2026 UFL draft

Last updated
2026 UFL dispersal draft
General information
DateJanuary 9–14, 2024
LocationUFL HQ (Arlington, TX)
Remote
Overview
League United Football League

The 2026 UFL draft is the player selection process to fill the rosters of the eight teams for the 2026 UFL season.

Contents

History

Following Mike Repole's acquisition of the UFL and the relocation of the Michigan Panthers, Memphis Showboats, and San Antonio Brahmas, it was announced that every team's rosters would be dissolved and a draft would occur to create new teams. [1] One of the goals of this process was to move the teams to a have more regional centered rosters. [2]

Structure

On January 9, 2026 quarterbacks would be selected remotely. The results of this would be announced on January 12. [3]

On January 10, 2026, regional college allocation would occur. In this process, coaches are allowed to select a maximum of 3 players from their allocated colleges. These selections will also be announced on January 12. [2]

On January 13-14th the draft will be held at the UFL HQ in Arlington, Texas. On the 13th, UFL players from the 2025 season will be able to be drafted in six positional groups. [4] Offensive lineman, running backs and tight ends, wide receivers, defensive front seven (defensive tackles, ends, and linebackers), defensive backs, and specialists. Teams may protect 12 players from their 2025 rosters on a reserve list that will not be available to draft. [2]

On January 14, the free agents draft will be held. This will also be broken into positional groups with an additional open draft section at the end. [2]

Draft order will be determined by a virtual lottery and the draft will be conducted in a snake format (Round 1: 1 through 8, Round 2: 8 through 1). [5]

Teams are allowed to select a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 62 players in the draft including 3 quarterbacks, a maximum of 3 college allocations, and a maximum of 12 protected players. [6]

Eligibility

To be eligible for the UFL Players draft, a player must have ended the 2025 UFL season on an active roster or injured reserve [6] .

To be eligible for the free agent draft a player must not have been signed to a UFL active roster in 2025 and fall into one of the following categories: [7]

  1. 2025 NFL draft-eligible players
  2. 2025 NFL training camp players
  3. 2026 NFL draft-eligible players
  4. UFL Showcase attendees
  5. Players who signed a LOI and did not finish the 2025 season on a UFL roster
  6. Other free agents

Protected players

Teams are allowed to protect up to 12 players from their 2025 rosters. [4] The three new teams will draw from the rosters of the now defunct teams. The Columbus Aviators will draw from the Michigan Panthers roster, the Louisville Kings from the Memphis Showboats, and the Orlando Storm from the San Antonio Brahmas.

Birmingham Stallions

Player [8] PositionCollege
Deonte Brown G Alabama
Deon Cain WR Clemson
Tae Crowder LB Georgia
Tyrion Davis-Price RB LSU
Steven Gilmore CB Marshall
Mario Goodrich CB Clemson
Tre Norwood S Oklahoma
Ronnie Perkins LB Oklahoma
Armani Taylor-Prioleau T South Carolina State
Jordan Thomas TE Mississippi State
Marlon Williams WR UCF
Marvin Wilson DT Florida State

Columbus Aviators

Player [8] PositionCollege
Cohl Cabral C Arizona State
Noah Dawkins LB The Citadel
Akeem DentS Florida State
D.J. MillerCB Kent State
Jaylon MooreWR UT Martin
Ryan NelsonT Virginia
Gunnar OakesTE Eastern Michigan
Walter Palmore DT Missouri
Devin RossWR Colorado
Toa Taua RB Nevada
Kedrick Whitehead Jr. S Delaware
Kenny Willekes DE Michigan State

Dallas Renegades

Player [8] PositionCollege
Alex Akingbulu T Fresno State
Deontay Burnett WR USC
Taco Charlton DE Michigan
Myles Dorn S North Carolina
Seth GreenTE Houston
Ajene Harris CB USC
Dae Dae HunterRB Liberty
Steven Jones Jr. CB Appalachian State
Marcus MinorG Pittsburgh
Donald Payne LB Stetson
Willie Taylor IIIDE Eastern Kentucky
Tyler Vaughns WR USC

DC Defenders

Player [8] PositionCollege
Deandre Baker CB Georgia
Michah Baskerville LB LSU
Trey Dean S Florida
Tykem Doss G Southern Miss
Mason Fairchild TE Kansas
Deon Jackson RB Duke
Michael MaiettiC Missouri
Andre Mintze LB Vanderbilt
Cornell Powell WR Clemson
Derick Roberson LB Sam Houston State
Ty Scott WR Missouri State
Bryce Thompson CB Tennessee

Houston Gamblers

Player [8] PositionCollege
Christopher Allen LB Alabama
Israel Antwine DT Oklahoma State
Damon Arnette CB Ohio State
Justin Hall WR Ball State
Keenan Isaac CB Alabama State
Avery JonesC Auburn
Lawrence Keys IIIWR Tulane
Jack KramerC Bowling Green
Kirk Merritt RB Arkansas State
Marvin Moody Jr.LB Tulane
Markel RobyS Pittsburgh State
Geor’Quarius SpiveyTE Mississippi State

Louisville Kings

Player [8] PositionCollege
Jonathan Adams WR Arkansas State
Jaylon AllenDE Memphis
Josiah Bronson DT Washington
Steele Chambers LB Ohio State
Cameron Dantzler CB Mississippi State
Keaton EllisS Penn State
Eric Garror CB Louisiana
Nate GilliamT Wake Forest
Jalen JacksonRB Villanova
Kwamie Lassiter II WR Kansas
Alec Lindstrom C Boston College
Chris Pierce Jr.TE Vanderbilt

Orlando Storm

Player [8] PositionCollege
Tavante Beckett LB Marshall
Isaiah Buggs DT Alabama
Jashaun Corbin RB Florida State
Zuri HenryT UTEP
Steven StilianosTE Iowa
Jacob Sykes DE UCLA

St. Louis Battlehawks

Player [8] PositionCollege
Bradley AshmoreT Vanderbilt
Ryan Coll T Richmond
Frank Darby WR Arizona State
Travis Feeney LB Washington
Jarveon Howard RB Alcorn State
Myles JonesCB Duke
Kam Kelly DB San Diego State
Jahcour Pearson WR Ole Miss
Myles SimsCB Georgia Tech
Pita Taumoepenu LB Utah

Quarterback Draft

The Quarterback Draft marked the first phase of the UFL’s player selection process. Head coaches, working in collaboration with the league’s centralized scouting department, evaluated all eligible quarterbacks and submitted a ranked list of their top five candidates to the league. The draft took place on Friday, January 9, and all selections were announced three days later. Not every team was assigned three quarterbacks. [9] [10]

TeamPlayerCollege
Birmingham Stallions Matt Corral* Ole Miss
Taylor Elgersma Wilfrid Laurier
Jaren Hall BYU
Columbus Aviators Jalan McClendon Baylor
Jalen Morton Prairie View A&M
Clayton Tune Houston
Dallas Renegades Luis Perez* Texas A&M-Commerce
Austin Reed Western Kentucky
DC Defenders Mike DiLiello* Austin Peay
Spencer Sanders* Ole Miss
Jordan Ta'amu* Ole Miss
Houston Gamblers Hunter Dekkers Iowa Western
Donovan Smith Houston
Louisville Kings Jason Bean Kansas
Chandler Rogers California
Orlando Storm Jack Plummer Lousiville
Dorian Thompson-Robinson UCLA
St. Louis Battlehawks Michael Pratt Tulane
Brandon Silvers* Troy
Ben Wooldridge Louisiana

(*) indicates a player returning to the same team as held his rights in 2025.

Regional College Allocation

Each head coach selected up to three players from local colleges to protect. This process was completed on January 10 and published two days later.

Player allocations for each UFL team were determined based on the league’s regionalization map, as outlined below: [11]

TeamPlayer [10] PositionCollegePrevious UFL team
Birmingham Stallions Kobe Jones OLB Mississippi State San Antonio Brahmas
Mason Brooks T Ole Miss DC Defenders
Desmond LittleDE UAB Free Agent
Columbus Aviators Alizé Mack TE Notre Dame San Antonio Brahmas
Juwann Bushell-Beatty T Michigan St. Louis Battlehawks
Jailin Walker MLB Indiana Free Agent
Dallas Renegades Sam Tecklenburg OL Baylor San Antonio Brahmas
Keondre Coburn DT Texas Free Agent
Siaki Ika NT Baylor Free Agent
DC Defenders Gottlieb Ayedze T Maryland Free Agent
Brandon Smith LB Penn State Free Agent
Johari BranchG Maryland DC Defenders
Houston Gamblers Jontre Kirklin WR LSU San Antonio Brahmas
Anthony Hines IIILB Texas A&M DC Defenders
Rashard Lawrence DE LSU San Antonio Brahmas
Louisville Kings JaVonta Payton WR Tennessee Dallas Renegades
Daniel GrzesaikDE Cincinnati Free Agent
Willie TylerOL Louisville San Antonio Brahmas
Orlando Storm Cole Schneider G UCF Birmingham Stallions
Samuel JacksonG UCF Houston Roughnecks
Elijhah Badger WR Florida Free Agent
St. Louis Battlehawks Hakeem Butler WR Iowa State St. Louis Battlehawks
Kevon LatulasRB Missouri State* St. Louis Battlehawks
Michael Ojemudia FS Iowa DC Defenders

{*} School wasn't on the original regionalization college assignment by the league.

UFL Players Draft

Source: [12]

Three veteran players—St. Louis's Jaryd Jones-Smith, Birmingham's Amari Rodgers and Michigan's Kai Nacua—rejected their selections and retired from the UFL the day of the draft. [13]

Phase 1: Offensive Linemen

TeamPlayerPositionCollege
Birmingham Stallions Steven Gonzalez G Penn State
Noah JohnsonC Kansas State
Noah HendersonT East Carolina
Avery GennesyG Texas A&M
Columbus Aviators Noah AtagiG Weber State
Chuck FiliagaG Minnesota
Matt Farniok C Nebraska
Aaron Monteiro G Boston College
Dallas Renegades Keaton Sutherland G Texas A&M
Chim OkoraforT Benedictine
Abdul Beecham G Kansas State
DC Defenders Adrian Ealy T Oklahoma
Houston Gamblers Christian DiLauro T Illinois
Kellen Diesch T Arizona State
Jaryd Jones-Smith T Pittsburgh
Dohnovan West C Arizona State
Cam CarterT Murray State
Louisville Kings J. D. DiRenzo G Rutgers
Nash Jensen G North Dakota State
James TunstallT Cincinnati
Gunner Britton T Auburn
Orlando Storm Jarrid Williams T Miami (FL)
Teton Saltes T New Mexico
St. Louis Battlehawks Mike Panasiuk C Michigan State
Spencer RollandG North Carolina

Phase 2: Defensive Front Seven (Linebackers, Defensive Ends, Defensive Tackles)

TeamPlayerPositionCollege
Birmingham Stallions T. J. Carter DI Kentucky
Izayah Green-MayEDGE Northern Illinois
Amani Bledsoe DI Oklahoma
Olakunle Fatukasi LB Rutgers
Kyahva Tezino LB San Diego State
Columbus Aviators Caeveon Patton DI Texas State
Storey Jackson LB Liberty
Prince Emili DI Penn
Ron Stone Jr.EDGE Washington State
Nelson Ceaser EDGE Houston
Xavier BensonLB Oklahoma State
Olive Sagapolu DI Wisconsin
Dallas Renegades Antwuan Jackson DI Ohio State
TJ FranklinEDGE Baylor
Carson WellsEDGE Colorado
Callahan O'ReillyLB Montana State
Andrew Dowell LB Michigan State
Kalen DeLoach LB Florida State
J.T. TylerLB Princeton
DC Defenders Durrell JohnsonEDGE Liberty
Devonnsha Maxwell DI Chattanooga
Dennis JohnsonDI Grand Valley State
Brian AbrahamEDGE Albany
Ferrod GardnerLB Louisiana
Phil Hoskins DI Kentucky
Houston Gamblers
Louisville Kings
Orlando Storm
St. Louis Battlehawks

Phase 3: Running Backs/Tight Ends/Wide Receivers

Phase 4: Defensive Backs

Free Agents Draft

Phase 1: Offensive Linemen

Phase 2: Running Backs/Tight Ends

Phase 3: Wide Receivers

Phase 4: Defensive Front Seven (Linebackers, Defensive Ends, Defensive Tackles)

Phase 5: Defensive Backs

Phase 6: Specialist

Phase 7: Open

References

  1. "UFL announces new player allocation/draft for 2026 season". The Troy Messenger. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "UFL Announces Player Selection and Team Allocation Process for 2026". www.theufl.com. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
  3. "2026 UFL Draft: What You Need to Know". www.theufl.com. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  4. 1 2 Schmidt, Stephen (2026-01-06). "Here's how the Louisville Kings will build their first roster". Louisville Business First. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  5. "3-Part 2026 UFL Draft to Begin Jan. 9". www.foxsports.com. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  6. 1 2 Larsen, James (2026-01-05). "UFL Announces Player Selection & Team Allocation Process For 2026". Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  7. Perry, Mark (2026-01-05). "United Football League Announces Player Selection And Team Allocation Process For 2026 Spring Football Season" . Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Perry, Mark (2026-01-13). "UFL Announces Reserve List Ahead Of Player Draft" . Retrieved 2026-01-13.
  9. "UFL Announces Official Quarterback Allocations For 2026". Pro Football Newsroom. Pro Football Newsroom. January 12, 2026. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "UFL Announces Selections for 2026 QB Draft and Regional College Allocation". www.theufl.com. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  11. James Larsen (December 19, 2025). "UFL's Supposed Plans To Redraft League Leaked & Revealed". Pro Football Newsroom. Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  12. "2026 UFL Draft: Day One". www.theufl.com. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  13. Rifino, Patrick (2026-01-14). "Jaryd Jones-Smith, Kai Nacua, and Amari Rodgers Among UFL Players Opting for Retirement Prior to UFL Season" . Retrieved 2026-01-14.