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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
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
Fox Sports
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 UFL MVP Power Rankings: Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu leads after Week 8
Week 8 of the UFL season is in the books. The playoff schedule is all set and ready to go. Where do we stand in the MVP race? Heading into Week 9, the MVP race appears to be a two-man competition between a pair of quarterbacks that have stood out above the rest this season: Bryce Perkins and Jordan Ta'amu . Does Perkins or Ta'amu claim the top spot in this week's rankings? Who else is in the mix and has a chance to make a run at MVP honors? Here's a look at my updated UFL MVP rankings heading into Week 9: 4. St. Louis Battlehawks RB Jacob Saylors Week 8 stat line: 16 rushes, 118 yards, 1 TD Week 8 result: 29-28 win over Birmingham Saylors has been the most consistent offensive weapons in the UFL throughout the season. He leads all rushers with 466 yards and is tied for first place in rushing touchdowns with five. With more performances like last week, Saylors could be the primary reason the Battlehawks win their first UFL postseason contest. 3. Arlington Renegades QB Luis Perez Week 8 stat line: 32-of-46 for 350 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Week 8 result: 33-30 loss to DC Perez has consistently shown himself to be one of the league's best passers. Heading into the final two weeks of the season, he has thrown for more than 1,800 yards, completed 70.9% of his passes and has thrown seven touchdowns to five interceptions. Though the Renegades are out of the playoff hunt, Perez still has a chance to top 2,000 yards passing in 10 games. 2. Michigan Panthers QB Bryce Perkins Week 8 stat line: N/A Week 8 result: N/A Though Perkins did not play in Week 8, it's been clear since he ascended to QB1 in Michigan that his playmaking ability is what has allowed the Panther offense to remain dynamic. Perkins plays the QB position like a point guard, passing when players are open, but he's also just as adept at moving the chains with his feet. The Panthers always have an option to run or pass when Perkins drops back, and that skill will serve them well against the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL Conference Championship Game. 1. DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu Week 8 stat line: 15-of-26 for 240 passing yards, 2 TDs Week 8 result: 33-30 win over Arlington No one has proven to be more adept at creating explosive plays for their team than Ta'amu. With 1,990 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, he has thrown for nearly 200 more yards than the second-leading passer in the league and twice as many TDs as the No. 2 QB with that mark. While his completion percentage is 53.6%, when Ta'amu completes passes, they're more than likely to be chunk plays. Those chunk plays have allowed the Defenders to clinch their first UFL playoff appearance and have Ta'amu positioned as the presumptive MVP of the league. 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
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Five things to watch for in Week 7 of the 2025 UFL season
The DC Defenders have the UFL 's leading passer in quarterback Jordan Ta'amu. But Ta'amu needs a consistent pass catcher to throw the ball to, and this year that has been Chris Rowland. The Tennessee State product leads the league in receiving yards (395) and is tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns (three). Rowland is also the UFL's leader in all-purpose yards (836). [MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League ] At 5-foot-8 and 179 pounds, Rowland doesn't overwhelm opponents with his size or speed. Instead, he's always exactly where he needs to be on the field, serving as a security blanket for Ta'amu. Rowland finished with nine receptions for 144 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Defenders' loss to the Michigan Panthers last week. "He prepares every week the right way," Defenders interim head coach Shannon Harris said about Rowland. "He prepares his body the right way. That's why he's able to be out there and sustain a lot of playing time. When he comes out to work for practice, he understands the scheme, week in and week out. He's really good at talking back with the quarterback, Jordan, in what he's seeing, so he over communicates. He's a pro's pro." Rowland will need to be at his best this weekend as the Defenders (4-2) push towards the playoffs, hitting the road to face the San Antonio Brahmas (1-5) on Friday night (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). Then, the Arlington Renegades (3-3) host the Panthers (4-2) on Saturday (1 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). Closing things out with a doubleheader, with the Houston Roughnecks (3-3) facing the Birmingham Stallions (4-2) — the defending champions' their third game in a row at Protective Stadium — on Sunday (noon ET), followed by the Memphis Showboats (1-5) playing host to the St. Louis Battlehawks (4-2) later that evening (3 p.m. ET). Here's a closer look at five things to watch for in Week 7: 1. Brahmas QB Kevin Hogan gets second start The Brahmas will stick with Hogan as the team's starting quarterback for a second straight week after he did a better job of creating explosive plays on offense in Week 6. Jarrett Guarantano will serve as the team's No. 2 quarterback, while Kellen Mond — the team's starter to begin the season — will serve as the emergency No. 3 quarterback. San Antonio is averaging a league-low 11.8 points per game and hasn't scored a touchdown in the past two games. Interim head coach Payton Pardee will continue to serve as the team's head coach this week. However, Wade Phillips said he's in better health and plans to attend his team's game this weekend in Birmingham. Phillips took a leave of absence earlier this season due to health concerns and is hopeful about returning before the end of the season. Also, San Antonio's most explosive playmaker, Anthony McFarland, has been ruled out this week with a left shoulder injury that forced him to leave last week's game early. McFarland is third in the league with 242 rushing yards. The Brahmas will also be without receivers Greg Ward Jr. (abdomen) and Mathew Sexton (hamstring). 2. Renegades RB Kalen Ballage out for the season with shoulder issue Arlington head coach Bob Stoops told reporters that Ballage, who exited the Renegades' game last week early, was placed on IR and is done for the season due to a separated shoulder that will require surgery. The Arizona State product is second in the league in rushing with 306 rushing yards and two scores. Ballage also has the longest rushing touchdown in UFL history, a 77-yard gallop for a score in Week 1. Arlington will lean on Dae Dae Hunter and De'Veon Smith to fill the void. Hunter is fifth in the UFL in rushing with 242 yards through six games. The Renegades also signed RB Tony Jones to replace Ballage on the depth chart. 3. Battlehawks waive WR Denzel Mims The Battlehawks waived Mims, a former second-round selection by the New York Jets in the 2020 NFL Draft, this week. The Baylor product totaled just five catches for 51 yards on seven targets through six games this season. With the extra roster spot, the Battlehawks brought back receiver Sam Wiglusz out of Ohio. Elsewhere, the Brahmas waived offensive lineman Greg Eiland this week, while the Roughnecks signed tight end Cam Sutton. San Antonio also executed a trade this week, picking up receiver Dee Anderson from the Showboats in exchange for cornerback Darius Phillips. In other roster news, Defenders leading sack man Andre Mintze (4.5 sacks) is out this week with a head injury. 4. Stallions bolster QB depth with Jalen Morton Birmingham has started three different quarterbacks so far this season and has played four over six games. With the team's top two signal callers — Alex McGough (shoulder) and Matt Corral (hip) — out again this week, head coach Skip Holtz added some much-needed depth to the position, signing Morton. The Prairie View A&M product had been playing arena football for the Southwest Kansas Storm, where he finished with 1,335 passing yards, 285 rushing yards and 34 total touchdowns. Morton is familiar with Birmingham's scheme, having served as McGough's backup during the team's legacy USFL championship run in 2023. Holtz said there's a chance that McGough could return next week, while Corral is likely out until the end of the regular season but could be available if the Stallions make the playoffs. Case Cookus is expected to get his third start of the year for the Stallions. Cookus' backup, Andrew Peasley, suffered a knee injury and has not practiced this week, so J'Mar Smith would be No. 2 behind Cookus if Peasley isn't healthy. 5. Battlehawks' Pita Taumoepenu is "The Closer" The UFL's leader with 5.5 sacks on the year, Taumoepenu earned an appropriate nickname from his teammates. "We just call him 'The Closer,'" fellow St. Louis edge rusher Chris Garrett said about his teammate this week. Taumoepenu helped shut the door on the Renegades last week, sacking Arlington QB Luis Perez and forcing a fumble that Garrett recovered to seal the victory. He finished with two sacks, two forced fumbles and five combined tackles, earning UFL Defensive Player of the Week honors. Taumoepenu, the 2023 XFL Defensive Player of the Year, has his sights on winning that award for the UFL this season. Panthers DE Breeland Speaks won the award last year, finishing with a league-high 9.5 sacks in the regular 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 News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
2025 UFL MVP Power Rankings: Bryce Perkins, Jordan Ta'amu remain on top
Bryce Perkins or Jordan Ta'amu? The two UFL QBs have established themselves as the clear front-runners for the league's MVP honors following six weeks of action. Perkins, the former Virginia standout who is in his second year in the UFL, has been lights out for the Michigan Panthers this season, leading the team to a 4-2 mark and tied atop of the USFL Conference standings. Ta'amu, who played his college ball at Ole Miss, is on his second stint with the DC Defenders and is putting together an impressive season himself. Ta'amu has the Defenders sitting at 4-2 overall, tied with the Battlehawks for first place in the XFL standings. Where do Perkins and Ta'amu land in my latest MVP rankings, and is there anyone else who can gain ground in the race? Here's a look at my sixth UFL MVP power rankings of the season. 5. St. Louis Battlehawks RB Jacob Saylors Week 6 stat line: 14 carries, 57 yardsWeek 6 result: 12-6 win over Arlington Saylors has cooled down a bit after his hot start to the season, but the former East Tennessee State star still remains the most prolific back in the league. He leads the UFL in rushing with 312 rushing yards and is tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns with four. Saylors' 14-carry, 57-yard performance was his second-highest rushing yardage output this season, and he did it in a victory. The Battlehawks are tied with the Defenders atop the XFL Conference standings and will rely heavily on Saylors down the stretch. 4. Houston Roughnecks QB Jalan McClendon Week 6 stat line: 20-of-28 for 149 passing yards, 1 TDWeek 6 result: 21-20 win over Memphis McClendon continues to be a spark for the Roughnecks' offense, leading the team to another victory this past weekend. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown in Houston's narrow 21-20 victory over Memphis. After not playing in the first three games of the Roughnecks' season, McClendon has been a revelation for this team and has brought this offense to life. Houston is averaging 21.3 points per game since McClendon took over as the team's starting QB. 3. Arlington Renegades QB Luis Perez Week 6 stat line: 16-of-23 for 145 passing yards, 1 INTWeek 6 result: 12-6 loss to St. Louis Perez didn't have his best outing this past weekend, completing just 16 passes for 145 yards in a 12-6 loss to the Battlehawks. He failed to find the end zone, marking just the second game this season Perez hasn't thrown a touchdown pass. Through six weeks of action, Perez ranks second in the UFL in passing yards (1,145) and completion percentage (70.8), while his three passing TDs are tied for fifth in the league. 2. DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu Week 6 stat line: 19-of-36 passing for 259 yards, 2 TDsWeek 6 result: 38-14 loss to Michigan Ta'amu let it fly once again in Week 6, throwing for 250-plus yards and two touchdowns. However, the Defenders' defense couldn't stop the Panthers, making it hard for Ta'amu to keep up. The former Ole Miss standout leads the league in passing with 1,472 yards and 11 touchdowns through six weeks. But if Ta'amu wants to lock up the MVP award, his Defenders team needs to win down the stretch. 1. Michigan Panthers QB Bryce Perkins Week 6 stat line: 13-of-18 for 188 passing yards, 2 TDs, 76 rushing yards, 1 TDWeek 5 result: 38-14 win over DC Perkins continues to get it done with both his arm and his legs. The Panthers' dual-threat signal-caller was dominant in Michigan's 38-14 win over the Defenders, proving to be the best QB on the field. Through six weeks of action, Perkins ranks third in the UFL in passing yards (1,111), second in passing touchdowns (eight), eighth in rushing yards (209) and is tied for first in rushing touchdowns (four). RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast "The Number One College Football Show." Follow him at @RJ_Young and subscribe to "The RJ Young Show" on YouTube. 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!
