USFL 2023 SEASON PREVIEW & WEEK 1 PICKS

BY ADAM GREENE

Our second season of USFL football kicks off Saturday to compete directly with the XFL over the next four weeks or so. This league did well enough to come back after last season, but the XFL’s inaugural (for the third time) campaign has shown us where this particular league was lacking — quarterback play. While Dwayne Johnson and his spring football league was able to woo plenty of former NFL talent, especially at the QB position, the USFL hasn’t found that success. If this league doesn’t find its footing, that’ll be the reason why.

There are a handful of changes this season. First up, the USFL is playing in four cities — Birmingham, Ala. Memphis, Tenn., Canton, Ohio and Detroit, Mich. instead of just Birmingham. Second, they’ve morphed the Tampa Bay Bandits into the Memphis Showboats, since they’re actually playing games in Memphis and all. According to the USFL, the Bandits will return, but only when the league expands to 10 teams.

It’s still football and some of the guys that played in this league a year ago made and contributed on NFL rosters, even the Super Bowl teams. Lucky for us, we have the odds, lines and totals with which to make watching each game especially interesting.

USFL SEASON PREVIEW

NORTH DIVISION

NEW JERSEY GENERALS

Head coach: Mike Riley, 2^nd year

Last season: 9-1, lost to the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL North Championship Game.

The Generals were, at worst, the second best USFL team of all of 2022 who just couldn’t put it all together in the playoffs, losing to the Philadelphia Stars in the semifinals. They bring a large portion of their 2022 roster back, including quarterback De’Andre Johnson, who shined every time he was called in from the bullpen until he was handed the keys full time late in the season. Mike Riley returns as head coach with two more humps to overcome; a USFL North Title and USFL Championship.

Notable players: Alonzo Moore, WR (Nebraska), Dakota Prukop, QB (Oregon), Darrell Stewart, Jr. (Michigan State), De’Morney Pierson-El, WR (Nebraska), Isaiah Battle, OT (Clemson), Trey Williams, RB (Texas A&M), Blake Countess, CB (Auburn), Bryson Young, LB (Oregon), Chris Orr, LB (Wisconsin), Christian Tutt, CB (Auburn), DJ Daniel, CB (Georgia), Meiko Dotson, CB (Florida State), Paris Ford, Safety (Pittsburgh), Toby Johnson, DL (Georgia), Trae Elston, CB (Ole Miss), Tyrone Truesdell, DT (Florida)

Projected 2023 record: 8-2

PHILADELPHIA STARS

Head coach: Bart Andrus, 2^nd year

Last season: 6-4, lost to the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL Championship game

Philly got into the postseason a year ago as a wild card and made it all the way to the title game, taking a three point lead over the Birmingham Stallions in the fourth quarter. They lost quarterback Case Cookus with an injury soon after. Back up QB KJ Castello was able to keep it close, but the Stars were forced to watch the Stallions celebrate the first USFL 2.0 championship. Cookus is back and healthy now and, while I still think the Generals are the class of the division, it’ll likely be a two horse race between them and Philadelphia the whole way.

Notable players: Blake Camper, OL (South Carolina), Bug Howard, TE (North Carolina), Corey Coleman, WR (Baylor, former 2016 No. 15 overall pick by the Cleveland Browns), Dexter Williams, RB (Notre Dame), Diondre Overton, WR (Clemson), Jahair Jones, OL (Miami), KJ Costello, QB (Mississippi State), Kevin Thomson, QB (Washington), Ryan Izzo, TE (Florida State), Case Cookus, QB (Northern Arizona), Channing Stribling, CB (Michigan), Chris Nelson, DT (Texas), Joey Alfieri, LB (Stanford), Jordan Genmark Heath, LB (Notre Dame), Jordon Scott, DT (Oregon), Stanford Samuels III, CB (Florida State), Te’Von Coney, LB (Notre Dame)

Projected 2023 record: 7-3

PITTSBURGH MAULERS

Head coach: Ray Horton, 1^st season

Last year: 1-9

To no one’s surprise, the architect of the worst record in the USFL last season, the ironically named Kirby Smart, was let go and replaced with Ray Horton this season. Horton last coached the defensive backs for the Washington Commanders in 2019 and was the Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator in 2013 and 2016 and served in that same capacity for the Tennessee Titans from 2014-2015. The Maulers were an absolute garbage fire a year ago and the fact that they finished worse than the Michigan Panthers, who were coached by Jeff Fisher (at the time), puts a stink on this team that’ll be tough to remove. They should be better this season, because, frankly, how could they be worse?

Notable players: Artayvious Lynn, TE (TCU), Garett Groshek, RB (Wisconsin), Jon Dietzen, OG (Wisconsin), Madre London, RB (Tennessee), Mason Stokke, FB (Wisconsin), Matt Seybert, TE (Michigan State), Myron Cunningham, OT (Arkansas), Xavier Dampeer, Center (Auburn), Eric Burrell, Safety (Wisconsin), Olive Sagapolu, DL (Wisconsin), Reuben Foster, LB (Alabama, former 2017 No. 31 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers), Terry Beckner, Jr., DT (Missouri)

Projected 2023 record: 3-7

MICHIGAN PANTHERS
Head coach: Mike Nolan, 1^st season

Last year: 2-8

Speaking of Jeff Fisher, any coaching cache he had left after bombing out with the Los Angeles Rams and then being immediately replaced by Sean McVay, one of the best coaches in football, was completely fired down the nearest porta-john a year ago when he led the Michigan Panthers to a pathetic finish, Their only good moment came in the season’s final game when the Panthers knocked off the Maulers in what should forever be called “The Battle of Sucktown.” Fisher was replaced by Mike Nolan, who faceplanted thoroughly the last time he was tossed the keys to a franchise. He helmed the San Francisco 49ers from 2005-2008 and finished with an abysmal 18-37 record before being fired seven games into the 2008 season. And, as bad as that looks, he might still be an upgrade over Fisher.

Notable players: Brodarious Hamm, OT (Auburn), Cole Hikutini, TE (Louisville), Devin Ross, WR (Colorado), Keith Williams, OT (Nebraska), Kyle Markway, TE (South Carolina), Marcus Baugh, TE (Ohio State), Marcus Simms, WR (West Virginia), Sean Pollard, Center (Clemson), Breeland Speaks, DE (Ole Miss), Josh Butler, CB (Michigan State), Leon Jacobs, LB (Wisconsin), Levonta Taylor, CB (Florida State), Sean Mahome, Safety (West Virginia), Tre Williams, DE (Arkansas), Walter Palmore, DT (Missouri)

Projected 2023 record: 2-8

SOUTH DIVISION

BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS

Head coach: Skip Holtz, 2^nd season

Last year: 9-1, South Division Champions, USFL Champions

Skip Holtz had a decent, if forgettable career as a lower level college head coach, so I wasn’t sure how he would compete against the former NFL talent the USFL had on the sidelines last season. To my surprise, he owned them all. The Stallions return pretty much the core of the 2022 championship team, led by J’Marr Smith, who completed 54.8 percent of his passes for 1,573 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. And while none of those numbers look great, it was good enough to make him the No. 3 ranked QB in the league last season. As I said in the opening, this is the primary issue with the USFL.

Notable players: Alex McGough, QB (Florida International), Bo Scarbrough, RB (Alabama), Deon Cain, WR (Clemson), Jace Sternberger, TE (Texas A&M), Jahmir Johnson, OT (Texas A&M), Lukayus McNeil, OT (Louisville), Thaddeus Moss, TE (LSU), Darrion Daniels, DE (Nebraska), Joe Jackson, DE (Miami), Jordan Thompson, DE (Northwestern), Khalil Davis, DT (Nebraska), Mark Fields II, CB (Clemson), TJ Carter, Safety (TCU), TJ Green, Safety (Clemson), Tyree Robinson, Safety (Oregon), Willie Henry, DT (Michigan), Brandon Aubrey, Kicker (Notre Dame)

Projected 2023 record: 9-1

NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS
Head coach: John DeFilippo, 1^st season

Last year: 6-4, lost to the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL South Championship game

Considering that the Breakers were one of the better, and more exciting USFL teams to watch a season ago, a coaching change was a surprise. Last year’s head man, Larry Fedora, apparently stepped away of his own accord, allowing John DeFilippo to take the reins. DeFilippo, I kid you not, was one of the hottest NFL head coaching prospects when he took over as offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 fresh off a Super Bowl victory as Nick Foles’ quarterback coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. After a year out of football, this is a shot for DeFilippo, once a rising star, to recapture what he lost in that Vikings and ensuing Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears tenure as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. This won’t be the same Breakers team, as Kyle Sloter fled the coop and joined up with the XFL in the early spring. The good news is, if the Breakers want him back, he’s available. The Arlington Renegades cut him about three weeks ago.

Notable players: Eli Stove, WR (Auburn), Johnnie Dixon, WR (Ohio State), Justin Alexander-Johnson, TE (Mississippi State), Lee Morris, WR (Oklahoma), Marquis Lucas, OG (West Virginia), Paul Adams, OT (Missouri), Sage Surratt, TE (Wake Forest), Adonis Alexander, CB (Virginia Tech), Derrick Jones, DB (Ole Miss), Derrion Rakestraw, Safety (Colorado), Djimon Brooks, DT (Georgia Tech), Jordan Brailford, LB (Oklahoma State), Justus Reed, DE (Virginia Tech), Keonte Schad, DT (Oregon State), Mike Stevens, CB (NC State), Zakoby McClain, LB (Auburn), Matt Coghlin, Kicker (Michigan State)

Projected 2023 record: 5-5

MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS

Head coach: Todd Haley, 2^nd season

Last year: 4-6 (as the Tampa Bay Bandits)

Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Can Todd Haley and his mediocre Tampa Bay Bandits, rebranded as the Memphis Showboats actually be worth watching? They were last year to some degree, but Haley, kind of like Jeff Fisher, showed why he’s struggled to return to the NFL in any real capacity. This is just a rebrand, with any returning Bandits players now decked out in Showboat attire.

Notable players: Alex Collins, RB (Arkansas), Brady White, QB (Memphis), Derrick Dillon, WR (LSU), Jarron Jones, OT (Notre Dame), Jay Jay Wilson, TE (Arizona State), Matt Burrell, Jr., OL (Ohio State), Osirus Mitchell, WR (Mississippi State), Ryan Willis, QB (Virginia Tech), Sadarius Hutcherson, OG (South Carolina), Terrone Prescod, OT (NC State), Aaron Hansford, LB (Texas A&M), Antonio Reed, Safety (Nebraska), Daylon Mack, DT (Texas A&M), Delrick Abrams, Jr., CB (Colorado), Dillon Faamatau, DT (Oklahoma), Jeff McCulloch, DE (Texas), John Atkins, DT (Georgia), Jordan Williams (Virginia Tech), Nate Hall, LB (Northwestern), Quenton Meeks, CB (Stanford), Stephen Griffin, Safety (NC State), Alex Kessman, Kicker (Pittsburgh)

Projected 2023 record: 5-5

HOUSTON GAMBLERS

Head coach: Curtis Johnson

Last year: 3-7

With last year’s head coach Kevin Sumlin consciously uncoupling from the Gamblers to join the University of Maryland as its Assistant Head Coach, the 2023 duties fall to Curtis Johnson. Johnson’s last football job was working for Sean Payton, who he coached with from 2017-2021 in various offensive roles, culminating with the senior offensive assistant/wide receivers coach in 2021. It’s easy to overlook how bad the Gamblers were a season ago simply because Michigan and Pittsburgh were so much worse. There’s plenty of room for improvement here, but probably not a winner.

Notable players: Anthony Ratliff-Williams, WR (North Carolina), Avery Gennesy, OL (Texas A&M), Devwah Whaley, RB (Arkansas), Keke Chism, WR (Missouri), Mark Thompson, RB (Florida), Nick Buchanan, Center (Florida), Tyler Higby, OL (Michigan State), Bydarrius Knighten, CB (Auburn), Chigozie Nnoruka, DT (Miami), Damoin Daniels, DT (Nebraska), Isaiah Pryor, LB (Notre Dame), Khalan Tolson, LB (Illinois), Nick Grant, CB (Virginia), Reggie Walker, DE (Kansas State)

Projected 2023 record: 4-6

SATURDAY

MICHIGAN PANTHERS AT HOUSTON GAMBLERS (pk, O/U: 38.5)

There’s a reason this one is a pick-em and it’s not because both teams are going to light up the scoreboard. The smart thing to do seems to be picking against Michigan until they give you a reason not to. It worked most of last season. Gamblers 20, Panthers 13

PHILADELPHIA STARS AT MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (+2.5, O/U: 38.5)

Memphis gets to make its debut in front of its home fans. How many fans show up will be anyone’s guess. Philly made it to the title game last year and is a favorite again in 2023. I think they’ll open strong. Stars 27, Showboats 17

SUNDAY

PITTSBURGH MAULERS at NEW ORLEANS BREKERS (-4, O/U: 37.5)

Two of our new USFL head coaches face off for the first time as John DeFilippo attempts to resurrect his career and Ray Horton wonders why he didn’t let Pittsburgh’s call go to voicemail. Breakers 24, Maulers 13

NEW JERSEY GENERALS AT BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (-5, O/U: 40)

Our Week 1 USFL finale should have been the championship game a year ago. These two squads both finished 9-1 a year ago, but someone is starting 0-1 in 2023. I like Birmingham, but I don’t like the spread. Stallions 23, Generals 20

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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