ARLINGTON, TX – November 9, 2026 – The Colorado Stampede are preparing for their first season in the UFL. As head coach Rick Neuheisel prepares for his second season in the league, his first moves will come in the 2027 UFL Draft. Here are three areas I believe Neuheisel could focus on to come away with a successful draft.
Neuheisel is expected to carry over much of the roster from last season’s Dallas Renegades team, giving him a foundation to build on as the Stampede prepare for 2027.
1: Build a More Explosive, Consistent Ground Game
Neuheisel’s offense last season was defined by its elite quarterback play. Austin Reed set a new single-season passing touchdown record with 22 in the 10-game season. However, the rushing game never found its identity. After a 3-0 start to the season, a six-game losing streak told the tale in 2026.
The Renegades finished fifth in the league with 93.8 rushing yards per game and averaged 4.0 yards per carry. However, they logged just six rushing touchdowns, the fewest in the UFL. When their passing attack was contained, the rushing game wasn’t there to pick them up. That needs to change in 2027.
It remains unclear whether Austin Reed will return in 2027 after multiple stints with the Baltimore Ravens. Regardless, adding an explosive running back to complement the passing attack should be a top priority. Veteran receiver Tyler Vaughns finished among the league’s top five receivers with 527 yards and led the league with seven touchdowns.
With a strong receiving room consisting of Vaughns, Drake Stoops and Emmanuel Butler, adding a competitive running back could be essential to helping the Stampede establish a more balanced offense.
2: Boost the Offensive Line
Fixing the running game isn’t just about acquiring a new running back. If you want to revolutionize the ground game, addressing the offensive line is arguably just as important. The numbers from last season show that this team needs to run the ball more effectively, and inconsistency up front could be an area to address.
Throughout the season, the offensive line shifted. Whether it was due to injury or lack of production, Neuheisel simply never found consistency out of his big boys up front. That lack of continuity affected the offense’s ability to establish the run and sustain drives.
Neuheisel is one of the most aggressive coaches in the UFL. No team went for it more on fourth down than his squad, which finished with a 48.4% conversion rate on 31 attempts. A more effective rushing attack could help make those late-down situations more manageable and give the offense a better chance to move the chains.
The Renegades allowed just 20 sacks last season, which ranked among the lower totals in the league. However, the offense still finished seventh in total yards per game. With a strong receiving room and the expectation that a running back will be acquired during the draft, bolstering the offensive line should be just as important to establishing a more consistent ground game.
Great teams are great in the trenches.
3: Create More Consistent Defensive Disruption
Lastly, I believe targeting depth at both the edge and linebacker positions is crucial for the Stampede in 2027. This was a defensive unit that struggled to consistently pressure the quarterback and get off the field on third and fourth down. They need to become a more disruptive group in 2027.
Their sack numbers actually look strong, with 24 last spring. However, a seven-sack performance in Week 10 helped significantly boost that number. The Renegades recorded 17 sacks through their first nine games and finished last in the league in tackles for loss. They also allowed 14 rushing touchdowns, which ranked second-worst.
Their secondary created opportunistic plays, but the defense simply did not create enough negative plays up front. Some of the best defenses in the UFL have game-changing playmakers who can consistently pressure the quarterback and disrupt opposing offenses. Adding a player who can create that kind of impact to the front seven could help change that.
Last season, they operated primarily out of a traditional 4-3 base defense, making a disruptive linebacker or edge rusher a logical target in this month’s draft.
With the talent already in place in Colorado, it’s crucial that the Stampede come away with a successful draft. As Neuheisel enters his second season as a head coach in the UFL, a more consistent rushing attack, a bolstered offensive line, and the addition of playmakers at edge rusher and linebacker could be the difference in taking this team to the next level.