The first USFL season in 37 years kicks off Saturday. Here’s a team-by-team look at the new-look league:
Birmingham Stallions
Coach: Skip Holtz
Players of note: WR Victor Bolden (Oregon State), QB Alex McGough (FIU)
What to know: The Stallions are the only team that will get to actually play home games, with the entire league being played in Birmingham. Bolden, a former game-breaker at Oregon State, is one to watch on this offense, and there are some familiar names on defense as well in Scooby Wright, Brian Allen and Josh Shaw.
Houston Gamblers
Coach: Kevin Sumlin
Players of note: QB Clayton Thorson, OLB Donald Payne
What to know: The Gamblers have not one but two loosely local connections at quarterback: Thorson was on the Giants’ practice squad last season and Kenji Bahar, their backup, is a Monmouth product. Sumlin also brings a breadth of college experience, with stints at Houston, Texas A&M and Arizona. Dalyn Dawkins, who played at Colorado State before a stint with the Titans, is a potential name at running back.
New Orleans Breakers
Coach: Larry Fedora
Players of note: CB Adonis Alexander, DE Davin Bellamy
What to know: The Breakers were the last team to pick a quarterback, which meant that they were able to focus on building up their defense. Bellamy, the first edge-rusher taken, was a key piece of Georgia’s 2017 defense that made the national title game. Alexander has some NFL experience at corner, as does Shareef Miller — a former fourth-round pick — on the edge opposite Bellamy.
Tampa Bay Bandits
Coach: Todd Haley
Players of note: QB Jordan Ta’amu, S Obi Melifonwu
What to know: Ta’amu, who competed with Shea Patterson for the starting job at Ole Miss years ago, will be in the running with him for the league’s best quarterback. He also might have the most dangerous weapon in Eli Rogers, who had a successful stint as a receiver for the Steelers. Melifonwu, a former second-round pick who flamed out with the Raiders, has some pedigree, though he never caught on in the NFL.
Michigan Panthers
Coach: Jeff Fisher
Players of note: QB Shea Patterson, RB Stevie Scott III
What to know: Fisher has the most head coaching experience of anyone in the league, and the Panthers used the first pick of the draft on Patterson, who played his college ball at Ole Miss and Michigan. However, former Broncos QB Paxton Lynch will be breathing down Patterson’s neck for playing time. The Panthers also picked most of their defense late, and will need to deal with question marks on that side of the ball.
New Jersey Generals
Coach: Mike Riley
Players of note: RB Mike Weber, DT Destiny Vaeao
What to know: The QB situation here is a bit of an issue. The Generals will likely start either former New York Guardian Luis Perez or De’Andre Johnson, which could put them on the back foot offensively. Don’t be surprised if they lean on Weber, a former 1,000-yard rusher in college.
Philadelphia Stars
Coach: Bart Andrus
Players of note: DE Freedom Akinmoladun, TE Bug Howard
What to know: Andrus is looking to add another accolade to a list that features the 2020 Spring League title, two NFL Europe titles and an NAIA coach of the year award. He’ll need to do it mostly behind a defense that features names like Akinmoladun, a former Giants undrafted free agent, and former Michigan cornerback Channing Stribling, the second cornerback off the board in the draft.
Pittsburgh Maulers
Coach: Kirby Wilson
Players of note: QB Kyle Lauletta, DT Carlo Kemp
What to know: Lauletta, another former Giant, will be looking to prove himself playing for Wilson, a longtime running backs coach in the NFL who will be a head coach for the first time. They’ve gone heavy on Big Ten products at skill positions, with Wisconsin’s Garrett Groshek the likely No. 1 running back and Michigan State alum Matt Seybert at tight end.
