Head coach Anthony Becht has built the Orlando Storm’s 2026 roster around size and strength in the trenches. During the UFL draft, Becht prioritized acquiring some of the biggest and strongest offensive linemen available. He also selected large tight ends known for their blocking and reliable receiving. Since the draft, the Storm have been actively evaluating each player’s desire to play for Orlando, and they have made some hard decisions based on mutual visions of the role those players can play for the Storm.
Recently, the Storm made the decision to release tight ends Stevo Klotz and J.J. Galbreath. These decisions created open spots at tight end and added two more roster slots for training camp. Those roster moves have directly impacted the Storm’s search for tight end prospects who align with Becht and offensive coordinator Kyle Caskey’s vision for the 2026 UFL season.
Following these roster adjustments, the UFL announced the Storm added offensive tackle Bryce Benhart and tight end Shawn Bowman.
It is not a secret that if a team wants to consistently win in the trenches, it must win in the UFL. That has been an area Anthony Becht has focused on as he built his roster from scratch. The foundational player for the Storm’s offensive line is Birmingham Stallions center Cole Schneider, and Becht has surrounded Schneider with massive offensive guards to fortify the interior portion of the line.
However, at the offensive tackle position, the Storm needs a big boost in depth with Teton Saltes being the best prospect to play left tackle for Orlando. In addition to needing a comparable right tackle, Becht would prefer a player who fits the mold of great size and brute strength. That combination makes Bryce Benhart a great fit for right tackle, and his experience shows that he has what it takes to fill the role.
The 6’9″, 315-pound Benhart played college football at the University of Nebraska from 2019 until 2024. While with the Cornhuskers, Benhart appeared in 58 games and started 52. Nebraska’s pro-style offense prepares Benhart well to compete for the Storm’s right tackle spot on the depth chart.
Along with adding Benhart, the Storm have also signed 6’4″, 249-pound tight end Shawn Bowman. Bowman spent the 2024 and 2025 NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Collegiately, Bowman started his career at the NCAA FCS University of Maine, where he played from 2018 until 2022. While playing for the Black Bears, Bowman appeared in 35 games and caught 86 passes for 960 yards and 1 touchdown. In 2023, Bowman transferred to FBS Rutgers University, where he played in 35 games for the Scarlet Knights. However, while playing at Rutgers, Bowman was primarily used as a blocking tight end, catching only 4 passes for 24 yards.
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