For aspiring UFL players seeking a pathway to the NFL, the best opportunities can be found on special teams. Place kickers and return specialists have a higher profile, but several spring punters and long snappers have also found NFL success.
Spring Football’s Special Teams’ NFL Standouts
Kickers
This season, two more UFL breakout stars joined Dallas Cowboys’ Pro Bowl kicker Brandon Aubrey (Birmingham Stallions) and Michigan Panthers‘ star Jake Bates (Detroit Lions). Making the successful transition from the UFL to the NFL were former St. Louis Battlehawks‘ kicker Andre Szmyt, and L.A. Rams “Thiccer kicker,” Harrison Mevis (Birmingham Stallions)
Return Specialists
Jacob Saylors, a former St. Louis Battlehawks and All-UFL team running back, found his niche with the Detroit Lions as a return specialist, joining former USFL star and Cowboys’ All-Pro KaVontae Turpin.
Punters and Long Snappers
Current Green Bay Packers and former D.C. Defenders punter Daniel Whelan was one of the NFL’s best in 2025. In addition to breaking Green Bay franchise records, he led the NFL with an average of 51.7 yards per punt and earned All-Pro honors from PFF this season.
Cleveland Browns’ Rex Sunahara (San Antonio Brahmas) and Denver Broncos’ Mitchell Fraboni (USFL Pittsburgh Maulers) have both established themselves as reliable NFL long snappers.
UFL 2026 Kickers
In Sunday’s historic 29-13 Seattle Seahawks victory over the New England Patriots, Seahawks’ veteran kicker Jason Myers set a new Super Bowl record Sunday night, converting five of five field goals and two extra points. En route to their Super Bowl victory, the Seahawks played the Rams in the NFC Championship. Seattle triumphed in the 31-27 victory, but Mevis, fresh off his UFL debut just months earlier, nailed both of his two field goals, a 44-yarder and a stunning 50-yard boot, plus three extra points.
This year, a brand new group of UFL kickers will seek the success that Mevis and others have found. Unlike last year, when the majority of UFL kickers were returning spring stars, only two kickers are back for 2026.
Jonathan Garibay-Birmingham Stallions
On Tuesday, February 10, it was announced that former Battlehawks star kicker Rodrigo Blankenship opted out of the UFL this season to sign a reserve/futures deal with an NFL team. Fortunately, the Stallions had already drafted a second UFL kicker with Renegades’ kicker Jonathan Garibay.
Garibay, the former Texas Tech standout, memorably nailed a 62-yard field goal in a victory over Iowa State that qualified his team for a postseason bid. However, despite being named 1st-team All-Big 12, Garibay was passed over in the 2022 draft. Signed by the Dallas Cowboys as a UDFA, he beat out former Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby for the starting assignment.
In 2024, Garibay appeared in seven games for the UFL Renegades after an injury to starting kicker Taylor Russolino. He made a solid contribution, connecting on 13 of 14 field goals.
Matt McCrane-D.C. Defenders
McCrane is back for a third year with the Defenders. In his first season, he nailed a 58-yard field goal and converted five of seven 50-plus-yard kicks. Proving to be one of the league’s more reliable kickers in high-pressure scenarios, McCrane nailed all five of his field goals in D.C.’s Championship 2025 postseason run.
After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL draft, the former Kansas State University record holder signed with the Oakland Raiders. Although he booted the game-winning field goal in his NFL debut, he was waived the following month. Brief stints with the Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers followed.
Filling in for an injured Chris Boswell, McCrane made all three field goals plus one extra point in the Steelers’ regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 30, 2018. The Steelers won the game by a score of 16-13. However, when a healthy Boswell returned the following September, McCrane was released.
Stints with other NFL practice squads followed, including a recent tryout with the UFL-friendly Detroit Lions. However, other NFL opportunities proved elusive. Fortunately, for UFL fans, McCrane returns to continue his success with the Defenders.
Ryan Coe-Columbus Aviators
A native of Pennsylvania, spring rookie Coe began his collegiate football career in Delaware. After brief stops in between at Cincinnati and North Carolina, he ended up in California for his final year of eligibility. Following his graduation, he had a brief tryout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spent time on their practice squad.
Known for his strong leg, Coe has a solid reputation for connecting on 50-plus kicks but missing on field goals less than 40 yards. Drafted by the Columbus expansion team, he has an opportunity to make his impact. If Coe can overcome a lack of consistency, the UFL could be a pathway back to the NFL.
Brendan Hall-Dallas Renegades
At 6’8″ tall, Hall makes a notable impression. A native of Springtown, Texas, he handled kickoff and punt duties for Montana State University. Awarded 2023 1st Team All-Big Sky honors and All-America honors, Hall was a Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week in 2024. Although this is his first professional football opportunity, as a Texas native, Hall will undoubtedly have the support of his home state.
John Hoyland-Houston Gamblers
The youngest kicker in the UFL, 22-year-old Hoyland, is a native of Broomfield, Colorado. The former all-time point scorer for the Wyoming Cowboys initially joined the team as a walk-on. But after earning all FWAA Freshman All-America honors and second team All-Mountain West, Hoyland gained national prominence as a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza Award.
When he wasn’t selected in the NFL 2025 Draft, Hoyland signed as a UDFA with the Baltimore Ravens. He competed with Tyler Loop for the starting assignment but was waived ahead of the season.
Now, getting a fresh start with the Gamblers in 2026, Hoyland tied for second place among kickers in the UFL Showcase, hitting 8-of-9 field goals with a long of 60.
Tanner Brown-Louisville Kings
Brown is a former nationally ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys’ kicker and punter who began his career as a soccer player before taking up football in high school. Regarded as one of the nation’s top kickers, he was a semifinalist for the 2022 Lou Groza Award.
Signed by the Los Angeles Rams as a UDFA following the 2023 NFL draft, Brown spent time on the Rams’ practice squad before losing the job to 2024 sixth-round draft pick Joshua Karty. Waived by the Rams, Brown had a brief stint with the Atlanta Falcons. Karty is best known in UFL circles as the L.A. kicker who was replaced in Week 9 by Mevis.
Drafted by the Kings, Brown is looking forward to making his UFL debut.
Orlando Storm-Michael Lantz
Former Georgia Southern and USC kicker Lantz is originally from Peachtree, Georgia. He has a powerful foot with at least one 54-yard field goal to his credit. Although Lantz scored a brief tryout with the Los Angeles Chargers as a UDFA following the 2025 NFL Draft, he was waived by the team.
This season marks Lantz’s UFL and spring football debut.
St. Louis Battlehawks– Tucker McCann
Also making his spring football debut this season is the Battlehawks kicker, McCann. A former three-star recruit, brief stops in between at Cincinnati and North Carolina. He was the Missouri Tigers’ starting kicker all four years. As a senior, McCann assumed punting duties as well for the Tigers. He set a single-game record for recording three field goals of 40 or more yards and four punts of 50-plus yards in a decisive 50–0 win over rival Southeast Missouri State.
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, McCann had a brief stint with the Tennessee Titans. He spent the 2020 season on the Titans’ practice squad and was signed to a reserve/futures contract in 2021. However, an injury landed him on injured reserve, and McCann was waived the following October. Now, he has another chance at a professional football career with the Battlehawks.
Final Thoughts
Special teams players have a definite advantage over other position groups. With 60-yard field goals becoming the new 50, and the league focusing on long-distance kicking and precision kickoff placement, it opens up additional opportunities. Suddenly, former soccer players or kickers with strong legs who didn’t come from nationally ranked collegiate programs are in demand. Players benefit from the dedicated coaching, on-field experience, and national exposure the UFL affords, and the right opportunity can make all the difference in finding a pathway to the NFL.
