The 2026 United Football League season is right around the corner.

The league reshaped this offseason once again, and there are a ton of new athletes in new places ahead of kickoff.

South Dakota, as well as our immediate area is well represented on rosters leaguewide, as the 8-team league readies for kickoff in late March.

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Here is the complete list of area athletes that are currently listed on UFL rosters ahead of the season kicking off on Friday, March 27th.

First, here are the 8 teams: Birmingham Stallions, Columbus Aviators, Dallas Renegades, DC Defenders, Houston Gamblers, Louisville Kings, Orlando Storm, and the St. Louis Battlehawks.

Here are the area connections on each roster:

Birmingham Stallions

Joey Lombard, Offensive Line, University of South Dakota

Columbus Aviators

Tre'Von Jones, Cornerback, University of Minnesota

Chuck Filiaga, Offensive Line, University of Minnesota

Matt Farniok, Offensive Line, University of Nebraska (Sioux Falls, SD Native)

Prior to Stallions
Selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft, played in 19 games over his two seasons with Dallas.
Was waived by the Cowboys prior to the beginning of the 2023 seasons.
Spent all of 2023 on the practice squads for the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions before being waived by Detroit this past summer.
Played collegiately at Nebraska, logging playing time in 39 career games with 36 starts for the Cornhuskers.

Dallas Renegades

Jah Joyner, Defensive End, University of Minnesota

DC Defenders

None.

Houston Gamblers

Hunter Dekkers, Quarterback, Iowa Western CC/Iowa State (Hawarden, IA Native)

Marcus Major, Running Back, University of Minnesota

Marco Ortiz, Long Snapper, University of Nebraska

Quinton Newsome, Cornerback, University of Nebraska

Louisville Kings

Nick Kubitz, Linebacker, North Dakota State

Nash Jensen, Offensive Line, North Dakota State

Carter Bell, Wide Receiver, University of South Dakota

Orlando Storm

Steven Stilianos, Tight End, University of Iowa

Bryce Benhart, Offensive Line, University of Nebraska

Lamar Jackson, Cornerback, University of Nebraska

St. Louis Battlehawks

Michael Ojemudia, Cornerback, University of Iowa

Jarrod Huffard, Offensive Line, Iowa State University

Hakeem Butler, Wide Receiver, Iowa State University

Carlos Davis, Defensive Line, University of Nebraska

The UFL season officially begins on Friday, March 27th when the Birmingham Stallions meet the Louisville Kings in the season opener. The season will extend 10 weeks, and regular season action will conclude in late May. Most games will air on FOX, ESPN, or ABC this season.