The United Football League (UFL) kicked off at the end of March, starting the inaugural season of the XFL and USFL merger. Initial rosters for its 2024 season were announced in February, but now everyone is on the field. Who are the starting QBs for each team?
UFL Quarterbacks 2024
Following the merger of the USFL and XFL, each of the eight UFL teams selected players from its respective conference’s player pool in a dispersal draft. The full list can be viewed here.
The USFL and XFL have had a combined 150 alumni receive NFL contracts over the past two seasons. Two USFL alums, KaVontae Turpin and Brandon Aubrey, earned NFL Pro Bowl selections as members of the Dallas Cowboys and are prime examples of what success in the UFL could lead to.
This season, the league is returning several talented players at the QB position from the XFL and USFL. Here’s all of them:
Matt Corral, Birmingham Stallions
As one of the quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft, Matt Corral was once viewed as a potential first-round pick. However, he ended up sliding in the draft and suffered a Lisfranc injury that effectively removed any chance for him to earn a spot.
He has impressive arm strength, uses arm angles better than some NFL starters, and can even throw off-platform at a quality level.
Whether it’s driving tight windows or making touch passes, he can do it all. Oh, yeah, and he also has a terrific sense of when to use his athleticism and should be one of the most athletic players on the field at the UFL level.
Luis Perez, Arlington Renegades
Despite going just 4-6 last season, Bob Stoops’ Renegades made it to the XFL playoffs and won the XFL Championship. The return of quarterback Luis Perez — who finished with the fourth-most passing yards in the XFL with 1,636 — gives the team an advantage heading into the 2024 UFL season.
Perez, who went viral for learning how to play quarterback on YouTube, led the Renegades to a championship win over the D.C. Defenders, including a 288-yard and three-touchdown performance to win the game’s MVP award.
Jordan Ta’amu, D.C. Defenders
One of the most well-known quarterbacks has been Jordan Ta’amu, who is critical for the Defenders and the UFL. He’s been one of the shining stars of spring football since 2020. Last season for the Defenders, he threw for 1,878 yards with 14 touchdowns to just three interceptions. He added 301 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 10 games.
Thanks to his performances, he was named the 2023 XFL Offensive Player of the Year award.
He was the starting quarterback for the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2020, where he started his legacy. He threw for 1,050 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. He added 217 rushing yards and one score in five games. He led the Battlehawks to a 3-2 record before the XFL canceled its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Case Cookus, Memphis Showboats
The Memphis Showboats made a change at quarterback, letting go of Cole Kelley and bringing in former Michigan Panthers quarterback Josh Love to back up Case Cookus.
Love started in nine games for the Panthers last season, throwing for 1,556 yards and 13 touchdowns to 10 picks. In 2022, he played for both the Panthers and the Pittsburgh Maulers and finished the year with 791 yards and four touchdowns to four interceptions.
Cookus, on the other hand, led the Philadelphia Stars to the USFL Championship Game in 2022 and bounced back from a lower leg injury in the title game to return stronger for 2023. He has passed for 3,628 yards and 27 touchdowns, adding 495 rushing yards and one score on the ground.
AJ McCarron, St. Louis Battlehawks
The St. Louis Battlehawks will return quarterback AJ McCarron for the UFL season. McCarron was once upon a time a star for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
With the Battlehawks in 2023, McCarron completed 203 of 295 passes for 2,150 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions in nine games. He led the XFL in touchdown passes, completion percentage, and passing-efficiency rating.
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His 2023 performance landed him a backup role with the Cincinnati Bengals for a ninth season in the NFL, but he ultimately requested to be released so he could re-sign with the Battlehawks.
During his time with the Bengals, McCarron briefly saw action in two games last season. He completed his only attempt in Cincinnati’s Week 14 win over the Indianapolis Colts and completed three of four passes in the Bengals’ win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 18.
Chase Garbers, San Antonio Brahmas
The San Antonio Brahmas announced Chase Garbers was their starter at quarterback for the team’s season opener. While there are many returning quarterbacks, Garbers is new to spring football.
There were uncertainties regarding who the starting QB will be, but Garbers ended up getting the nod. He competed with Quinten Dormady and Tom Flacco for the starting role.
Garbers started his career at California from 2017-2021 before spending time with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. He was waived in August of last year. He has not appeared in a regular season NFL game but completed eight of 11 passes for 57 yards and one touchdown in two preseason games in 2023.
With the Golden Bears, Garbers threw for 6,580 yards and 50 touchdowns to 24 interceptions in four seasons. He also ran for 1,174 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Jarrett Guarantano, Houston Roughnecks
Another starting quarterback spot that was not guaranteed was with the Houston Roughnecks, who ended up going with Jarrett Guarantano. The departure of Kenji Bahar started a training camp competition.
Guarantano was signed by the Houston Gamblers in December before the USFL and XFL merged to the UFL. He had a couple of NFL stints with the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals over the last two years, but ultimately nothing ever came of those.
The 26-year-old quarterback spent four seasons with the Tennessee Volunteers in college, throwing for 6,174 yards and 38 touchdowns to 17 interceptions.
E.J. Perry, Michigan Panthers
E.J. Perry is expected to be the starter for the Michigan Panthers this season. This is his second time in spring football, playing with the Panthers once again.
Perry was signed late last season and led Michigan to the playoffs by beating the Philadelphia Stars, 23-20, in the regular-season finale at Ford Field. He threw for 370 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-27 playoff loss to Pittsburgh.
Perry originally signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in May 2022 and spent the season on the team’s practice squad. He was waived by the Jaguars in March 2023 and claimed by the Houston Texans. Throughout 2023, he spent time with both the Texans and Michigan Panthers.
His college career was spent with both Boston College and Brown He was named first-team All-Ivy League twice in 2019 and 2021.
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