North Carolina doesn’t have a United Football League (UFL) team – yet? – but all eight of the spring professional football league’s franchises have ties to the Old North State.
The UFL’s 2025 season kicks off this weekend, and you can find players with North Carolina collegiate experience or North Carolina hometowns on every roster.
The Birmingham Stallions will enter the season as the reigning champions. Former East Carolina coach Skip Holtz led the Stallions to a 25-0 win over San Antonio in last year’s title game. Birmingham also won USFL titles in 2022 and 2023 under Holtz’s watch.
Running back Ricky Person, who played at NC State and Heritage High in Wake Forest, also is back with the Stallions, along with defensive tackle Willie Yarbary (Wake Forest) and running back Larry Rountree (Raleigh | Millbrook HS).
Person was one of the top rushers for Birmingham last season, gaining 451 yards and scoring six touchdowns. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks last summer but was released before the 2024 season.
He rejoined the Stallions in October and is featured at the beginning of a UFL hype video posted on social media this week.
“I’m super pumped for the season, ready to get around my teammates and be around the best fans in the UFL,” Person posted on X.
More Action.
More Memories.
More Celebrations.
More Football.
More of What You Love.
The UFL kicks off March 28
🎟 https://t.co/5VTnlyl7Hm pic.twitter.com/8YWzlDDP38 — United Football League (@TheUFL) February 11, 2025
The Arlington Renegades have the most players with North Carolina ties – eight in all. Quarterback Holton Ahlers, a standout at ECU from 2018-2022, rejoins the Arlington franchise. Steven Jones, a standout at Richmond Senior and Appalachian State, also is back.
Center Lamont Gaillard, who played for multiple NFL franchises after a successful career at Pine Forest High (Fayetteville) and Georgia, will suit up for the DC Defenders.
Davius Richard, one of the most prolific quarterbacks in North Carolina Central history, is battling for playing time with the Houston Roughnecks. He is joined in the Houston QB room by former West Meck, NC State and Baylor signal caller Jalan McClendon.
Avery Jones, who played at Havelock High, ECU and Auburn, is one of three centers on the Houston roster. The Roughnecks, who feature six players with North Carolina connections, will play in the first UFL game of the season on Friday night at 8 p.m. against St. Louis.
Here are players with ties to North Carolina on each of the UFL rosters, as of March 26
Birmingham Stallions
Ricky Person (RB): NC State | Wake Forest
Larry Rountree (RB): Missouri | Raleigh
Demetrius Taylor (DT): Appalachian State | Miami, FL
Willie Yarbary (DL): Wake Forest | Augusta, Ga.
Michigan Panthers
Adonis Alexander (CB): Virginia Tech | Charlotte
Matthew Colburn (RB): Wake Forest | Irmo, SC
Memphis Showboats
Brevin Allen (DE): Campbell | Greensboro
Lance Boykin (CB): Coastal Carolina | High Point
Mark Gilbert (CB): Duke | Fayetteville
Nate Gilliam (G): Wake Forest | Knoxville, TN
Noah Henderson (T): East Carolina | Bennettsville, SC
Chance Lytle (OG): Duke | San Antonio, TX
Houston Roughnecks
Malik Dunlap (CB): Texas Tech | Charlotte
Avery Jones (C): Auburn | Havelock
Jalan McClendon (QB): Baylor | Charlotte
Eyabi Okie-Anoma (DE): Charlotte | Baltimore, MD
Davius Richard (QB): North Carolina Central | Belle Glade, FL
Mike Rivers (P): Troy | Wilmington
St. Louis Battlehawks
Myles Jones (CB): Duke | Magnolia, TX
Mataeo Durant (RB): Duke | Plum Branch, SC
San Antonio Brahmas
Izaiah Gathings (WR): Middle Tennessee | Statesville
Cameron Lyons (LS): Charlotte | Morgantown, WV
DC Defenders
Lamont Gaillard (C): Georgia | Fayetteville
Deon Jackson (RB): Duke | Atlanta
Cornell Powell (WR): Clemson | Greenville, NC
Arlington Renegades
Holton Ahlers (QB): East Carolina | Greenville, NC
Myles Dorn (CB): North Carolina | Charlotte
Darryl Johnson (DE): North Carolina A&T | Kingsland, Ga.
Steven Jones (CB): Appalachian State | Rockingham
Ricky Lee (T): North Carolina A&T | Jacksonville, FL
Garrett McGhin (T): East Carolina | Tallahassee, FL
Spencer Rolland (T): North Carolina | Burnsville, MN
Isaiah Winstead (WR): East Carolina | Richmond, VA
