Will Arlington Renegades QB Job Be Open Competition in 2024?
The quarterback position was a roller coaster ride for the Arlington Renegades last season, with four different quarterbacks and three starters making appearances.
Drew Plitt was the day-one starter for Arlington, but the offense struggled, scoring 22 and 14 points and going 1-1 in his first two starts. The Renegades then alternated between Plitt and Kyle Sloter at quarterback through Week 7 as the offense put up just 13.2 points and 232.9 yards per game through that stretch.
The team decided to trade for Vegas Vipers quarterback Luis Perez following Plitt’s injury and Sloter’s release. Arlington’s offense transformed instantly, averaging 27.4 points and 369.5 yards per game through the last five games of the season, including the XFL Championship win over the D.C. Defenders.
Entering the 2024 season, Perez is presumed to be the favorite to win the quarterback job. There are some unknowns on which additional quarterbacks will stick around, but former East Carolina gunslinger Holton Ahlers appears to be one of them.
Ahlers spoke with Pirate Radio 92.7 in Greenville, North Carolina Wednesday and discussed what his expectations are for 2024, as set by the Renegades coaching staff.
Arlington Renegades QB Holton Ahlers talked about what he was told about the QB battle in Arlington this year on @PR927FM today. 👀
— United Football Media (@The_UFM) January 4, 2024
Also mentions how the UFL spring schedule is an easier path to the NFL compared to CFL.#XFL #UFL #USFL
(🎥 Via PirateRadioTV/YT) pic.twitter.com/Swatolw8HD
“From what the GM told me and what the coaches told me is they want someone young to come in and kind of win the job. There’s going to be open competition.”
Ahlers was signed by the Renegades last month following a short stint with the Seattle Seahawks. He owns 10 East Carolina school records after finishing his college career with 13,938 passing yards and 97 touchdowns, along with 1,446 yards on the ground and 25 rushing scores.
Of remaining Arlington quarterbacks, the favorites to return are Kevin Anderson and Kelly Bryant. They both served as Perez’s backups during their late- season run to the XFL title.
There are three other quarterbacks listed on the roster, according to XFL’s website. Connor Blumrick and Connor Degenhardt were brought in during the offseason, and Anthony Gordon was assigned to the Renegades but quickly announced his retirement from football.
Perez is 29 years old, and the team appears to be thinking about the future. While the original plan with Plitt was to start, he is currently on the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad. That leaves the door open for someone like Ahlers to potentially either take the job or develop to take over.
All eight UFL teams can protect up to 42 players and select 20 from their conference in the dispersal draft being held Friday.
Renegades Return For First UFL Season
You can follow Anthony Miller on X @ByAnthonyMiller.
Catch up with UFL on FanNation on Facebook and X.
Anthony Miller has been covering professional spring football since 2019 including XFL, USFL, and CFL. He was a local news reporter in Texas before transitioning to sports. Other sites he writes for includes College Football Network and NTZ Network.