The Journey: From the UFL to the NFL
The 2024 UFL season finished on Sunday with a dominant win by the powerful Birmingham Stallions. Tuesday marked the day NFL teams could begin signing players from the UFL. There have been a total of eight signings since the initial stages. Several more occurred in the intervening period.
Who are these players, and how will they fare in their journey to the National Football League? Some players return a year wiser and older, while others are just beginning.
They will be listed in alphabetical order.
Official Signings
Birmingham K Ramiz Ahmed (Washington)
Ahmed played in six games for the champions before signing with the Commanders in early June. He’s the only kicker currently on the roster. He played his college football at Nevada and has pro experience with the Bears and Packers on his resume. Before playing for the Stallions, he played for the defunct Pittsburgh Maulers franchise, parlaying that into the gig with the Packers. Originally, an undrafted free agent signing by the Bears in the 2020 draft class. He holds the USFL record for longest field goal record at 61 yards. The former Nevada kicker hit 10 of 13 field goals during his stint with the Stallions and is also a kickoff specialist.
Michigan K Jake Bates (Detroit)
According to Adam Schefter, the esteemed Panthers kicker won’t have to travel far in his new home. The Lions signed him to a two-year deal worth nearly $2 million, with some bonuses kicked in. Bates was electric, hitting two 60-yard field goals, including a 64-yard walk-off game-winner at Ford Field. He was 17 for 22 in 2024. He’ll compete with incumbent Michael Badgely for the job. Whoever is the most consistent will likely win the job, as Badgely has been a journeyman throughout his career before Detroit.
D.C. Defenders CB Gareon Conley (Dallas)
Conley was a first-round selection by the Raiders in 2017 but found his way into the UFL after not playing since the 2019 season. He recorded 25 tackles, two interceptions, and five PBUs in seven contests for the Defenders. The former Buckeyes star will have a tough road to crack the 53-man roster behind starters Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, and Jourdan Lewis. He’ll have to compete with names like Nahshon Wright and rookie Caelan Carson to make it. Working in Conley’s favor is his former DC in Oakland, who is now the Cowboys’ DRGC Paul Guenther. Dallas also simultaneously worked out another former first-round selection and DC teammate, DeAndre Baker.
Memphis WR Daewood Davis (Carolina)
Davis burst onto the scene in college after transferring to the pass-happy Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky. He signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He has not recorded a statistic in the NFL. The Showboats standout produced the seventh-best season for a receiver with 45 receptions for 445 yards and five touchdowns. He has a pathway into playing time with the Panthers behind veterans Adam Theilen and Diontae Johnson. Carolina’s receiver room is lackluster or unproven outside of those two standouts.
San Antonio Brahmas DL Prince Emili (Atlanta)
Emili was a monster in the middle for the Brahmas, particularly in the conference championship game, where he ended the affair with a sack of A.J. McCarron. In nine games, he posted 21 tackles, two tackles for loss, and three sacks. He joins a Falcons defense that’s retooling around a familiar face in Raheem Morris, who returns as the head coach after serving as DC previously. The former Penn product does have prior NFL experience as a 2022 undrafted free agent signing for Buffalo. He’ll compete for backup reps behind legendary Falcon DT Grady Jarrett against unproven competition.
D.C. Defenders OL Liam Fornadel (New England)
Fornadel stood out for the Defenders, posting a 79.1 overall offensive grade from PFF. The current Patriot had been a two-year starter for the Defenders in the XFL and the merged UFL. He was a standout guard from former FCS powerhouse turned FBS upstart James Madison. As several players block his path, he will have an interesting road to making the roster. If he does well, the swing guard role is in play for him as his competitors are underwhelming or too new to make an impact.
St. Louis LB Willie Harvey, Jr (Dallas)
Dallas signed the Battlehawks standout, who led the entire league in tackles and was seemingly all over the field. He also posted nine tackles for loss, four sacks, six PBUs, and two forced fumbles. Harvey is also a Lone Star State native, so he’s returning home to compete for a roster spot. The UFL named him to the All-UFL team due to his outstanding efforts. He will compete for backup reps behind starters Damone Clark and Eric Kendricks and should make the roster.
St. Louis OL Jaryd Jones-Smith (Atlanta)
Jones-Smith is a veteran tackle who has bounced around the league for several teams after signing with the Texans as a UDFA in the 2018 draft class. He played college football at Pittsburgh. The former Battlehawks star was an All-UFL performer at left tackle this past season. Obviously, the starting tackle spots are spoken for as Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary form a powerful bookend. JJS can make the roster as a backup swing tackle against largely unproven depth pieces.
San Antonio OL Kohl Levao (New York Jets)
Levao was an All-UFL performer after starting all ten games and not allowing a single sack in two seasons of spring play. He also didn’t allow a hit on the quarterback in 2024. The former Hawai’i lineman played both guard spots for the runners-up Brahmas. He’ll have to show much of that versatility and skill set from the UFL to make the roster on a loaded offensive line. Levao may make it as a swing guard competing against disappointments and undrafted free agents like Max Mitchell and Xavier Newman.
Arlington DL Jalen Redmond (Minnesota)
Redmond was a star in the UFL when healthy, producing 18 tackles, five tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks in four games. In 2023, he signed with Carolina as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma. If he can remain healthy, he could be an interesting depth piece for a retooled Vikings’ defensive line. His versatility should allow him to make the roster in Minnesota.
St. Louis RB Jacob Saylors (New York Giants)
Saylors led the league’s running backs (Adrian Martinez actually led) in rushing with 461 yards and five touchdowns. He was named to the All-UFL team as a result. He’ll compete for a roster spot in the crowded Giants backfield as they try to navigate a post-Saquon Barkley world. With some luck on his side, he could fight for RB3 duties.
Birmingham EDGE Dondrea Tillman (Denver)
Tillman was a key contributor to the Spring League dynasty, posting 27 tackles, six tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 2024. He was consistently well-regarded by PFF metrics throughout the campaign, regularly posting scores in the 80s. He’ll compete for a backup EDGE role on a defense that’s looking to bounce back under Vance Joseph. It’s likely that he could make the roster over less than inspiring competitors such as Ronnie Perkins, Thomas Incoom, and Nik Bonitto.
Unofficially Announced
A champion Stallions star has been slated to sign a contract with the NFL, but neither league has announced this for whatever reason.
RB Ricky Person Jr (Seattle)
Person was part of a well-balanced rushing attack for the Stallions, rushing for 293 yards and six touchdowns on 93 attempts. He also contributed in the passing game, snagging 13 receptions for 150 yards. He played collegiately at NC State, where he rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns in his career. The former Wolfpack runner also had 482 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Seattle has a crowded backfield behind the lead runners, Kenneth Walker, Jr and Zach Charbonnet. Person Jr has a chance to beat out a host of undrafted rookies and a seventh-round selection from the 2023 draft for RB3 duties. The former Ravens UDFA has a connection to the new Seattle regime courtesy of the Harbaugh family.
Who Could Be Next?
There’s plenty of talent left, including MVP QB Adrian Martinez, DL Carlos Davis, LB Tavante Beckett, EDGE Breeland Speaks, WR Hakeem Butler, TE Jace Sternberger, and DB Deandre Baker, to name a few. It has been a banner year for the UFL regarding signings and workouts thus far. Let’s hope the good pace of these signings is kept up through the summer as we get closer to training camp. The UFL has been a major success in all aspects.
Joseph is a veteran writer of many publications past and present. He is a long-time Tennessee Titans fan and draft scout/analyst, along with writing about the league is a passion project. Mr. Yun has been credentialed to the Senior Bowl multiple times. Readers will find he brings the juice with a scout’s eye and analytical mind. Follow me on Twitter @2Yoon2ZeroBlitz for more good stuff!