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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 News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Luis Perez's head-scratching decision headlines UFL storylines from Week 8
With the Arlington Renegades trailing by three points and needing only a field goal to send the game into overtime, quarterback Luis Perez took matters into his own hands — with disastrous results. Instead of spiking the ball to set up a long field goal, Perez faked the spike and tried to connect on a quick out route to get a couple yards closer. However, DC Defenders cornerback Deandre Baker picked off the fluttering pass to seal a 33-30 victory and a spot in the postseason. "I thought we were just spiking the football and were going to kick the field goal," Arlington head coach Bob Stoops said. "And Luis thought he had the out route, so he threw it. It didn't work that way." Despite Perez's season-high 350 passing yards, the Renegades were eliminated from the playoffs for a second consecutive season after the critical turnover. Like last year, the Renegades struggled to get over the hump in close games. Now 3-5, all five losses for Arlington have been by a touchdown or less. The Renegades were 1-5 in one-score games last season. With the victory, the Defenders (6-2) were one of four teams to punch their ticket to the playoffs over the weekend, as the teams in the postseason have been decided with two weeks left in the regular season. On Saturday, St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Travis Feeney forced Birmingham Stallions running back C.J. Marable to fumble with his team driving and 16 seconds left. Cornerback Myles Jones recovered it, and St. Louis held on for a 29-28 victory in front of 30,114 fans at The Dome at America's Center. St. Louis (6-2) clinched a playoff berth with the victory and Arlington's loss. Even with the setback, the Stallions (5-3) also clinched a postseason berth because the Michigan Panthers (6-2) topped the Houston Roughnecks (3-5) on the road, 30-18. The UFL announced that no matter how teams finish, the USFL Conference title game will be held at Protective Stadium in Birmingham and the XFL Conference championship tilt will be held in St. Louis on June 8. Elsewhere, the Memphis Showboats (2-6) outlasted the San Antonio Brahmas (1-7) in overtime, 24-22. Here's a look at other storylines from Week 8: A frontrunner for 2025 UFL Offensive Player of the Year, Saylors finished with 118 rushing yards on 16 carries in Week 8 — including a 1-yard touchdown to tie the game late in the fourth quarter and a 2-yard run for the ensuing 1-point conversion that served as the winning score. Saylors now leads the league in rushing yards (466) and is tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (five) with two games left. The Battlehawks have the top rushing offense in the league, averaging 141 rushing yards a contest. St. Louis is now riding a four-game winning streak. "Birmingham's defense knew we were running the football," St. Louis head coach Anthony Becht said. "We knew we were running the football, and we just kept pounding it away. Ultimately, that was the difference in the football game. But just really proud of the way he (Saylors) played and what he brings to the table. "He's a captain. He's our best player honestly, and he lives up to those expectations. In the biggest games, in the biggest moments, you've got to show up, and he did." A late-game scratch, league MVP candidate Bryce Perkins did not play against the Roughnecks due to an ankle injury. Perkins was limited in practice during the week but fully participated Friday and was listed as probable for the game. However, Michigan head coach Mike Nolan had been rotating Perkins and second-stringer Etling earlier in the year, and the latter performed very well (14-for-22 passes for 167 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions). "As I settled in and just got to see what the defense was doing, I kind of got into the rhythm of seeing the plays," Etling said. "I got into the rhythm of playing live football again. It's kind of just like old hat. I've been playing football for a long time, so it's no biggie once you get into a rhythm." Houston QB Jalan McClendon completed 30 of 50 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. However, he did throw a pick-six in the second half with the game still within reach; Michigan CB Keni Lovely returned it 55 yards for the score. The Ole Miss product is one of only two quarterbacks (Perez is the other) to start every game this season and continues to churn out prolific passing performances for the Defenders. Ta'amu finished 15-for-26 with 240 passing yards and two touchdowns in the win. He also ran for 24 yards and even caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from receiver Chris Rowland. Ta'amu leads the league in passing yards (1,990) and passing touchdowns (16). He's also No. 16 in the UFL in rushing yards (171). "I'm just excited for this opportunity to rewrite history," Ta'amu said about his team reaching the postseason. "The last two years it hurt, not winning those championships. We felt like in the locker room that we were the better team." While his team has struggled to get wins, the USC product has put together some highlight performances over the last two weeks. The latest highlight-reel catch was an acrobatic, one-handed grab for a 5-yard touchdown at the back of the end zone from Perez. Vaughns finished with three catches for 51 yards and two scores on eight targets. [MORE: Renegades WR Tyler Vaughns' one-handed TD highlights top UFL plays from Week 8] Over the last two games, Vaughns has 12 catches for 178 yards and three touchdowns. He's sixth in receptions (30), seventh in receiving yards (344) and tied for fourth in touchdown receptions (three) with two games left. FOX's Friday night game had a little bit of everything, including a blocked punt followed by a missed field goal. The two teams combined for five turnovers and 128 penalty yards. San Antonio tight end Steven Stilianos threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Dee Anderson for a touchdown, while another player who usually has his hand on the ground — Memphis defensive tackle Josiah Bronson — reeled in a touchdown-saving interception. In the end, Memphis QB Troy Williams led his team to two straight two-point conversions in OT for the Showboats' second win this season. Jashaun Corbin finished with 25 carries for 145 rushing yards and a score for the Brahmas. 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!
Fox Sports
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Luis Perez's head-scratching decision headlines UFL storylines from Week 8
With the Arlington Renegades trailing by three points and needing only a field goal to send the game into overtime, quarterback Luis Perez took matters into his own hands — with disastrous results. Instead of spiking the ball to set up a long field goal, Perez faked the spike and tried to connect on a quick out route to get a couple yards closer. However, DC Defenders cornerback Deandre Baker picked off the fluttering pass to seal a 33-30 victory and a spot in the postseason. "I thought we were just spiking the football and were going to kick the field goal," Arlington head coach Bob Stoops said. "And Luis thought he had the out route, so he threw it. It didn't work that way." Despite Perez's season-high 350 passing yards, the Renegades were eliminated from the playoffs for a second consecutive season after the critical turnover. Like last year, the Renegades struggled to get over the hump in close games. Now 3-5, all five losses for Arlington have been by a touchdown or less. The Renegades were 1-5 in one-score games last season. With the victory, the Defenders (6-2) were one of four teams to punch their ticket to the playoffs over the weekend, as the teams in the postseason have been decided with two weeks left in the regular season. On Saturday, St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Travis Feeney forced Birmingham Stallions running back C.J. Marable to fumble with his team driving and 16 seconds left. Cornerback Myles Jones recovered it, and St. Louis held on for a 29-28 victory in front of 30,114 fans at The Dome at America's Center. St. Louis (6-2) clinched a playoff berth with the victory and Arlington's loss. Even with the setback, the Stallions (5-3) also clinched a postseason berth because the Michigan Panthers (6-2) topped the Houston Roughnecks (3-5) on the road, 30-18. The UFL announced that no matter how teams finish, the USFL Conference title game will be held at Protective Stadium in Birmingham and the XFL Conference championship tilt will be held in St. Louis on June 8. Elsewhere, the Memphis Showboats (2-6) outlasted the San Antonio Brahmas (1-7) in overtime, 24-22. Here's a look at other storylines from Week 8: Jacob Saylors grabs UFL rushing lead with 118-yard performance A frontrunner for 2025 UFL Offensive Player of the Year, Saylors finished with 118 rushing yards on 16 carries in Week 8 — including a 1-yard touchdown to tie the game late in the fourth quarter and a 2-yard run for the ensuing 1-point conversion that served as the winning score. Saylors now leads the league in rushing yards (466) and is tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (five) with two games left. The Battlehawks have the top rushing offense in the league, averaging 141 rushing yards a contest. St. Louis is now riding a four-game winning streak. "Birmingham's defense knew we were running the football," St. Louis head coach Anthony Becht said. "We knew we were running the football, and we just kept pounding it away. Ultimately, that was the difference in the football game. But just really proud of the way he (Saylors) played and what he brings to the table. "He's a captain. He's our best player honestly, and he lives up to those expectations. In the biggest games, in the biggest moments, you've got to show up, and he did." A late-game scratch, league MVP candidate Bryce Perkins did not play against the Roughnecks due to an ankle injury. Perkins was limited in practice during the week but fully participated Friday and was listed as probable for the game. However, Michigan head coach Mike Nolan had been rotating Perkins and second-stringer Etling earlier in the year, and the latter performed very well (14-for-22 passes for 167 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions). "As I settled in and just got to see what the defense was doing, I kind of got into the rhythm of seeing the plays," Etling said. "I got into the rhythm of playing live football again. It's kind of just like old hat. I've been playing football for a long time, so it's no biggie once you get into a rhythm." Houston QB Jalan McClendon completed 30 of 50 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. However, he did throw a pick-six in the second half with the game still within reach; Michigan CB Keni Lovely returned it 55 yards for the score. Jordan Ta'amu solidifies frontrunner status for UFL MVP award The Ole Miss product is one of only two quarterbacks (Perez is the other) to start every game this season and continues to churn out prolific passing performances for the Defenders. Ta'amu finished 15-for-26 with 240 passing yards and two touchdowns in the win. He also ran for 24 yards and even caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from receiver Chris Rowland. Ta'amu leads the league in passing yards (1,990) and passing touchdowns (16). He's also No. 16 in the UFL in rushing yards (171). "I'm just excited for this opportunity to rewrite history," Ta'amu said about his team reaching the postseason. "The last two years it hurt, not winning those championships. We felt like in the locker room that we were the better team." While his team has struggled to get wins, the USC product has put together some highlight performances over the last two weeks. The latest highlight-reel catch was an acrobatic, one-handed grab for a 5-yard touchdown at the back of the end zone from Perez. Vaughns finished with three catches for 51 yards and two scores on eight targets. [MORE: Renegades WR Tyler Vaughns' one-handed TD highlights top UFL plays from Week 8] Over the last two games, Vaughns has 12 catches for 178 yards and three touchdowns. He's sixth in receptions (30), seventh in receiving yards (344) and tied for fourth in touchdown receptions (three) with two games left. FOX's Friday night game had a little bit of everything, including a blocked punt followed by a missed field goal. The two teams combined for five turnovers and 128 penalty yards. San Antonio tight end Steven Stilianos threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Dee Anderson for a touchdown, while another player who usually has his hand on the ground — Memphis defensive tackle Josiah Bronson — reeled in a touchdown-saving interception. In the end, Memphis QB Troy Williams led his team to two straight two-point conversions in OT for the Showboats' second win this season. Jashaun Corbin finished with 25 carries for 145 rushing yards and a score for the Brahmas. 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
USA Today
17-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Auburn receiver Seth Williams signs with UFL's DC Defenders
Former Auburn receiver Seth Williams signs with UFL's DC Defenders Seth Williams looks to continue his football career with the DC Defenders. An Auburn Tigers fan favorite at wide receiver is continuing his football career. This week Seth Williams signed with the DC Defenders of the UFL. The UFL is in week eight of their second season this week with a game on Sunday versus the Arlington Renegades in a pivotal XFL Conference matchup. Williams will be catching passes from a former SEC quarterback in Jordan Ta'amu who spent his college career with Ole Miss. Williams last played for Auburn during the 2020 season where he caught 47 passes for 760 yards and four touchdowns. He left the Tigers after his junior season to head to the NFL. Williams had his best year for the Tigers in 2021 when he became the top target for Bo Nix. He led the team with 59 receptions for 830 yards and eight touchdowns. Williams ended his career with 132 receptions for 2,134 yards and 17 touchdowns. He ranks fourth all-time at Auburn in receiving yards and tied for third in touchdowns. He was drafted in the sixth round by the Denver Broncos with the 219th overall pick. He was waived by the Broncos before the start of the season, but Williams was signed to the team's practice squad. In a week 17 game versus the Chargers, Williams caught he first and only reception in the NFL. He had one catch for 34 yards. Williams then would spend time on the practice squads for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2022-23) and the Dallas Cowboys (2024). Entering the weekend the Defenders were tied for the lead in the XFL Conference with a 5-2 record. The top two teams in each conference will reach the UFL Playoffs. The other conference is the USFL and is led by the Birmingham Stallions and Michigan Panthers. When the Defenders play the Renegades, Williams will not be the only former Tiger on the field catching passes. Former Auburn tight end Sal Cannella leads the team with 30 receptions and 299 yards. He has scored one touchdown this season. Cannella played for Auburn from 2017 to 2019. The game between the Defenders and the Renegades (3-4 record) can be seen on Sunday at 11 a.m. Central on ABC or ESPN+. It should be a fun watch for any Auburn fan looking to see some former Tigers still living their dreams of playing professional football. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Phillip on Twitter @PJordanSEC
Fox Sports
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Five things to watch for in Week 8 of the 2025 UFL season
Since the start of the 2025 UFL season, St. Louis Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht has been preparing his team for this weekend's matchup. Becht has built the Battlehawks to win an UFL title, St. Louis will have to dethrone the current champion Birmingham Stallions in order to do that. They'll get an opportunity to see if they're up to that task this weekend when they host the Stallions at The Dome at America's Center on Saturday (1 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). "They're the reigning champions, so if you want to be where they are, you've got to take it from them," Becht said. [MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League ] The Stallions won the first and only matchup between these two franchises last season, a 30-26 victory in Birmingham in Week 7 of the regular season. St. Louis failed to make it to the championship game last year, losing to the San Antonio Brahmas in the XFL Conference title game, 25-15. However, with both teams sitting at 5-2 and tied for the lead atop their respective conferences, Saturday's game could be a preview of this year's championship tilt. The Battlehawks hope to play in that one, with the highly anticipated contest taking place in St. Louis. However, Becht understands there's still a lot of work to do. "We know how good Birmingham is, but we're a good team, too," Becht said. "They're going to have to worry about us as well, so it's going to be a great matchup." Elsewhere, the Brahmas (1-6) kick things off by hosting the Memphis Showboats (1-6) on Friday (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). On Saturday, the Michigan Panthers (5-2) hit the road to face the Houston Roughnecks (3-4) in a game that'll be broadcast simultaneously (1 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app) alongside Stallions-Battlehawks. Things come to a close with the DC Defenders (5-2) hosting the Arlington Renegades (3-4) on Sunday (noon ET). Here's a closer look at five things to watch for in Week 8: 1. Alex McGough returns, but J'Mar Smith to start for Stallions Out since suffering a separated shoulder in Week 2, Birmingham's starting quarterback McGough returned to practice this week, giving head coach Skip Holtz a tough decision to make as to who to start against St. Louis in an all-important contest with huge postseason implications. Last week's starter, Case Cookus, could not finish the game due to an injured elbow on his throwing arm. Cookus has also been nursing a balky knee and was limited in practice this week. Smith, who helped lead Birmingham to a USFL title in 2022, subbed in for Cookus and helped lead the Stallions to a comeback victory over Houston in Week 7. Backup QB Andrew Peasley also returned to practice this week after suffering a knee injury in Week 6. The Stallions released Jalen Morton to make room on the roster for McGough. Holtz says he's carrying four QBs on the roster this week because he doesn't know who's healthy enough to play, but Smith will get the start against the Battlehawks. "The only healthy guy I've got right now is J'Mar Smith," Holtz said. "He's the healthiest quarterback right now and gives us the best chance to win." 2. QB Troy Williams to start for Showboats The quarterback carousel churned again for Memphis, as interim head coach Jim Turner made the decision to start Williams this weekend against the Brahmas. Williams split time with E.J. Perry to start the year. The Utah product has played in three games, making one start and completing 16 of 27 passes for 180 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. Perry will serve as the backup and Dresser Winn, who started the last three games but missed practice time this week with a knee injury, will serve as the emergency third-string quarterback. The Showboats will also be without running back Wes Hills due to a calf issue. For San Antonio, star running back Anthony McFarland (shoulder) and receiver Mathew Sexton (hamstring) are inactive. 3. UFL's leading tackler Frank Ginda out for year with shoulder injury Michigan will have to play the rest of the season without its leading tackler after Ginda was placed on IR due to a left shoulder injury. Ginda leads the league with 61 combined tackles, including four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The Panthers already lost last year's UFL Defensive Player of the Year in edge rusher Breeland Speaks when he was placed on IR with an unspecified injury. However, the Panthers did get an explosive playmaker back, with running back Matt Colburn returning to the active roster after missing five games because of a shoulder issue. To make room, the Panthers waived running back Jaden Sheridan, who was claimed by the Brahmas. 4. WR Jacob Harris returns to action for San Antonio Speaking of the Brahmas, one of the team's leading receivers will return to action this week. Big-bodied pass catcher Harris returned to the active roster this week after missing Week 7 because of a foot injury. A fourth-round selection by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021 NFL Draft, Harris spent two seasons in L.A. and one year with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Harris leads San Antonio with 247 receiving yards on 15 receptions, averaging 16.5 yards per catch. Kevin Hogan is set to make his third start at quarterback for San Antonio. The Brahmas also waived safety BoPete Keys (hamstring) this week. St. Louis signed a familiar face to the roster, adding depth to the defensive backfield with the addition of Micah Abraham. A sixth-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts last season, he was cut during final roster cuts. He spent part of the 2024 season on the practice squad with the Cincinnati Bengals and signed a deal with the team in January. However, he was released by the Bengals this week. Micah Abraham, 24, finished with 150 combined tackles and 12 interceptions during his college career at Marshall. He joins a St. Louis defense that's allowed just one touchdown over the last two games. To make room on the roster, the Battlehawks waived LB Olakunle Fatukasi. 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
