Former Vipers RB John Lovett - Candice Ward/USA TODAY Sports
The brand-new UFL is almost here, and there will be a couple of former Penn State players who will be playing. The brand new UFL season will kick off on Saturday, March 30th. Here is a look at some of the former Nittany Lions to expect.
Former Penn State Players in UFL
There are currently two former Penn State players set to participate in the UFL. Both also happened to participate in the 2023 XFL and will continue playing spring football this year. Here is a look at the two players, their time at Penn State, and how they ended up in the UFL.
John Lovett – RB
Running back John Lovett only spent one season with the Nittany Lions. From 2017 until 2020, he played with Baylor, joining Penn State for the 2021 season. In his five years of collegiate football, Lovett had 407 rushing attempts for 1,980 yards and 17 touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. He also had 38 receptions for 219 yards and one touchdown.
Lovett did make a run at the NFL. He was with multiple teams but it never worked out for him. In 2023, Lovett played for the Vegas Vipers in the XFL. He rushed the ball 59 times for 227 yards and three touchdowns, according to XFL News Hub. He also had 14 receptions for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Now, Lovett will play for the San Antonio Brahmas in the brand-new UFL.
Steven Gonzalez – G
Offensive guard Steven Gonzalez is another one of the former Penn State players participating in the UFL this year. Gonzalez was with the Nittany Lions from 2015 until 2019. In 2019, the lineman was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team by the coaches and media, according to Penn State Athletics.
Gonzalez did make an attempt at joining the NFL. He went undrafted in 2020 and shortly made the roster for the Arizona Cardinals and the Buffalo Bills. In 2023, Gonzalez joined the XFL with the St. Louis Battlehawks. He was even named to the 2023 All-XFL team. Now, he will rejoin the Battlehawks in the UFL.
The 2023 UFL season will begin this weekend on Saturday, March 30th. The St. Louis Battlehawks will face the Michigan Panthers on that Saturday. Then, the San Antonio Brahmas will face off against the D.C. Defenders on Sunday, March 31st. Be sure to watch these former Penn State players continue their football career in the UFL.
