This is the final part of what has been 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
Brandon Silvers, Michael Pratt, Ben Wooldridge
Analysis: The 31-year-old Silvers, who hasn’t sniffed the NFL since 2019, has survived in the era of Repole publicly wanting to replace players like him. He played under offensive coordinator A.J. Smith with the Houston Roughnecks in 2023; that experience will come in handy as Smith returns to spring football to coordinate the St. Louis offense in 2026. Silvers will be like having an extra coach in the QB room. Louisiana ran a system similar to Smith’s run-and-shoot while Wooldridge was the quarterback there. A 2024 7th round NFL draft pick, Pratt had a prolific college career and should compete to start here.
Running Backs
Kevon Latulas, Jarveon Howard, Jordan Waters, Kylin James, (Dillon Johnson)
Analysis: Johnson would’ve been the name to watch from this group, but he has already been removed from the team’s roster. This room certainly has the feeling of playing time being truly up for grabs. Latulas and Howard were both backups to Jacob Saylors with the Battlehawks last season. Waters and James were undrafted free agents in 2025. There’s a lot of size but not a whole lot of breakaway speed among this group.
Wide Receivers
Hakeem Butler, Frank Darby, Jahcour Pearson, Blake Jackson, Gary Jennings Jr., Justin Smith, Thayer Thomas, Jha’Quan Jackson, Lideatrick Griffin, Kelly Akharaiyi, Taylor Morin
Analysis: Head Coach Ricky Proehl was the Battlehawks’ receivers coach in 2023, where he worked with Butler and Jennings. Overall, St. Louis returns its top five receivers from last season, an amazing level of continuity for a position group in this league in 2026. That doesn’t mean all are guaranteed roster spots for 2026, however. Jha’Quan Jackson has the potential to be Jahcour Pearson’s understudy. Smith was a deep threat for San Antonio in 2025.
Tight Ends
Tyler Neville
Analysis: Drafting only one tight end should’ve been a hint of Smith’s involvement in this offense: The run-and-shoot doesn’t have much use for the position (Houston did not carry a TE in 2023 when Smith was OC, nor did they in 2020 under one of Smith’s mentors, June Jones). A solid blocker in college, Neville will likely be used in a similar manner to Alize Mack in San Antonio when Smith ran the offense there, that being a short-yardage run blocker and occasional pass blocker.
Offensive Line
Tackles: Bradley Ashmore, Ryan Coll, Corey Stewart, Aiden Williams, Richard Gouraige
Guards: Spencer Rolland, Javion Cohen, Addison West, Wyatt Bowles, (Ozzie Hutchinson)
Centers: Mike Panasiuk, Jarrod Hufford, Sincere Haynesworth
Analysis: Bowles is one of two players drafted into the UFL who have since signed NFL futures deals. He has not yet officially been removed from the team’s roster. Panasiuk has been the glue in the middle for St. Louis. His return is huge. Ashmore and Coll are back in the Lou, but they started a combined three games last season, with two coming in week 10 when the playoff seedings had already been decided. Watch for Richard Gouraige to make an impact: He’s developed on the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills for much of the past three seasons under heralded line coach Aaron Kromer. Haynesworth likely won’t beat Panasiuk out to start at center; however, he could compete for a major role at guard.
Defensive Line
Edges: Pita Taumoepenu, Travis Feeney, Steve Linton, Raymond Johnson III
Interior: Carlos Davis, Taylor Stallworth, Michael Dwumfour, Nesta Jade Silvera, Neil Farrell
Analysis: Taumoepenu and Feeney are the energy guys of the front seven, and their return is huge. Dwumfour was a St. Louis off-season signing last year but he instead returned to the NFL. Two former Stallions, Davis and Linton, will vie for time along the line. Silvera and Farrell have both been around the NFL block. Both could plug the middle in the run defense.
Linebackers
Jordan Williams, Mike Rose, Abraham Beauplan, Tariq Carpenter, (Jonathan Sutherland), (Luke Masterson)
Analysis: The productive duo of Williams and Tavante Beckett were broken up, but Williams now joins with another top inside linebacker in Rose. They should be a formidable combination themselves. Carpenter is a former strong safety who may play more of an in-the-box role. He will be counted on to play special teams, while Sutherland opted for the CFL over the UFL.
Defensive Backs
Corners: Myles Jones, Myles Sims, Daniel Isom, Jordan Mosley, Sean Fresch, Luq Barcoo, Nate Brooks, Nevelle Clark
Safeties: Michael Ojemudia, Kameron Kelly, A.J. Thomas
Analysis: Though they only selected three safeties, they’re all starting caliber at this level. There is a distinct Brahma flavor to the linebackers and defensive backs (six former San Antonians), making one wonder if one or more of their defensive coaches has made the move to St. Louis. All of the DBs have spent some amount of time in spring football in recent years.
Special Teams
LS Matt Hembrough, P Ryan Sanborn, K Tucker McCann
Analysis: One of the few long snappers to get a free agent deal after the draft, Hembrough signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023 but did not make the team. Sanborn too signed after the draft, in 2024, and has been on the periphery of the NFL during that time. McCann is on the older side, last having been on an NFL roster in 2021. It looks as if St. Louis will once again have one of the top special teams batteries in the league.
1 Comment
by Ken Granito
I don’t know the o-line other than Iron Mike, but they really have been paying attention as to which players can play in this league. to get both Nate Brooks and Luq Barcoo and the receivers they have. It seems they understand the importance of a passing game.