Cowboys Kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) - (former USFL Kicker of the 2023 Birmingham Stallions) - Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images
It’s that time of year again. With Spring football almost over and UFL players getting NFL opportunities, it means the boys of Fall are right around the corner.
Since the UFL play was fast-paced and exciting this year, it’s good that the NFL took notice. They are working out the players who earned a shot.
Four UFL Players Getting NFL Opportunities
Hakeem Butler
Number 88 of the St. Louis Battlehawks returned to Spring form this season. Butler was named Offensive Player of the Year in the UFL this season, for good reason.
He caught 45 balls for a league-best 652 yards and five touchdowns.
If you recognize his name, Butler was on the 2020 Carolina Panthers practice squad for only ten days before being signed by the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 28-year-old receiver was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft.
After failing to land with the Cardinals, Butler spent time with the Panthers, Eagles, and Steelers.
The physical wide receiver has appeared in only two games and hasn’t made a catch yet in the NFL.
Sadly, during his last game in the XFL Conference Championship against the San Antonio Brahmas, the St. Louis Battlehawks lost 25-15.
Butler showed class as he went to shake hands with Brahmas Head Coach Wade Phillips to congratulate him while TV cameras were rolling.
Phillips told Butler he would do his hardest to get the wide receiver back in the NFL.
“I’m going to tell everybody in the NFL that I talk to that you need to be playing,” Phillips told Butler, “You deserve it.”
For the Super Bowl-winning coach to go out of his way to inform the former Iowa State receiver, that message has to make Butler feel great.
Ty Scott
The 6’3″, 202 lb. speedy receiver completed the UFL season with 25 catches for 418 yards and three touchdowns in nine games.
While playing for the DC Defenders this season, Scott previously spent his NFL career in 2023 with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs brought the 25-year-old back for training camp.
Now, Scott will be working out with the Seattle Seahawks for hopefully a better opportunity and a landing spot.
Willie Harvey Jr.
While with the St. Louis Battlehawks, Harvey made the 2024 All-UFL team. He recorded 78 tackles and four sacks in 10 games.
Nevertheless, the linebacker led the league in tackles and also topped all linebackers in tackles for losses (9), passes defenses (6) and forced fumbles (2).
Harvey is currently working out with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
The 28-year-old signed with the Browns in 2019 as an UDFA. He was in Cleveland for three years and participated in four games. He made two tackles in 48 special teams snaps.
In addition, the former Iowa State Cyclone has never played in a regular season game and could be a depth linebacker piece in the NFL.
Therefore, he could be the next Spring league gem to become a Cowboys superstar.
Jacob Saylors
The 5’10”, 199 lb. hard-nosed back rushed for 460 yards on 94 carries with five touchdowns. Additionally, Saylors had 151 yards receiving with the St. Louis Battlehawks.
In college, Saylors played for five years at East Tennessee State.
In the NFL, the 23-year-old spent a portion of 2023 on the Atlanta Falcon’s practice squad. Before that, Saylors signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an UDFA.
However, with the energic athlete topping all running backs in yardage and touchdowns in the UFL, Saylors will work out with the New York Giants to show off his skills.
With some UFL players getting their shot to earn jobs in the NFL this fall, let’s hope we see their names on the NFL opening days rosters.
To Catch up on Last Week’s Championship Games:
Please check out the highlights by my talented co-writers, Miss Angela Miele, here, and Miss Julie Miller of the Forkball.com, here.
