This is part three of what will be an eight-part, position-by-position review of each UFL team’s roster after the draft. The previous parts of this series can be found at the links below:
Quarterbacks
Luis Perez, Austin Reed
Analysis: The Spring King is back with the Renegades and all is right with the world. The unquestioned starter the past two seasons, Perez may get pushed by Reed, who threw 149 touchdowns in college. If nothing else, Reed should be in position to take over as starter when Perez hangs’em up. He’ll also provide solid insurance in case Perez gets hurt. Dallas was only allocated two quarterbacks; a third will be added at some point, but it’s hard to see that player cracking the top two. They may be in search for a Luke Lehnen-like developmental arm.
Running Backs
Dae Dae Hunter, Isaiah Spiller, Keegan Jones, Ellis Merriweather
Analysis: Hunter led Arlington in rushing last year but averaged just 3.6 yards per carry. He was a threat in the passing game with 27 catches and Perez will welcome him back as a safety net in that regard. A former 4th round NFL draft pick, Spiller has lead back potential. At 5’8″ and 181 pounds, Jones could work from the slot in addition to the backfield. This group lacks breakaway speed, as Merriweather and Spiller both tested in the 4.6-40 range, while Jones was 4.5.
Wide Receivers
Tyler Vaughns, Deontay Burnett, Denzel Mims, Greg Ward Jr., Chase Cota, Miles Boykin, Silas Bolden, Roderick Daniels Jr.
Analysis: Vaughns and Burnett accounted for 32% of Perez’s completions last year, 70% of the team’s receiving touchdowns, and were Dallas’s two highest-graded receivers per Pro Football Focus. They are both back for their third season with Perez and that continuity is incredibly important, especially in an off-season as messy for rosters as this one has been. Some big names dot the rest of the receiver room, like former 2nd round NFL draft pick Mims and former 3rd round pick Boykin. This is a veteran group, making the addition of Daniels, a rookie, important. He may end up being the team’s returner (two punt return TDs in college). A ninth receiver was added on Tuesday: Drake Stoops, son of former head coach Bob Stoops, and a 2024 College Draft pick of the team.
Tight Ends
Seth Green, Curtis Hodges, Peyton Hendershot
Analysis: It’s possible this room would’ve returned fully intact had Sal Cannella not signed a futures deal with the Cleveland Browns. Green and Hodges were Cannella’s understudies last year and likely return to those roles again this year. Hendershot should step in as the starter: A former Dallas Cowboy, he remains in Big D as a Renegade. A sizable target at 6’4″ and 250 pounds, Hendershot caught 136 passes for 14 touchdowns at Indiana.
Offensive Line
Tackles: Alex Akingbulu, Chim Okorafor, Trevor Reid, Josiah Ezirim, Raiqwon O’Neal
Guards: Marcus Minor, Keaton Sutherland, Abdul Beecham, Tremayne Anchrum
Centers: Sam Tecklenburg, Mike Novitsky
Analysis: Dallas nabbed three 2025 UFL starting guards, then picked up Anchrum, who has played in 31 career NFL games. Okorafor is a solid starter at one tackle spot but Akingbulu was a reserve last season with the Renegades. It could be a four-way battle for the other tackle position. Tecklenburg is an experienced signal-caller in the middle of the line whose smarts will be appreciated by Perez. Novitsky is a youngster to develop.
Defensive Line
Edges: Taco Charlton, Willie Taylor III, T.J. Franklin, Jah Joyner, Myles Cole, DaMarcus Mitchell, Chace Davis, Tramel Walthour
Interior: Keondre Coburn, Siaki Ika, Antwuan Jackson Jr.
Analysis: Whether by design or happenstance, Dallas focused on the linebacker position in the UFL Front Seven Draft, then used the Free Agent Front Seven Draft to load up on edge rushers, selecting four in that phase. Two of their interior players, Coburn and Ika, were regional protections. Taylor and Charlton combined for 9.5 sacks for the Renegades last year. Mitchell was taken in the free agent phase despite playing four games with Memphis last year. Joyner and Cole are new additions that should pop.
Linebackers
Donald Payne, Carson Wells, Callahan O’Reilly, Andrew Dowell, Kalen DeLoach, J.T. Tyler, Matt Jones
Analysis: The Payne Train rolls along for a fourth year with the Renegades. To have a veteran leader like that at this level of the defense is incredibly valuable, even if age has sapped some of his athleticism. Getting a full season out of DeLoach, who didn’t sign until the end of April after being a Renegades College Draft pick, could be huge. Wells was a key cog in St. Louis’s defense the last few years, and Dowell, a mid-season pickup in Memphis in 2025, worked his way into their starting lineup. Jones is the only one here new to the UFL, and I thought he was an underrated linebacker coming out of Baylor last year.
Defensive Backs
Corners: Ajene Harris, Steven Jones Jr., Chris Steele, Brandon Sebastian, Armani Marsh, D.J. James, Bobby Price, Shaun Wade
Safeties: Myles Dorn, Qwynnterrio Cole, Tra Fluellen, TeRai Powell
Analysis: The ballhawk is back in Ajene Harris, who led the team in interceptions last season. Jones was also effective at corner. There are former Battlehawks at every level of the defense to the point that it’s fair to wonder if former staff members are now with the Renegades. There’s a lot of upside in former Ohio State Buckeye Shaun Wade, who Dallas took a flier on in the Open Phase. Depth at safety may be a concern.
Special Teams
LS Antonio Ortiz, K Colton Theaker, K/P Brendan Hall
Analysis: Dallas brought back Ortiz, consistently one of the top snappers in spring football. Renegades fans will likely be outraged that punter Marquette King is not on this list. Both kicker and punter are inexperienced at the pro level. The 6’8″ Hall was a kickoff specialist in addition to punter in college. Theaker exclusively kicked off at Washington State and did not have a great percentage when he was a field goal kicker at the lower levels before transferring to WSU.