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Fox Sports
28-05-2025
- 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 News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
2025 UFL MVP Power Rankings: Jordan Ta'amu, Bryce Perkins on top after Week 5
The 2025 UFL MVP race continues to pick up steam, with a pair of quarterbacks topping the rankings. Bryce Perkins has guided the Michigan Panthers to a 3-2 mark, tied atop the USFL Conference, while Jordan Ta'amu has the DC Defenders sitting at 4-1, atop the XFL Conference. Where do Perkins and Ta'amu land in my latest MVP rankings, and is Arlington QB Luis Perez gaining ground in the race? Here's a look at my fifth UFL MVP power rankings of the season.[MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League] 5. St. Louis Battlehawks RB Jacob Saylors Week 5 stat line: 73 total yards on 14 touchesWeek 5 result: 32-27 win vs. Michigan While his production has dipped in recent weeks, Saylors remains one of the most prolific rushers and receivers in the league with 255 rushing yards and 202 receiving yards through the first half of the season. He ranks in the top 10 of each category. Saylors is tied for first place with Arlington Renegades tailback DeVeon Smith for rushing TDs this season with four and ranks just behind Arlington tailback Kalen Ballage in rushing yards per game at 51. Ballage, who leads the league in rushing with 276 yards, is inching closer toward becoming an MVP candidate himself. 4. Houston Roughnecks QB Jalan McClendon Week 5 stat line: 22-of-31 for 171 passing yardsWeek 5 result: 27-3 win at San Antonio The Roughnecks won just once in 2024. In 2025, they doubled that tally through the first half of the season and put themselves within striking distance of a playoff spot in the USFL Conference after settling on McClendon as their starting QB. While his numbers weren't eye-popping in Week 5, McClendon's ability to throw the ball downfield and his cool demeanor have changed the attitude of an offense that had been stagnant. Now, with wideout Justin Hall at his disposal, McClendon has an opportunity to help the Roughnecks reach the playoffs for the first time in a wide-open USFL Conference. Houston is just a game back of first place. 3. Arlington Renegades QB Luis Perez Week 5 stat line: 22-of-33 for 268 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INTWeek 5 result: 37-33 loss vs. D.C. Perez's play has been steady throughout the season. He is the only player to see more than 100 of his passes end in completions while being just one of two players with a completion percentage above 70% in the league. Given the balance the Renegade offense has shown with the league's most prolific rusher and its second-most prolific passer, Perez's performance is that much more impressive. 2. Michigan Panthers QB Bryce Perkins Week 5 stat line: 21-of-25 for 235 passing yards, 2 TDsWeek 5 result: 32-27 loss at St. Louis Perkins played his best game of the season in Week 5, and that's saying something for a player who was the two-time Offensive Player of the Week heading into an elite passing performance against the Battlehawks. The Panthers are still tied for first place in the USFL Conference and look like the favorite to win it. Had Perkins been Michigan's Day 1 starter, it's fair to ask if his numbers would be better. He leads the league in completion percentage at 72.3%, owns a 3-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio and has accounted for five total TDs this season. 1. DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu Week 5 stat line: 23-of-46 passing for 308 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INTWeek 5 result: 37-33 win at Arlington Over the last two weeks, no player has been more prolific than Ta'amu. He averaged more than 300 passing yards per game during this recent stretch, moved the Defenders to 4-1 and has played his best ball against two teams expected to compete for the second spot in the XFL Conference title game behind D.C. Ta'amu leads the UFL in passing TDs (nine) and total TDs (11) and is the only player in the league to pass for more than 1,000 yards through five games (1,213). If the MVP is awarded to the best player on the best team, it's difficult to argue how anyone could unseat Ta'amu. 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!
Fox Sports
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 UFL MVP Power Rankings: Jordan Ta'amu, Bryce Perkins on top after Week 5
The 2025 UFL MVP race continues to pick up steam, with a pair of quarterbacks topping the rankings. Bryce Perkins has guided the Michigan Panthers to a 3-2 mark, tied atop the USFL Conference, while Jordan Ta'amu has the DC Defenders sitting at 4-1, atop the XFL Conference. Where do Perkins and Ta'amu land in my latest MVP rankings, and is Arlington QB Luis Perez gaining ground in the race? Here's a look at my fifth UFL MVP power rankings of the season. [MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League ] 5. St. Louis Battlehawks RB Jacob Saylors Week 5 stat line: 73 total yards on 14 touches Week 5 result: 32-27 win vs. Michigan While his production has dipped in recent weeks, Saylors remains one of the most prolific rushers and receivers in the league with 255 rushing yards and 202 receiving yards through the first half of the season. He ranks in the top 10 of each category. Saylors is tied for first place with Arlington Renegades tailback DeVeon Smith for rushing TDs this season with four and ranks just behind Arlington tailback Kalen Ballage in rushing yards per game at 51. Ballage, who leads the league in rushing with 276 yards, is inching closer toward becoming an MVP candidate himself. 4. Houston Roughnecks QB Jalan McClendon Week 5 stat line: 22-of-31 for 171 passing yards Week 5 result: 27-3 win at San Antonio The Roughnecks won just once in 2024. In 2025, they doubled that tally through the first half of the season and put themselves within striking distance of a playoff spot in the USFL Conference after settling on McClendon as their starting QB. While his numbers weren't eye-popping in Week 5, McClendon's ability to throw the ball downfield and his cool demeanor have changed the attitude of an offense that had been stagnant. Now, with wideout Justin Hall at his disposal, McClendon has an opportunity to help the Roughnecks reach the playoffs for the first time in a wide-open USFL Conference. Houston is just a game back of first place. 3. Arlington Renegades QB Luis Perez Week 5 stat line: 22-of-33 for 268 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Week 5 result: 37-33 loss vs. D.C. Perez's play has been steady throughout the season. He is the only player to see more than 100 of his passes end in completions while being just one of two players with a completion percentage above 70% in the league. Given the balance the Renegade offense has shown with the league's most prolific rusher and its second-most prolific passer, Perez's performance is that much more impressive. 2. Michigan Panthers QB Bryce Perkins Week 5 stat line: 21-of-25 for 235 passing yards, 2 TDs Week 5 result: 32-27 loss at St. Louis Perkins played his best game of the season in Week 5, and that's saying something for a player who was the two-time Offensive Player of the Week heading into an elite passing performance against the Battlehawks. The Panthers are still tied for first place in the USFL Conference and look like the favorite to win it. Had Perkins been Michigan's Day 1 starter, it's fair to ask if his numbers would be better. He leads the league in completion percentage at 72.3%, owns a 3-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio and has accounted for five total TDs this season. 1. DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu Week 5 stat line: 23-of-46 passing for 308 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Week 5 result: 37-33 win at Arlington Over the last two weeks, no player has been more prolific than Ta'amu. He averaged more than 300 passing yards per game during this recent stretch, moved the Defenders to 4-1 and has played his best ball against two teams expected to compete for the second spot in the XFL Conference title game behind D.C. Ta'amu leads the UFL in passing TDs (nine) and total TDs (11) and is the only player in the league to pass for more than 1,000 yards through five games (1,213). If the MVP is awarded to the best player on the best team, it's difficult to argue how anyone could unseat Ta'amu. 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 ! 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
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
UFL Week 5 By The Numbers: Battlehawks, Defenders put on a show
Week 5 of the 2025 UFL season featured three highly-competitive games and one unexpected blowout. Every team that lost last week — the Memphis Showboats, St. Louis Battlehawks, DC Defenders and Houston Roughnecks — turned things around and were victorious in Week 5, while all of Week 4's winners — the Birmingham Stallions, Michigan Panthers, Arlington Renegades and San Antonio Brahmas — came up short this time around. [MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League] Here are the numbers to know after Week 5. 1: Memphis picked up its first win of the season in dramatic fashion on Friday night, beating defending champion Birmingham in the first overtime game in UFL history. After the Stallions forced OT in the final minute of regulation, the game was decided in a best-of-three shootout-style format with alternating plays from the 5-yard line. Memphis was able to score on two of its three tries for the eventual 24-20 win. 2: After missing the last three games with a hamstring injury, reigning UFL Offensive Player of the Year Hakeem Butler returned for the Battlehawks this week. He only caught two passes, but they went for a combined 124 yards and both ended in touchdowns. Butler caught two go-ahead scores in the fourth quarter — the first for 67 yards and the second for 57 yards on a trick play in St. Louis' 32-27 win over Michigan. [MORE: Isiah Hennie's kick-six, Battlehawks' trick play top best plays from UFL Week 5] 3: Houston's defense completely locked up San Antonio's offense in Week 5, holding the Brahmas to just 118 total yards en route to an easy 27-3 win. Houston QB Jalen McClendon got his first win as the Roughnecks' starter and led the offense to points on their first four drives of the game. 4: QB Jordan Ta'amu had four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) in the Defenders' comeback win over the Renegades. Ta'amu had 345 total yards and now looks like the front-runner for UFL MVP at the halfway point of the regular season, as DC's 4-1 record is the best in the league. Ta'amu also leads the league in total yards (268 per game) and touchdowns (11). [MORE: Jordan Ta'amu's 300-yard performance highlights UFL Week 5 storylines] 70: DC and Arlington combined for the highest scoring game of the season and tied for the most points in a game in UFL history in Sunday's game that ended with the Defenders coming out on top, 37-33. Arlington was also involved in the UFL's other 70-point game, which came in their 47-23 win over Memphis last year. 78: Memphis WR Dee Anderson's 78-yard touchdown reception against Birmingham was the longest play from scrimmage in UFL history. He was on the end of a deep pass from QB Dresser Winn, who was making his first start of the season. 108: In addition to Anderson's long score vs. Birmingham, the Showboats also scored on a 108-yard kick-six by Isiah Hennie off a missed field goal by the Stallions at the end of the first half. It's the longest play in UFL history. 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!
Fox Sports
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
UFL Week 5 By The Numbers: Battlehawks, Defenders put on a show
Week 5 of the 2025 UFL season featured three highly-competitive games and one unexpected blowout. Every team that lost last week — the Memphis Showboats , St. Louis Battlehawks , DC Defenders and Houston Roughnecks — turned things around and were victorious in Week 5, while all of Week 4's winners — the Birmingham Stallions , Michigan Panthers , Arlington Renegades and San Antonio Brahmas — came up short this time around. [MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League ] Here are the numbers to know after Week 5. 1: Memphis picked up its first win of the season in dramatic fashion on Friday night, beating defending champion Birmingham in the first overtime game in UFL history. After the Stallions forced OT in the final minute of regulation, the game was decided in a best-of-three shootout-style format with alternating plays from the 5-yard line. Memphis was able to score on two of its three tries for the eventual 24-20 win. 2: After missing the last three games with a hamstring injury, reigning UFL Offensive Player of the Year Hakeem Butler returned for the Battlehawks this week. He only caught two passes, but they went for a combined 124 yards and both ended in touchdowns. Butler caught two go-ahead scores in the fourth quarter — the first for 67 yards and the second for 57 yards on a trick play in St. Louis' 32-27 win over Michigan. [MORE: Isiah Hennie's kick-six, Battlehawks' trick play top best plays from UFL Week 5 ] 3: Houston's defense completely locked up San Antonio's offense in Week 5, holding the Brahmas to just 118 total yards en route to an easy 27-3 win. Houston QB Jalen McClendon got his first win as the Roughnecks' starter and led the offense to points on their first four drives of the game. 4: QB Jordan Ta'amu had four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) in the Defenders' comeback win over the Renegades. Ta'amu had 345 total yards and now looks like the front-runner for UFL MVP at the halfway point of the regular season, as DC's 4-1 record is the best in the league. Ta'amu also leads the league in total yards (268 per game) and touchdowns (11). [MORE: Jordan Ta'amu's 300-yard performance highlights UFL Week 5 storylines] 70: DC and Arlington combined for the highest scoring game of the season and tied for the most points in a game in UFL history in Sunday's game that ended with the Defenders coming out on top, 37-33. Arlington was also involved in the UFL's other 70-point game, which came in their 47-23 win over Memphis last year. 78: Memphis WR Dee Anderson's 78-yard touchdown reception against Birmingham was the longest play from scrimmage in UFL history. He was on the end of a deep pass from QB Dresser Winn, who was making his first start of the season. Dresser Winn threw two-point conversion to Dee Anderson to clinch Memphis Showboats' overtime win against Birmingham Stallions. 108: In addition to Anderson's long score vs. Birmingham, the Showboats also scored on a 108-yard kick-six by Isiah Hennie off a missed field goal by the Stallions at the end of the first half. It's the longest play in UFL history. 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
