Former Maryland RB Anthony McFarland Jr - Sarah Sopher / Testudo Times
The 2024 UFL season is underway and there are a couple of former Maryland players participating. The UFL kicked off just this past weekend. It is the new spring league in its first season, following the merger of the USFL and the XFL. Here is a look at the former Maryland players participating in the 2024 UFL season.
Former Maryland Players in the UFL
There are currently four former Maryland players participating in the UFL this season. Three of them are even on the same team, though not all of them played there at the same time. Here is a look at the players, their time playing with Maryland, and their journey into the league.
Derwin Gray – T
Offensive tackle, Derwin Gray is participating in the UFL this year. He is currently on the Birmingham Stallions. He attended Maryland from 2014 until 2018. He was then drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 7th round with the 219th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. His time in the NFL lasted a while, but he never got a solid career going. He bounced from practice squads, though was elevated to the Steelers active roster in 2020. He was then waived in December of that same year. The teams that Gray made an appearance on while playing in the NFL, in addition to the Steelers are the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans.
Since the NFL career did not work out for him, Gray joined the Birmingham Stallions in December 2022. Playing in the USFL in 2023, Gray is continuing to play with the Stallions in the UFL this year. The team is already 1-0 this year after defeating the Arlington Renegades.
Anthony McFarland Jr. – RB
Anthony McFarland Jr. is another one of the former Maryland players participating in the 2024 UFL. McFarland played with Maryland from 2017 until 2019. During his time with the Terps, he made it to third in Maryland history in yards per carry, according to Maryland Athletics. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry. He was then drafted in the fourth round with the 124th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Unfortunately, McFarland did not play long in the league. Not playing much in 2020 and starting the 2021 season on injured reserve, it is difficult for a running back to make a name for himself in the NFL. McFarland is a new player in the spring football world. He signed with the San Antonio Brahmas just this year. McFarland already has one receiving touchdown for the Brahmas this year, helping them earn their first win of the season.
Jordan Mosley – DB
Defensive back Jordan Mosley is another one of the former Maryland players on the San Antonio Brahmas. Mosley spent 2019-2021 with Maryland. His NFL career never really took off. He spent some time with the New York Giants but never had an NFL career. To continue playing football, in 2023, Mosley joined the XFL with the Houston Roughnecks. This year in the UFL, he is playing with the San Antonio Brahmas. In week one of the season, Mosley had eight total tackles, four solo, according to Fox Sports. Mosley is one of those players that can resurrect his career in the UFL.
A.J. Hendy – FS
A.J. Hendy, a safety, is the fourth player participating in the UFL this season from Maryland. Hendy spent time with the Terps from 2011 until 2015. He then went undrafted in the NFL, signing with the Miami Dolphins first. After spending time with the practice squad, Hendy made his NFL debut with the Dolphins in December of that season on special teams against the New England Patriots. He was then waived in 2016. He ended up signing with other NFL teams such as the Los Angeles Chargers and the Houston Texans before taking his chance with spring football.
As it never worked out in the NFL, Hendy ended up signing with the New York Guardians in the 2020 XFL. This is when COVID-19 hit, shutting down that variation of the league. Hendy then went to the CFL when it returned in 2021 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, this was until 2022. When the XFL returned in 2023, he joined the Houston Roughnecks. Now, he is in the UFL with the San Antonio Brahmas. In week one of the season, Hendy had six total tackles, four solo, and one tackle for loss, according to Fox Sports. Watch for Hendy to continue to help his team win this year.
So far the San Antonio Brahmas and the Birmingham Stallions are both 1-0 in the UFL. To watch these former Maryland players, the Brahmas will next face the Memphis Showboats on Saturday, April 6th, and the Stallions will next face the Michigan Panthers on Sunday, April 7th.
