This is part six 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:
Names in (parentheses) have already been removed from the roster; names in bold have been added to the roster, per the UFL transaction wire.
Quarterbacks
Jason Bean, Chandler Rogers
Analysis: Somehow, in the through-line of the Memphis Showboats transitioning into the Louisville Kings, Jason Bean, the former number one overall UFL College Draft selection of the Showboats, moved along with the Memphis roster. He’s a dual-threat quarterback. Rogers has some of that too. He attended five colleges and really wasn’t on NFL radars after he turned pro last spring. In fact, he was mostly a backup that year, though it’s hard to blame him when the starter was 2025 Heisman Trophy Winner Fernando Mendoza. Whoever the team’s final addition at the position is could end up being the starter. The good news is head coach Chris Redman is a former QB, so he should get the benefit of the doubt when scouting players for the position.
Running Backs
Jalen Jackson, Jaden Shirden, Kalen Ballage, Benny Snell, Elijah Dotson
Analysis: Jackson ended up taking over the lead back role in Memphis last year, and did better on the ground than his predecessor, Deneric Prince. Shirden is a speed back who can create mismatches out of the backfield. Ballage has suffered a few season-ending injuries in spring ball so he may not be the bell-cow he used to be. Snell is a fun story: His dad Ben played for the Las Vegas Outlaws in the XFL in 2001.
Wide Receivers
JaVonta Payton, Jonathan Adams, Kwamie Lassiter, Isaiah Winstead, Tarik Black, Kaden Prather, Lynn Bowden Jr., Dez Fitzpatrick
Analysis: The Kings could field a pretty good basketball team with their receivers, only two of whom are under 6’0″ (and Bowden is more of a WR/RB hybrid), with several measuring in at 6’3″. Payton could be the breakout star of this group and he’ll be paired with his former Renegade teammate Winstead. Likewise, Adams and Lassiter are former Showboats reunited here. That chemistry matters at the position.
Tight Ends
Chris Pierce Jr., Jalen Wydermyer, Thomas Burke, Tre’ McKitty, Irv Smith, Florian Bierbaumer
Analysis: None of the returning tight ends made much of an impact in the league last year, opening the door for McKitty and Smith, former third and second-round NFL draft picks respectively, to come in and earn spots right away. Smith has caught over 100 passes in his time in the NFL. Bierbaumer is a wild card, an accomplished pass-catcher in Europe who attended the UFL’s Showcase in Switzerland.
Offensive Line
Tackles: Willie Tyler, James Tunstall, Gunner Britton, Leroy Watson, Earl Bostick Jr.
Guards: Nate Gilliam, J.D. DiRenzo, Logan Bruss
Centers: Alec Lindstrom, Doug Kramer, Matthew Cindric
Analysis: Britton was the starter at right tackle for D.C.’s championship run. He would’ve been on track to start, but after the draft announced his retirement. Louisville selected two Showboats in the UFL Offensive Line Phase, Gilliam and Tunstall, two starters from last season. Lindstrom and Kramer should be a good battle at center, with the consolation prize potentially being a starting spot at guard.
Defensive Line
Edges: Daniel Grzesiak, Jaylon Allen, Myjai Sanders, Jamir Jones, Xavier Carlton, R.J. Oben
Interior: Josiah Bronson, DeVere Levelston, LaRon Stokes, Benning Potoa’e, Christopher Hinton, Travis Bell, Fabien Lovett
Analysis: There are a couple end/tackle ‘tweeners here like Levelston, Potoa’e and Stokes; then you’ve got a few that have experience at the nose, like Hinton and Bell. Bronson has gotten NFL looks the last two off-seasons. Sanders only had two sacks for Birmingham last year, but PFF credited him with 22 hurries, and that creates an impact, too.
Linebackers
Steele Chambers, Shayne Simon, Monty Rice, Jaheim Thomas, Dallas Gant
Analysis: A tackling machine last year with Memphis, Chambers will be one of the players to man the inside. Next to him could be Rice, who has 39 NFL regular season games under his belt. Simon played 10 games with D.C. last year, predominantly on special teams. Gant could push for playing time while Thomas is likely more of a special teamer.
Defensive Backs
Corners: Cameron Dantzler, Eric Garror, Rayshad Williams, Corey Mayfield Jr., Andrew Booth Jr., Deantre Prince, Isaiah Bolden
Safeties: Keaton Ellis, Kenny Robinson Jr., Quindell Johnson, Kory Chapman
Analysis: Ellis played the second-most snaps of any Memphis defender last season. He and Robinson make a strong 1-2 punch on the back end, with Johnson a youngster to develop. Booth was a 2nd round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2022. This could be a good place to try to resurrect his career. He should have a path to immediate playing time.
Special Teams
K Tanner Brown, P Mac Brown, LS Jordan Silver
Analysis: Brown couldn’t break through in two years on a kicker-needy L.A. Rams squad. Brown punted for the Orlando Guardians in the XFL in 2023 and is best known for his 69-yard TD pass on a fake punt. He finished in the middle of the pack in punting average that year. Memphis added Silver after the draft to round out their special teams crew.