Former Nebraska Players in 2024 UFL

The 2024 UFL season is underway and a couple of former Nebraska players are participating this year. 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 Nebraska players participating in the 2024 UFL season.

Former Nebraska Players in UFL

There are currently six former Nebraska players participating in the UFL this year. They may have played with the Cornhuskers at various times, but they all are getting another chance to play football. Here is a look at the former Cornhuskers, and how they made it into the UFL.

Austin Allen – TE

Tight end, Austin Allen, is one of the former Nebraska players participating this year. He played with the Cornhuskers from 2017 to 2021, though he was red-shirted in 2017. Allen earned 2021 Big Ten Tight End of the Year, according to Nebraska Athletics. He also ended up with the most season receptions and season receiving yards by a tight end in Nebraska history. In four years he had 65 receptions for 975 yards for three touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. Following his time with Nebraska, Allen headed to the NFL.

Allen went undrafted in 2022. The first team to sign him as an undrafted free agent is the New York Giants. Following his time on the practice squad, in October he was released by the Giants. In January of 2023, he signed to the Packers practice squad. He was released in September of that year. In 2024 he signed with the Arlington Renegades. Arlington is having a slow start to the 2024 season. The Renegades are 0-2, still looking for their first win this season.

Carlos Davis – NT

Nose tackle, Carlos Davis is participating in the UFL this year on the Birmingham Stallions. He played with the Cornhuskers from 2015 until 2019. Davis was red-shirted in 2015, and in 2018 he earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the coaches. He also earned Nebraska Most Improved Player in 2016, according to Nebraska Athletics. In his five years, he had 125 total tackles, 59 solo, 16 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks, according to Sports Reference. He also had one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Following his time at Nebraska, he was drafted in the seventh round with the 232nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The team to draft him is the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons there. Davis then went to the Atlanta Falcons in 2023 but was waived before the season began. In 2023 he signed with the Birmingham Stallions but was waived. The last team to sign Davis in the NFL is the Atlanta Falcons. Davis spent that time on the practice squad. Now he is back with the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL. They are one of the top teams in the league already. The Stallions are currently 2-0, looking to keep their win streak going.

Jordan Ober – LS 

Jordan Ober is a long snapper for the Michigan Panthers in the UFL. He spent 2015 to 2018 with Nebraska. Ober made the third-team All-Big Ten in 2017, according to Nebraska Athletics. He also earned Rubio Long Snapping Third-Team All-American in 2017. In 2023, Ober joined the New Jersey Generals in the USFL. Ober was active for ten regular season games. The New Jersey Generals did not carry over to the UFL. He is now with the Michigan Panthers, another former USFL team. The Panthers are 1-1, looking to get back to winning.

Garrett Nelson – OLB

Linebacker, Garrett Nelson is another one of the former Nebraska players in the UFL. He is currently on the San Antonio Brahmas. Nelson played with Nebraska from 2019 until 2022. He earned second-team All-Big by coaches and media in 2022, according to Nebraska Athletics. That same year he was named team captain. In his four years with Nebraska, he had 167 total tackles, 80 solo, 26 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks, according to Sports Reference. He also forced two fumbles and recovered two.

Nelson was not drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. One of the teams to briefly sign him is the Cincinnati Bengals. was waived in September of 2023. He also spent some time with the Miami Dolphins. This year Nelson is with the San Antonio Brahmas in the UFL. The San Antonio Brahmas are 2-0, looking to keep their win streak going.

Freedom Akinmoladun – DE

Defensive end, Freedom Akinmoladun is currently playing for the St. Louis Battlehawks. He played with the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 2014 to 2018. He was red-shirted in 2014 and made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, as voted by BTN.com and ESPN.Com. In four years, he had 106 total tackles, 53 solo, 16 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks, according to Sports Reference. He also forced one fumble. Following a solid collegiate career, Akinmoladun headed to the NFL.

Akinmoladun went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft. The defensive lineman then signed with the New York Giants practice squad, being released in November 2019. From there he joined the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for two games, but the team ended up waiving him in August 2021. The Tennessee Titans are another team to sign him. He was waived in August of 2021. The New York Jets signed him to their practice squad in December of 2021, and he appeared in one game in week 16 against the Jaguars.

In 2022, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL. Now he is with the St. Louis Battlehawks. He was with them in the 2023 XFL. He is back with them this year again in the UFL. The Battlehawks finally got their first win of the season now standing at 1-1. They will next look for a winning record. 

Chris Payton-Jones – DB

Defensive back, Chris Payton-Jones is the final one of the former Nebraska players in the UFL to discuss. He spent 2014-2017 with the Cornhuskers He earned Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and media in 2016, according to Nebraska Athletics. Payton-Jones went undrafted in 2018.

The first team to sign Payton-Jones is the Detroit Lions. The defensive back then spent 2018-2020 with the Arizona Cardinals. Despite mainly playing on the practice squad, he did get elevated at times. In 2020 the Detroit Lions signed him off of the Cardinals practice squad, waiving him in October. He also joined the Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans, and the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2022, he joined the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL. The Sea Dragons are not one of the teams to carry over in the UFL. He is now with the St. Louis Battlehawks in the UFL. The Battlehawks are 1-1, following their first win of the season. 

To Watch These Former Players:

The Arlington Renegades will face the. D.C. Defenders on Saturday, April 13th at 1 P.M. Eastern. 

The Birmingham Stallions will face the Memphis Showboats on Saturday, April 13th at 7 P.M. Eastern. 

The Michigan Panthers will face the Houston Roughnecks on Sunday, April 14th at 12 P.M. Eastern.

The St. Louis Battlehawks will face the San Antonio Brahmas on Sunday, April 14th at 3 P.M. Eastern.