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Spring football has provided players with crucial opportunities to get on-field reps in recent years.
Many have been able to make the most of it and parlay those opportunities into chances with NFL teams.
NFL teams have taken notice of the spring leagues, and many of the league's 400-plus players earn invites to training camps after the season. Not all players make the final 53-man roster or practice squads, but a handful have managed to carve out key roles at the highest level.
Who are the best UFL players currently playing in the NFL? Here's what to know about the recent spring league stars from pre- and post-merger UFL who have carved out professional careers.
Aubrey joined the UFL after playing college and professional soccer. He quickly developed into one of the league's best and most powerful kickers and earned an opportunity with the Cowboys ahead of the 2023 season.
Aubrey responded by making an NFL record 35 consecutive field goals to begin his career. During his first NFL season, he was named an All-Pro first-teamer and has made a whopping 24 of 27 kicks from 50-plus yards during his two-year NFL career. That includes a 65-yarder, which is good for the second-longest field goal in NFL history.
Bates followed Aubrey's path as a former soccer player turned kicker. Bates came to the UFL with three seasons as a kickoff specialist at Texas State and Arkansas, but he hadn't attempted a field goal since high school when he made a game-winning 64-yard kick in his first-ever game with the Michigan Panthers.
The Lions signed Bates ahead of the 2024 NFL season and he made 26 of 29 field goals for the Lions while converting on 64 of 67 extra-point attempts. Like Aubrey, he was accurate from 50-plus yards, going six of eight on such kicks in his first season.
NEW UFL KICKOFF: Why Jake Bates timed rise to Lions stardom perfectly
The UFL has a knack for producing quality, NFL-level special teamers. Turpin was the first of the bunch, as he parlayed his 2022 USFL MVP award into an opportunity with the Cowboys. He developed into an All-Pro return man with Dallas and has carved out a niche as a speed and slippery rotational receiver.
Turpin posted a career-best 31 catches for 420 yards and two touchdowns last season. He also led the league in return touchdowns with two total (one punt, one kickoff).
MORE: Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin shows off spin move, speed on 99-yard kick return touchdown
Tillman spent three seasons with the Birmingham Stallions before getting an opportunity with the Broncos. He made the most of it, logging 23 tackles and five sacks in 12 games while playing just 20.95% of Denver's snaps.
Tillman will be just 27 in April and figures to be a productive member of the Broncos' pass-rushing rotation moving forward.
UFL CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS: Birmingham Stallions favored to four-peat
Redmond spent the 2024 UFL season with the Arlington Renegades before signing with the Vikings. He became a key part of the team's defensive tackle rotation and started two of his 13 games with the team.
Redmond logged 18 tackles and a sack to go along with two pass defenses. The 26-year-old will battle new additions Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave for playing time in 2025.
Pharms played in the USFL with the Pittsburgh Maulers during the 2022 season. He performed well and earned a chance to play with New England.
Pharms played sparingly during his first two NFL seasons but emerged as a quality role player in 2024. He had 33 tackles and two sacks across 16 games (five starts) for the Patriots.
Martinez played one UFL season for the Stallions in 2024. He performed well, leading the league in rushing yards with 528 yards, notching three rushing touchdowns and completing 58.5% of his passes for 1,748 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions during an MVP season.
Martinez signed with the Jets for the 2024 NFL season. He didn't get a chance to play as a rookie but remains on New York's roster. The potential-packed 25-year-old quarterback will jockey for depth chart positioning behind Justin Fields with Tyrod Taylor and Jordan Travis.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brandon Aubrey, Jake Bates highlight best UFL to NFL players
Continue reading...
Many have been able to make the most of it and parlay those opportunities into chances with NFL teams.
NFL teams have taken notice of the spring leagues, and many of the league's 400-plus players earn invites to training camps after the season. Not all players make the final 53-man roster or practice squads, but a handful have managed to carve out key roles at the highest level.
Who are the best UFL players currently playing in the NFL? Here's what to know about the recent spring league stars from pre- and post-merger UFL who have carved out professional careers.
Best UFL to NFL players
Brandon Aubrey
- Position: Kicker
- Team: Dallas Cowboys
Aubrey joined the UFL after playing college and professional soccer. He quickly developed into one of the league's best and most powerful kickers and earned an opportunity with the Cowboys ahead of the 2023 season.
Aubrey responded by making an NFL record 35 consecutive field goals to begin his career. During his first NFL season, he was named an All-Pro first-teamer and has made a whopping 24 of 27 kicks from 50-plus yards during his two-year NFL career. That includes a 65-yarder, which is good for the second-longest field goal in NFL history.
Jake Bates
- Position: Kicker
- Team: Detroit Lions
Bates followed Aubrey's path as a former soccer player turned kicker. Bates came to the UFL with three seasons as a kickoff specialist at Texas State and Arkansas, but he hadn't attempted a field goal since high school when he made a game-winning 64-yard kick in his first-ever game with the Michigan Panthers.
The Lions signed Bates ahead of the 2024 NFL season and he made 26 of 29 field goals for the Lions while converting on 64 of 67 extra-point attempts. Like Aubrey, he was accurate from 50-plus yards, going six of eight on such kicks in his first season.
NEW UFL KICKOFF: Why Jake Bates timed rise to Lions stardom perfectly
Kavontae Turpin
- Position: Wide receiver/kick returner
- Team: Dallas Cowboys
The UFL has a knack for producing quality, NFL-level special teamers. Turpin was the first of the bunch, as he parlayed his 2022 USFL MVP award into an opportunity with the Cowboys. He developed into an All-Pro return man with Dallas and has carved out a niche as a speed and slippery rotational receiver.
Turpin posted a career-best 31 catches for 420 yards and two touchdowns last season. He also led the league in return touchdowns with two total (one punt, one kickoff).
MORE: Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin shows off spin move, speed on 99-yard kick return touchdown
Dondrea Tillman
- Position: Edge rusher
- Team: Denver Broncos
Tillman spent three seasons with the Birmingham Stallions before getting an opportunity with the Broncos. He made the most of it, logging 23 tackles and five sacks in 12 games while playing just 20.95% of Denver's snaps.
Tillman will be just 27 in April and figures to be a productive member of the Broncos' pass-rushing rotation moving forward.
UFL CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS: Birmingham Stallions favored to four-peat
Jalen Redmond
- Position: Defensive tackle
- Team: Minnesota Vikings
Redmond spent the 2024 UFL season with the Arlington Renegades before signing with the Vikings. He became a key part of the team's defensive tackle rotation and started two of his 13 games with the team.
Redmond logged 18 tackles and a sack to go along with two pass defenses. The 26-year-old will battle new additions Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave for playing time in 2025.
Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
- Position: Defensive tackle
- Team: New England Patriots
Pharms played in the USFL with the Pittsburgh Maulers during the 2022 season. He performed well and earned a chance to play with New England.
Pharms played sparingly during his first two NFL seasons but emerged as a quality role player in 2024. He had 33 tackles and two sacks across 16 games (five starts) for the Patriots.
Adrian Martinez
- Position: Quarterback
- Team: New York Jets
Martinez played one UFL season for the Stallions in 2024. He performed well, leading the league in rushing yards with 528 yards, notching three rushing touchdowns and completing 58.5% of his passes for 1,748 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions during an MVP season.
Martinez signed with the Jets for the 2024 NFL season. He didn't get a chance to play as a rookie but remains on New York's roster. The potential-packed 25-year-old quarterback will jockey for depth chart positioning behind Justin Fields with Tyrod Taylor and Jordan Travis.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brandon Aubrey, Jake Bates highlight best UFL to NFL players
Continue reading...
