023 XFL Defensive Player of the Year is the UFL's most polished pass rusher with a variety of effective moves.

Delontae Scott | San Antonio Brahmas

Another top-tier All-XFL pass rusher who should excel in Wade Phillips's defense, Scott recorded a sack in all but two of eight games last season. He led all edge players with 20 stops.

Honorable mentions: Davin Bellamy (D.C. Defenders), Adam Rodriguez (Houston Roughnecks), Trent Harris (D.C. Defenders), Chris Odom (Houston Roughnecks), Dondrea Tillman (Birmingham Stallions), Travis Feeney (St. Louis Battlehawks)

Defensive Tackle

Austin Faoliu | St. Louis Battlehawks

The All-XFL defensive tackle is among a select group of players to have seen NFL action in 2023. Faoliu is one of the best young two-gap players in the league.

Toby Johnson | Houston Roughnecks

The grizzled veteran has been one of the most consistently good players in spring ball for several seasons.

T.J. Barnes | D.C. Defenders

Barnes remodeled himself and had a career season in what was supposed to be his swan song. He returns after a year where he was the top-graded interior defensive lineman against the run with a 91.6 grade by Pro Football Focus.

Honorable mentions: John Atkins (Memphis Showboats), Caeveon Patton (San Antonio Brahmas)

Linebacker:

DeMarquis Gates | Birmingham Stallions

This list is reserved for players who played in the USFL or XFL last season, not for new arrivals to spring football who have yet to prove themselves. Gates is an exception after spending two straight seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears.

There hasn't been a better off-ball linebacker in alternate pro football than Gates. He has been the best of the bunch across the AAF, XFL and USFL.

Frank Ginda | Michigan Panthers

Ginda is a tackling machine and one of the more cerebral players in the UFL. He improved his overall game last season and earned USFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Kyahva Tezino | Birmingham Stallions

As one of the league's hardest hitters, Tezino is one of the more exciting defenders to watch.

Honorable mentions: Reuben Foster (Houston Roughnecks), Jordan Williams (San Antonio Brahmas), Donald Payne (Arlington Renegades), Vontae Diggs (Memphis Showboats)

Cornerback:

Mark Gilbert | Birmingham Stallions

Cousin of legendary shutdown corner Darrelle Revis, Gilbert is one of the most physical press cornerbacks in the league. He has great ball skills and led the USFL in interceptions last year (15).

Michael Joseph | D.C. Defenders

The highest-graded returning cornerback to the XFL was put alone on an island last year and delivered. Joseph faced the third-most targets, allowing only 30 catches for 296 yards over nine games. Joseph's ball skills were elite, returning two of his four interceptions for scores.

D.J. Daniel | Memphis Showboats

The former New Jersey General had a breakout season last year, earning All-USFL honors. Daniel is a sure tackler with great ball skills.

Honorable mentions: Ajene Harris (Arlington Renegades), Tye Smith (Memphis Showboats), Lavert Hill (St. Louis Battlehawks), Levonta Taylor (Michigan Panthers)

Safety:

Deontay Anderson | D.C. Defenders

Anderson is a tackling machine who didn't miss a single one in his final six games for Vegas last year. Very few defensive players hit as hard as he does.

Kyree Woods | Memphis Showboats

Pro Football Focus graded Woods with the highest mark of any defensive player in the USFL last season (92.6). There was no better coverage safety in the spring.

Honorable mentions: Dravon Askew-Henry (St. Louis Battlehawks), Kai Nacua (Michigan Panthers), Kenny Robinson (Birmingham Stallions)

Next up —Sports Illustrated FanNation Preseason 2024 All-UFL Team: Special Teams.

Peterson, Bell Potential Options for D.C. Defenders Replacing Smith

You can find Mike Mitchell on X @ByMikeMitchell.

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