Latest news with #Defenders
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
HBCU star makes 2025 All-UFL team
Chris Rowland continues to make his HBCU proud. The former Tennessee State standout has been named to the 2025 All-UFL Team as a wide receiver and return specialist for the DC Defenders. It's a well-deserved honor for one of the most electrifying players in spring football this season. Rowland made his presence felt all year long, consistently flipping field position and creating big plays for the Defenders. As a return specialist, he was a top ten performer in both punt return yardage and kickoff returns. Rowland averaged 21.9 yards on kickoff returns and 10.9 yards for punt returns. But Rowland wasn't just dangerous on special teams-he also proved to be a reliable target on offense. As a wide receiver, he's rated as the second-best pass catcher in the league with 42 receptions for 522 yards and 3 touchdowns in the regular season. His ability to get open in space and make defenders miss added another dynamic layer to the Defenders' offensive attack. Rowland's performance this season is another reminder of the high-level talent that comes out of HBCU programs. A former All-American at Tennessee State, he's now showing the professional football world what HBCU fans have known for years-Chris Rowland is the real deal. His selection to the All-UFL Team not only validates his work ethic and production but also raises his profile for potential NFL interest in the future. But his work isn't done yet, Rowland will lead the Defenders into a road game for the XFL Conference championship game on June 8 versus the St. Louis Battlehawks. The winner of that game will face the USFL Conference champions for the UFL championship on June 14. The post HBCU star makes 2025 All-UFL team appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Watch St. Louis Battlehawks at DC Defenders: Live Stream UFL, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The St. Louis Battlehawks bring in a 7-2 record on the season as they head to Washington, DC to try and take down the 6-3 Defenders, and you can catch all the action with FuboTV. Jordan Ta'amu #10 of DC Defenders looks to pass in the first quarter of a game against the Houston Roughnecks at TDECU Stadium on May 25, 2025 in Houston, Texas. Jordan Ta'amu #10 of DC Defenders looks to pass in the first quarter of a game against the Houston Roughnecks at TDECU Stadium on May 25, 2025 in Houston, Texas. Tim Warner/UFL/Getty Images How to Watch Battlehawks vs Defenders Date: Friday, May 30, 2025 Time: 8:00 PM EDT Channel: FOX, FOX Deportes Stream: Fubo (TRY FOR FREE) The Battlehawks are coming of a complete domination of the San Antonio Brahmas in Week 9, winning their fifth game in a row by a score of 39-13. Two different quarterbacks threw for touchdowns, while four different skill position players found pay dirt as St. Louis gained over 400 scrimmage yards in the win. The Defenders are led by quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, who is averaging over 245 yards per game through the air. He has eleven touchdown passes and only four interceptions on the season, while completing over fifty percent of his passes, staking his claim as one of the best signal callers in the UFL. DC will look to bounce back from a 24-21 loss against the Roughnecks in Week 9 as Ta'amu continues to build his case to be the league MVP. This is a great United Football League matchup, and you do not want to miss any of the action; make sure to tune in. Live stream Battlehawks vs Defenders for free with Fubo: Start your free trial now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Fox Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Five things to watch for in Week 10 of the 2025 UFL season
Keeping MVP frontrunner and DC Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta'amu upright will be at the top of the priority list for interim head coach Shannon Harris as his team enters the final weekend of the 2025 UFL regular season. "I may pull him a lot sooner than last week just to keep him in rhythm a little bit and give him some quick reads — things like that where he's not holding onto the ball," Harris said. "That's the biggest thing. We want to make sure we keep him in a rhythm and don't get stale." Harris said the plan last week was to get second-string quarterback Mike DiLiello some live reps while also maintaining Ta'amu's timing and rhythm with the starters by giving him the first half of playing time. With the St. Louis Battlehawks and Defenders meeting again next weekend in the XFL Conference title game, Harris chose to keep Ta'amu on the sidelines by starting DiLiello for the final game of the regular season. Ta'amu currently leads the UFL in passing yards (2,153) and passing touchdowns (17), with just four interceptions this year. [MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League ] The Battlehawks (7-2) and the Defenders (6-3) kick off Week 10 on Friday (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). The Michigan Panthers (6-3) host the Houston Roughnecks (4-5) In the lone game on Saturday (3 p.m. ET). In Sunday's doubleheader, the Arlington Renegades (4-5) face the San Antonio Brahmas (1-8) on the road (noon ET), followed by the Birmingham Stallions (6-3) taking on the Memphis Showboats (2-7) to close things out (3 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). Here's a closer look at five things to watch for in Week 10: 1. QB Mike DiLiello to start for Defenders The Austin Peay product went 17-for-29 for 207 yards and a touchdown in the Defenders' surprising loss to the Roughnecks last week. Now, DiLiello gets his first start, with Spencer Sanders serving as the backup and Ta'amu as the emergency No. 3 quarterback. Along with Ta'amu, the Defenders will rest a handful of other regular starters for the playoffs, including wide receiver Cornell Powell, linebacker Anthony Hines, pass rusher Derek Roberson and cornerback Bryce Thompson. On the other side, St. Louis head coach Anthony Becht will play most of his starters, including QB Max Duggan. 2. Siaosi Mariner surprises as UFL receiving yards leader Under the radar this season, Mariner tops the UFL in receiving yards with 527 on 31 receptions and a score. His 17 yards per reception is the fourth-best mark in the league. Houston's Justin Hall leads the league with 58 receptions, while Powell is tops in receiving touchdowns with seven. Vying for the league lead in rushing yards is St. Louis' Jacob Saylors, whose 499 yards is tops in the UFL ahead of Week 10. San Antonio's Jashaun Corbin (459 yards) is second, while Deon Jackson (419 yards) is third. 3. Stallions peaking at the right time The defending UFL champions started the season scuffling at 3-2 but have won three of their last four games and are peaking at the right time. Part of the improved play has been the return of J'Mar Smith, who has stabilized the quarterback position and the entire offense because of his experience in head coach Skip Holtz's scheme. It's also taken some time for Birmingham's new roster to gel and deal with injury concerns, according to Holtz. "I call them the intangible things," he said. "They're the things you can't measure — where your motivation is, where your attitude is, where your passion or desire, you're why. "It's the intangible things that make championship teams, and I think that's one of the things that this team has done a good job of as we've gone through the season. It was very hard at the beginning of the season because 50% of our team is new, so we had to teach a new culture." 4. UFL announces Sportsman of the Year Award nominees This week, the UFL announced eight nominees for the 2025 UFL Sportsman of the Year. The nominees are Seth Green (Renegades), Barry Wesley (Stallions), Chris Rowland (Defenders), Leon O'Neal Jr. (Roughnecks), Jaylon Allen (Showboats), Ryan Nelson (Panthers), Steven Stillianos (Brahmas) and Trave Feeney (Battlehawks). The award goes to the player who best exemplifies the league's core values by demonstrating excellence on the field and a deep commitment to community service off the field. The winner will be announced at the 2025 UFL Championship Game in St. Louis on June 15. One of the top runners in the UFL last season, Lovett returns for San Antonio's last game of the year after landing on IR with an undisclosed injury earlier this season. In other UFL roster moves, the Roughnecks signed pass rusher Lonnie Phelps after he was released by San Antonio earlier this season. Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him at @eric_d_williams . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience United Football League recommended Get more from United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 UFL MVP Power Rankings: Perez, Perkins, Ta'amu make up three-man race
Heading into the final week of regular-season play in the UFL , there are only three viable candidates for me to win MVP. All of these players have not only appeared in at least 70% of the regular-season games, but have proven their importance to their teams and presented consistent challenges for the league. Here's a look at my updated MVP rankings heading into Week 10: 3. Michigan Panthers QB Bryce Perkins Week 9 stat line: N/A Week 9 result: N/A Despite not playing the last two weeks, Perkins still ranks No. 3 in passing yards in the UFL with 1,342. With Perkins at QB, the Panthers looked like a championship-caliber franchise and one to reckon with the defending UFL champion Birmingham Stallions. While he's a long shot to win the MVP, there's an argument for his contention with Arlington Renegades QB Luis Perez for UFL Offensive Player of the Year. In just seven games, he's recorded 14 total TDs, second to DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu. What Perkins might have been able to do statistically with two more games is debatable, but there's no doubt his contribution would've been positive. 2. Arlington Renegades QB Luis Perez Week 9 stat line: 20-of-30 for 206 passing yards, 2 TDs Week 9 result: 30-12 win over Memphis And after last week's performance, Perez became the only QB in the last five years to throw for at least 2,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. His 2,310 yards remains the record for passing in a 10-game season across the USFL, XFL and UFL. Had his team made the playoffs in 2025, Perez would've probably stood a chance to win UFL MVP. However, with a good outing this weekend, he should be a shoo-in for UFL Offensive Player of the Year. 1. DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu Week 9 stat line: 14-of-22 for 240 passing yards, 2 TDs Week 9 result: 24-21 loss to Houston With Ta'amu at quarterback, the Defenders are just one of two teams to see their Week 1 starter play in every single game this season, and it has paid dividends. The Defenders have reached the playoffs for the first time in the UFL, boasting the league's leading passer (Ta'amu) and second-leading receiver (Chris Rowland). In a league where good quarterback play has been difficult to find week-in-and-week-out, Ta'amu's 2025 performance stands out. Even with a change in head coach, his consistency has been the largest reason the Defenders are one of the best teams in the sport. With 2,155 passing yards, Ta'amu has a chance to become the first UFL player to pass for more than 2,400 yards since spring professional football was reintroduced in the U.S. in 2020. He has also accounted for 19 total TDs. With two more passing TDs, he will break Luis Perez's record for passing TDs in a UFL season (18). RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him at @RJ_Young . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience United Football League recommended Get more from United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
DC Defenders vs. Houston Roughnecks - May 25, 2025
Fresh off his 15-26, 240 Yds, 3 TDs performance, Ta'amu leads Defenders against Roughnecks DC 2ND XFL 24.0 PTS/G 17.1 245.5 Pass Yards 168.5 99.5 Rush Yards 91.5 22.9 Opp PTS/G 20.5 181.9 Opp Pass Yards 183.0 115.6 Opp Rush Yards 120.9 HOU 3RD USFL Houston, TX 90° Wind 18 mph SSE 90° 7:00 91° 8:00 90° 9:00 90° 10:00 DC FOLLOW Follow a team and personalize your FOX Sports experience HOU
