Former UFL Stars Shine in NFL Preseason Week One

by Ethan Berch

ARLINGTON, TX – August 17, 2026 – Former UFL talent took center stage during Week One of the NFL Preseason. The week began with standout performances from Jacob Saylors and Tarik Black, continued with an intense kicking battle featuring Tanner Brown, and concluded Saturday night with a pair of former UFL players finding the end zone in Baltimore.

From the start, it seemed as if former UFL players were simply all over the place. Thursday night kicked things off with the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals, where former St. Louis Battlehawk Jacob Saylors posted a strong performance and led the Lions in both rushing and receiving yards, while former Louisville King Tarik Black raced in for a 24-yard score. Read more about Thursday night HERE.

On Friday night, both Major Burns and Cam Camper stood out. Beginning with the former Orlando Storm wide receiver, Camper’s story in the UFL perfectly dictated where he is in his career. He waited for an opportunity and, once earning it, never looked back.

Camper got his chance late in the second half and finished as the Jets’ leading receiver. He did it in front of his former Storm head coach Anthony Becht, who was on the call alongside legendary broadcaster Ian Eagle for the locally televised game on WCBS 2 in New York.

For the Dolphins, former Houston Gamblers defensive back Major Burns picked up where he left off as one of the top defenders in the UFL. Burns finished second on the Dolphins with five total tackles, including three solo stops.

In the Denver-Atlanta game, Chris Blair, Keshawn Banks and Sean Fresch had strong performances. The former DC Defender made one of the top catches of the weekend. Blair took flight on a back-shoulder sideline throw, making a twisting grab while airborne and taking a hard hit in the process. Somehow, Blair held on for a highlight-reel grab.

Former Orlando Storm edge rusher Keshawn Banks played 24 high-level snaps on Friday. Banks led the Falcons with an elite 90.2 defensive grade. He didn’t necessarily light up the stat sheet, but his impact goes much further than just a tackle number.

The former St. Louis Battlehawks defensive back Sean Fresch also made the most of his limited time in the game under head coach Sean Payton. Despite playing just 12 snaps, Fresch finished with an 86.9 defensive grade, including an outstanding 82.9 coverage grade. I’d expect Fresch to have more opportunities moving forward.

On Saturday, two former United Bowl champions went head-to-head. First, it was Cam Gill who drew first blood for the Panthers. Gill, who impressed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, once again jumped back into the spotlight. The former Louisville King, who set the UFL single-season sack record in the spring, got home once again, but this time in the NFL. Gill burned the edge and brought down Buffalo quarterback Kyle Allen.

Ian Wheeler took his turn standing out in the second half. The 2026 United Bowl MVP broke free in the red zone and found pay dirt for a 10-yard score. Wheeler led the Buffalo rushing attack with 41 yards on just seven carries. Wheeler continues to produce with every opportunity thrown his way.

One of the top surprises of the UFL offseason thus far has been former Houston Gamblers wide receiver Kaden Davis. Davis put together an impressive training camp leading up to Chicago’s first preseason game, and that production carried over once he stepped onto the field.

Davis led the Bears with 88 receiving yards on four receptions and finished with a strong 72.6 offensive grade via PFF. His production showed up immediately in the box score, and Davis is a name to keep a close eye on as he continues to make his case for a spot on the 53-man roster.

The New Orleans Saints’ camp is featuring one of the top UFL-to-NFL stories this summer. As former Louisville Kings kicker Tanner Brown pursues becoming the next breakout kicker to move from the spring to the fall, his intense kicking battle got off to a strong start. Brown was perfect on two field goal attempts, connecting from as far as 49 yards out, while his competition finished with a single miss.

With still two preseason games looming, the competition is far from over, but Brown seems to have the edge early.

The Saints saw multiple former UFL players make an impact. On the defensive side of the ball, former Dallas Renegades defensive back Jayden Price made headlines after recording an interception. Price was a true star in his 21 snaps, earning a 95.4 defensive grade via PFF. Price has suddenly emerged as a legitimate contender for a spot on the 53-man roster.

On offense, former Houston Gamblers teammates Hunter Dekkers and Jalen Cropper nearly pulled off an incredible game-winning drive. With Dekkers under center, Cropper quickly became his favorite target.

With 1:40 to go and the Saints down four points, the keys were in Dekkers’ hands. He connected with Cropper for 22 yards and then another 13 yards later in the drive to get the Saints down to the two-yard line.

There was time for just one last play, and Dekkers went right back to Cropper. Unfortunately, the pass was broken up, which nearly produced an all-time UFL-to-NFL preseason moment.

Cropper finished with 49 yards on three receptions and showcased his dynamic playmaking ability on special teams with a 34-yard kick return. Cropper earned a strong 77.4 offensive grade via PFF.

After signing with the Baltimore Ravens just two days prior to their first preseason game, it was not expected that former Dallas Renegades quarterback Austin Reed would get much, if any, action.

Well, late Saturday night, Reed entered for the Ravens on their final drive. He completed both of his passes before rushing in a 14-yard touchdown. Reed quickly went viral for his hilarious and heartwarming reaction on the sideline.

Just moments later, former DC Defender Erik Ezukanma got involved in the scoring. Ezukanma reeled in a six-yard touchdown in the final seconds of the game. He was also very strong in the return game, averaging 25.7 yards on three returns.

From the first snap of the NFL Preseason to the final seconds Saturday night, former UFL players continued to show why the league remains one of the top pathways to the NFL. More than 50 players from the 2026 UFL season and more than 80 UFL alumni are set to return to action in Week Two of the NFL Preseason, beginning Thursday.

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