Three UFL Players To Watch In 2027
UFL Game Balls | NBC Sports
All eight United Football League markets are set for the 2027 season, with two new cities in play.
Fans learned on September 23 that the Birmingham Stallions and Dallas Renegades will relocate to Rhode Island and Colorado Springs, respectively. The Houston Gamblers move north to Dallas, a major contrast to last year’s roster.
As we wait for the official Rhode Island and Colorado Springs branding, let’s discuss three standout players who will supplement these roster movements and why they are worth mentioning.
CB Ajene Harris - UFL Colorado
Ajene Harris (#5) in pre-game warmups with Arlington Renegades in 2025 | United Football League
Those who have watched since the second XFL iteration should remember Ajene Harris. The USC alum began his professional career as an undrafted cornerback with the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad in 2019 before quickly becoming a staple in spring football.
Harris spent time in the XFL, CFL, and USFL before his first breakout season occurred with the Houston Roughnecks in 2023. Harris racked up 31 tackles and 5 interceptions, good enough to be named XFL Interceptions Leader and the All-XFL Team that season. He received similar honors post-merger with the Arlington Renegades in 2024 and 2025, during their former branding.
The NFL and UFL will undoubtedly keep watching him because of his ballhawk talent. If he decides to play for Colorado and Head Coach Rick Neuheisel, they’ll have a serviceable defender at hand.
QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson - UFL Rhode Island
Former Quarterback for Birmingham Stallions in the 2026 UFL Season | Troy Messenger
The Orlando Storm shocked the UFL last season after trading QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the Birmingham Stallions before Week 5. Many were relieved he had a chance to start elsewhere after sitting on the bench behind teammate Jack Plummer.
DTR vastly improved the Birmingham offense the rest of the season, even though the Stallions were later eliminated from the playoffs. In just six games as QB1, DTR threw for 1,157 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions.
Before the UFL, DTR was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He played with the team for two seasons, backing up quarterbacks like Deshaun Watson and Joe Flacco. DTR was traded to Philadelphia in 2025, he was eventually cut that summer.
UFL Insider James Larsen recently said on Twitter that the league may be pushing for DTR to be the “face of the league” for Rhode Island. A move that might just work thanks to his NFL experience and having a full offseason under Head Coach A.J. McCarron.
WR Justin Hall - Dallas Renegades
Louisville Kings vs Houston Gamblers (2026) | United Football League
Justin Hall may be the most intriguing name in this article. The Douglasville, GA, native has played in spring football every year since the Houston Gamblers signed him in 2023.
Hall’s playmaking and athleticism have proven to be essential to offensive schemes under Houston head coaches Curtis Johnson and Kevin Sumlin. The Minnesota Vikings signed him at the end of the 2024 NFL offseason before he was let go due to roster cuts. Hall has recorded a total of 1,816 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns the last four seasons.
One interesting highlight is that he’s been a part of three rebrands in Houston, both in the USFL and UFL. In a way, it is amazing, reflecting on the debacle of the UFL deciding whether or not the Roughnecks or Gamblers sounds better.
Justin Hall now finds himself in Dallas, ready to bring the Renegades to the top of the Texas football chain. His discipline and veteran experience in spring football will be huge as Kevin Sumlin lays out his roadmap for 2027.
