Sports Illustrated FanNation Preseason 2024 All-UFL Team: Offense
The UFL season is right around the corner. The uniquely merged USFL-XFL league's inaugural campaign kicks off on March 30 and extends until the Championship Game on June 16.
One of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's taglines in promotional material for the United Football League is "The Spring Just Got Stronger." That is precisely what happened when FOX and Disney joined forces to present this updated pro football venture.
However, the UFL's real strength will be its product on the field.
“Yeah so it’s called the UFL. It’s a new league combined of the former XFL and USFL and the talent is next level. All games are broadcasted on FOX and ABC and it kicks off March 30"pic.twitter.com/aqfMFNQl9h
— Memphis Showboats (@USFLShowboats) March 10, 2024
A total of 16 professional teams in this space have condensed into eight. As a result, the best of the best returning from the USFL and XFL a year ago will be taking the field in the UFL this season.
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 offense.
Sports Illustrated FanNation 2024 Preseason All-UFL Team: Offense
Our picks for the best the UFL has to offer on offense heading into its first season.
Quarterback:
A.J. McCarron | St. Louis Battlehawks
Ben Dinucci and Alex McGough, two of Spring Pro Football's top passers in 2023, are currently on NFL rosters. However, it could be argued that McCarron was the best signal-caller of the bunch a year ago. In nine games for the Battlehawks, he completed nearly 70% of his passes for over 2,100 yards and a spring football-leading 24 touchdowns.
The expectation is that with arguably the UFL's deepest receiving corps in St. Louis, McCarron will be even better in Bruce Gradkowski's offense this season.
Honorable mentions: Case Cookus (Memphis Showboats), Jordan Ta'amu (D.C. Defenders)
Running Back:
Mark Thompson | Houston Roughnecks
Even before Abram Smith's season-ending injury, many would've voted for Thompson as the league's best back. That's how good he has been. The enigmatic star runner went on a tear last year, scoring 14 rushing touchdowns in seven starts for Houston and earning the USFL Offensive Player of the Year award.
Honorable mentions: Darius Victor (Showboats), CJ Marable (Birmingham Stallions), Wes Hills (Michigan Panthers)
Fullback:
Clint Sigg | Houston Roughnecks
Ironically enough, in a league where 'Moose' Johnston — one of the greatest fullbacks to ever play the sport — is the Director of Football Ops, no UFL players are even listed at the traditional lead blocker position. It's a sign of the times.
Sigg embodies the modern-day fullback role, moonlighting as an in-motion tweener playing tight end. He's the best in the league at his role, leading the way for superstar Mark Thompson.
Wide Receiver:
Hakeem Butler | St. Louis Battlehawks
The minimization of the fullback position opens the door for multiple receivers to get recognition on an all-league team, starting with Butler. The 6-foot-5 jump ball specialist is a matchup problem for defensive backs as the league's most effective catch radius player.
Jonathan Adams | Memphis Showboats
At 6-foot-3, Adams has a player profile similar to Butler's. He also shares the advantage of being in the same system for a second straight year.
Darrius Shepherd | St. Louis Battlehawks
Shepherd was the 2023 XFL Special Teams Player of the Year as a returner, but only four other wide receivers across the XFL and USFL had more receptions (48) than he did last season. He also hauled in six touchdown receptions, tied for the top spot across both leagues for receivers. Shepherd might be the most polished route runner in the spring.
Shepherd might be overshadowed because of teammates Butler and Jahcour Pearson. The latter would be on this list if not for uncertainty due to injury.
Honorable mentions: Jontre Kirklin (San Antonio Brahmas), Justin Hall (Houston Roughnecks), Trey Quinn (Michigan Panthers) Jahcour Pearson (St. Louis Battlehawks)
Tight End:
Cody Latimer | San Antonio Brahmas
The league has several standouts who can get the nod at tight end. It all depends on what flavor you like.
The USFL generally had better overall play from the position in 2023, but Latimer led all tight ends in spring ball with nearly 600 yards receiving in nine games, along with 50 receptions. The former wideout is a matchup problem down the field and in the red zone.
Honorable mentions: Jace Sternberger (Birmingham Stallions), Sage Surratt (Memphis Showboats), Sal Canella (Arlington Renegades), Cole Hikituni (Michigan Panthers), Alize Mack (San Antonio Brahmas)
Offensive Tackle:
Jarron Jones | Memphis Showboats
The two-time All-USFL tackle has been one of the best players in spring ball since his stellar turn with the New York Guardians in XFL 2020.
Terry Poole | Memphis Showboats
Like his teammate, Poole has been one of the best offensive linemen in the spring since the AAF in 2019.
Honorable mentions: Joshua Dunlop (Michigan Panthers), Jaryd Jones-Smith (St. Louis Battlehawks), Avery Gennessy (Houston Roughnecks), D'Marcus Hayes (D.C. Defenders)
Guard:
Liam Fornadel | D.C. Defenders
Fornadel is arguably the best all-around lineman in the UFL and a force in the run-and-pass game. He surrendered nine pressures last season, allowing only one sack on 326 pass-blocking attempts.
Shamarious Gilmore | *Houston Roughnecks*
Gilmore, the former Georgia State standout, proved to be one of the most well-rounded offensive linemen last season. If he can duplicate what he did last year, the NFL will come calling.
Honorable mentions: Cameron Hunt (Arlington Renegades), Cole Schnieder (Birmingham Stallions), Steven Gonzalez (St. Louis Battlehawks)
Center:
Mike Panasuik | St. Louis Battlehawks
One of the best stories in spring pro football, former defensive lineman Panasuik is still a developing player who made the All-XFL team last season. The Polish powerhouse is one of the nastiest interior players in the league.
Honorable mentions: Alex Mollette (San Antonio Brahmas), Jake Lacina (Arlington Renegades), Michael Maietti (D.C. Defenders)
Next up — Sports Illustrated FanNation Preseason 2024 All-UFL Team: Defense.
Peterson, Bell Potential Options for D.C. Defenders Replacing Smith
You can find Mike Mitchell on X @ByMikeMitchell.
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Mike Mitchell is a pro football writer/insider with decades of experience covering and following multiple leagues. He covers the New York Jets for TheJetPress.com at FanSided. He has also written for XFL Board and at Hub Publishing covering the CFL, XFL and USFL.