The United Football League announced the results of its first phase of its player dispersal process held on Jan. 5, outlining the initial rosters for each team in the new spring league formed as a result of the merger between the XFL and USFL. Each XFL Conference and USFL Conference team was allowed to protect 42 players from their 2023 rosters, and then were allowed to select up to 20 players from the rosters of teams within their previous league that will not be moving forward into the 2024 season.
Players who were not protected or selected in the initial process will be placed in a pool of players that will be available to all UFL teams in the next round of player dispersal on Jan. 15. That round of dispersal will then be followed by free agency for players who were either not selected or who did not play in the XFL or USFL in 2023 on Jan. 16.
The first phase of player dispersal saw the protection of multiple All-USFL and All-XFL selections, as well as several former NFL players who have landed in the spring league. Among the notable former NFL players include Vic Beasley of the Renegades, Reuben Foster of the Roughnecks, Corey Coleman of the Panthers and D.J. Swearinger of the Defenders.
Two former USFL players -- KaVontae Turpin and Brandon Aubrey -- have gone on to earn Pro Bowl honors in the NFL as members of the Dallas Cowboys.
Here is a sampling of the initial rosters for the UFL with a focus on notable XFL, USFL, and ex-NFL players. Click here for the full rosters from all eight teams.
Arlington Renegades
LB Vic Beasley
WR Deontay Burnett
DT Davontae Lambert
LB Donald Payne
P Marquette King
Birmingham Stallions
QB J'Mar Smith
WR Victor Bolden
WR Deon Cain
WR Amari Rodgers
TE Jace Sternberger
OT Calvin Ashley
CB Channing Stribling
DE Curtis Weaver
LB Scooby Wright
D.C. Defenders
RB Abram Smith
WR Kelvin Harmon
WR Preston Williams
OG Liam Fornadel
DE Davin Bellamy
DB Michael Joseph
DB Gareon Conley
DB DJ Swearinger
LB Trent Harris
Houston Roughnecks
RB Mark Thompson
WR Isiah Hennie
WR Justin Hall
OT Paul Adams
DE Adam Rodriguez
DT Toby Johnson
DT Chris Odom
DT Reggie Howard
OLB Reuben Foster
S Manny Bunch
Memphis Showboats
QB Case Cookus
RB Darius Victor
WR Derrick Dillon
WR Vinny Papale
OT Jarron Jones
CB DJ Daniel
Michigan Panthers
RB Reggie Corbin
WR Corey Coleman
DE Breeland Speaks
LB Jerod Fernandez
S Shalom Luani
S Kai Nacua
San Antonio Brahmas
QB Kurt Benkert
TE Cody Latimer
C Alex Mollette
DE Drew Beesley
LB Jordan Williams
DB Teez Tabor
St. Louis Battlehawks
WR Hakeem Butler
WR Jahcour Pearson
G Steven Gonzalez
C Mike Panasiuk
LB Pita Taumoepenu