2024 UFL Preseason Team Power Rankings

(Based on Training Camp Rosters)

By Kenneth “KjdiscipleP” Priesmeyer

We’re officially under a month away from the start of the 2024 UFL season! The past XFL and USFL leagues have reduced in size, merged, and are now operating as one! With the dawn of the inaugural spring training camp, many fans are excited to see their team’s final depth chart form over the next few weeks. For the next month, no one can argue that the epicenter of Football activity in America will reside squarely within Choctaw Stadium and its adjacent facilities, in Arlington, Texas. Though there’s been plenty speculation already out there on who has the best squad entering this season, few have provided much context or analytical support for the rankings they’ve come to.

Well don’t fret folks, because that is exactly what you will be provided with today! I’ve spent the past several weeks scouring the web, gathering all the historical stats, to provide the most thoroughly vetted Power Rankings for all 8 UFL teams. By creating a simple, but diverse rubric for grading each squad, I’ve ensured nearly no stone gets left unturned (on either side of the ball) and helped remove about 90% of fan bias from the grades and rankings I come to. So, buckle up, and let’s dive right in!!

Let’s begin by reviewing the rubric I’ve constructed for analysis. First off, I created a replica of each team’s roster along with all pertinent associated stats (current as of the date I drafted this article – February 26^th, 2024). The only player group stats not provided for is the offensive line (more on this later). Each team is graded on 10 different attributes:

1. Quarterbacks
2. Running backs
3. Offensive Line
4. Receiving Core
5. Defensive Line
6. Linebackers
7. Defensive Secondary
8. Kickers
9. Past 2023 End of Season Ranking
10. Head Coach Grade

The grading scale for each category is set from highest to lowest, numbered 1 through 8. These 10 category grades are then compiled together to give all eight teams their respective average. Only one of these attributes gets counted twice for extra “weight” or consideration of a team’s average. Can you guess which one? If it starts with a “Q” and ends with a “B” then you’d be correct, Quarterbacks! So, what goes in to determining the roster grade for each group? Well in order of hierarchy attributes they are graded as follows:

1. Proximity of gametime play – thus players with active gametime reps from 2023 get the highest position in their roster’s metaphoric depth chart.

2. Related positional stats – these equate to completion percentage and overall player depth for QB’s, receiving yards for wide receivers and tight-ends, sacks and tackles for defensive linemen, and Interceptions for linebackers, cornerbacks, and free/strong safeties.

3. For offensive lineman, a separate grading rubric was created based on players’ previous 2023 team affiliation. I reviewed the rushing and sacks allowed stats from all 16 teams (both XFL and USFL) in 2023 and gave them cumulative grades based on their average score between these two attributes. The more highly ranked offensive lineman (from 2023 team grades) a team has, the higher their grade for the offensive line category. Within my roster for each team, I organized they’re 2023 returning players in this respective order (See attached link at the bottom of the article for this grading scale).

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that upon completion, these results did strike me a little odd. But this was more of the sports fan in me than an avid respecter of more scientific methods. Without further Adou, I give to you, KjdiscipleP’s inaugural UFL Preseason Power Rankings:

1st: Memphis Showboats

While they are one of the younger teams, and have a brand-new coach to boot, the Showboats have managed to have quite possibly the most impressive draft in the league, bolstering the second best statistical QB room and receiving core in the UFL. Also, they built arguably the best defensive secondary crew, taking the top grade in both linebacker and defensive secondary categories. Head coach John DeFilippo takes over the reins with a new team (coming from the previous USFL New Orleans Breakers), and hopefully will be able to maximize the potential of his 6^th ranked offensive line and 7^th ranked field goal kicker (Matt Coghlin).

2nd: DC Defenders

Reggie Barlow and the Defenders will look to get redemption in their third season of existence (counting the hyphenated 2020 year from the XFL 2.0). D.C. boasts the very best in running back strength with the return of Abram Smith. Hopes should remain high for them to maintain similar success they found on the ground in 2023 with the retention of a large portion of their previous offensive line, and the valuable additions of Tommy Champion (XFL Roughnecks), and George Moore (Arlington).

3rd: Arlington Renegades

Coming into the newly merged league the previous XFL champions, and also touting what some would argue as the very best head coach (all time) in the league, Bob Stoops, the Renegades were able to take the #3 spot in the power rankings. A majority of their offensive and defensive grades sit in the middle of the pack. However, having the 3^rd best QB completion percentage in the league (in Luis Perez), along with the second-best kicker in the league (in Taylor Russolino), the Renegades ascend to a high point on the board.

4^th: Houston Roughnecks

Another team supporting a strong roster built for success on the ground is Houston. CJ Johnson retained running back Mark Thompson from his 2023 crew and most of his offensive line from the previous season. Obtaining three linemen from the now defunct New Jersey Generals of the previous USFL, only bolsters their strength. The weak points for the Roughnecks lie in both their defensive secondary and the Quarterback room. Reid Stinnett currently looks to be the statistical front runner for the starting job, and hopefully can improve on his previous season spent in San Antonio with the Brahmas. One area Roughnecks fans shouldn’t have to fear too much will be run defense and pressuring opposing QB’s. Houston’s current defensive line players that played in 2023 make up for a league high 33.5 sacks. Having Louis Aguilar at kicker will only help matters, as He had the very best field goal completion percentage in 2023 out of all those currently on UFL team rosters.

5^th: Birmingham Stallions

Despite holding the title of winningest team/brand in spring football history, the Stallions will have quite the uphill climb to maintain the same success they replicated in the 2022 and 2023 USFL seasons. Birmingham brings up the rear statically with their group of linebackers, ranking dead last, and a receiving core and defensive secondary that both rank second worst in the league. Coach Skip Holtz will most assuredly have to beat the odds if he and his squad desire to obtain their third championship in three consecutive years.

6^th: St. Louis Battlehawks

While the Battlehawks boast the very best pairing of quarterback room and receiving core in the league, this roster build success is sadly not replicated in the running backs, offensive line, or defensive secondary. AJ McCarron and company will need to score early and often, by the looks of this roster, in order to make the playoffs this season, and have any chance at obtaining their first championship in team history.

7^th: Michigan Panthers

Michigan narrowly escapes the very bottom of the power rankings this season by possessing the 2^nd best running back room, and defensive secondary. Their QB room and offensive line makeup currently leads much to be desired, as they represent the statistical caboose of all 8 teams in those two categories. Pair this with Coach Mike Nolan, and his less than appealing professional record as an HC, and it’s no wonder they’re ranked as low as they are.

8^th: San Antonio Brahmas

Finally, in last place, are the Brahmas. Head Coach Wade Phillips will look to improve upon their 3-7 record from 2023 (in the XFL). The only positional category the brahmas currently hold a top three spot in is at the linebacker core. Outside of this group, Coach Phillips, and the offensive line, the brahmas fail to carry any other category ranking in the top half of the league. It doesn’t help matters that their depth at the TE position is quite slim! The Good news is the sky is the limit for them!

To close, I’d like to acknowledge that no system is perfect, and some may not agree with the rankings I came up with here, and that’s okay! The beauty of football, and sports in general, is that we the fans can all have our own interpretation on who the very best is and isn’t until that final whistle is blown on the Championship game in June that we will all find out who the very best TRULY is! Big thanks to The Football Database(www.footballdb.com), ESPN.com, and every respective player’s collegiate athletics website for the full acquisition of historical stats on all their respective position. To the fans: Good Luck to your team, and good luck to the UFL this season! Show up, cheer loud, and tune in at every opportunity! I implore you to support your team, and the league wholistically as much as you can this year! Let’s go win it!