The ultimate goal of the UFL has been to provide a second opportunity for players who fell just short of making a roster in the National Football League. The season is designed to conclude in time for NFL training camps, giving ample opportunity for UFL talent to get an invite from any of the league’s 32 franchises.
Both the XFL and USFL have sent players to the NFL in the past, proving that a little extra time on the gridiron was all that was separating some from the highest level of play.
While no real superstars have emerged from any of these post-millennium spring football leagues, that’s not the point. Keeping the dream alive for players on the cusp and sustaining a pool of potentials for the NFL is more than enough reason for the UFL to exist.
Here are a few 2024 UFL players who have either signed with an NFL club or have generated interest from GMs.
Jake Bates – Kicker, Birmingham Stallions
Bates has shown incredible leg strength in 2024, hitting 17 out of 23 total attempts and going 6-10 from over 50 yards. He hit a 64-yard game-winner for the Stallions in this year’s first game against the Michigan Panthers, and he has already signed a 2-year deal with the Detroit Lions.
Bates never kicked in college, so his opportunity with the Stallions was the only chance for scouts to discover his potential.
Gareon Conley – Corner, DC Defenders
Conley was drafted in the first round by the Oakland Raiders in 2017 but suffered a neck injury that took years to recover from. After not playing since 2019, Conley shined for the Defenders in 2024, shutting down opposing receivers and reeling in two interceptions over the course of seven games.
Gareon has been signed by the Dallas Cowboys.
Wyatt Ray – Defensive End, San Antonio Brahmas
Ray is 27 years old, stands at 6’3″, and weighs 254 pounds. He was in the NFL from 2019 until 2022, mostly on practice squads. His efforts for the San Antonio Brahmas in 2024 were notable, as he sacked opposing quarterbacks on 6.5 occasions, landing him a workout with the Dallas Cowboys.
He is also Nat King Cole’s grandson and Natalie Cole’s nephew. Ray has an outside shot at becoming one of the final 53 active players, but he will need to make an unforgettable impression on coaches to earn a permanent spot.
Marquette King – Punter, Arlington Renegades
Arlington may have won the XFL Championship in 2023, but their dismal offense this season gave punter Marquette King plenty of opportunities to display the talent contained in his kicking leg.
Between 2012 and 2017, King punted for the Oakland Raiders but was cut in a move that he labeled as retaliatory by then-head coach Jon Gruden. Where there’s smoke, there is fire, which could be the rationale behind King never landing an NFL gig again.
Hakeem Butler – Wide Receiver, St. Louis Battlehawks
Another solid contributor in 2024 was Hakeem Butler for the St. Louis Battlehawks, who hauled in 45 catches for 652 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Arizona Cardinals drafted him in 2019, but injuries have kept him out of the NFL since 2021.
Butler has yet to get a call from a franchise in 2024, but we expect him to appear at an NFL training camp soon.