2024 UFL Awards: Michigan's Mike Nolan named Coach of the Year
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by RJ Young | FOXSports.com
With the UFL's inaugural regular season coming to a close, it's time to honor those who stood out above the rest in 2024.
The awards for Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and MVP, among others, will come later. We also still have the postseason to play, and there will be plenty of NFL scouts watching the action as they seek out talent to snatch up for the fall.
On Wednesday, the All-UFL teams on offense, defense and special teams were revealed. (See below for the list).
On Thursday, two individual awards are to be revealed: Coach of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year.
Let's take a look:
UFL COACH OF THE YEAR
Mike Nolan, Michigan Panthers
Nolan engineered an impressive turnaround for the Panthers, and has been rewarded for it.
In 2023, Nolan's first season on the job, the Panthers finished 4-6 in the North Division of the USFL. They benefited from a soft division, making the playoffs despite being outscored 215-171 on the season. They were then beaten by the Pittsburgh Maulers in the postseason.
But the Panthers have looked much different in 2024, going 7-3 to finish second in the USFL Division. Two of those losses came to division champion Birmingham — by a total of only eight points. And they've outscored their opponents 228-189.
The Panthers will take on the Stallions in the USFL Championship on Saturday.
UFL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Coming later today.
ALL-UFL OFFENSE
QB: Adrian Martinez, Birmingham Stallions
RB: Jacob Saylors, St. Louis Battlehawks
WRs: Hakeem Butler, Battlehawks; Daewood Davis, Memphis Showboats; Marcus Simms, Michigan Panthers
TE: Jace Sternberger, Stallions
OG: Zack Johnson, Stallions; Kohl Levao, San Antonio Brahmas
C: Mike Panasiuk, Battlehawks
OT: Jaryd Jones-Smith, Battlehawks; Bobby Evans, Renegades
ALL-UFL DEFENSE
DL: Carlos Davis, Stallions; Daniel Wise, Panthers
Edge/OLB: Breeland Speaks, Panthers; Chris Odom, Houston Roughnecks
LB: Tavante Beckett, Brahmas; Willie Harvey, Battlehawks
CB: Deandre Baker, DC Defenders; Nate Brooks, Panthers; Ajene Harris, Renegades
S: Kai Nacua, Panthers; AJ Thomas, Stallions
ALL-UFL SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Jake Bates, Panthers
P: Marquette King, Renegades
LS: Jordan Ober, Panthers
Returner: Chris Rowland, Defenders
RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast "The Number One College Football Show." Follow him at @RJ_Young and subscribe to "The RJ Young Show" on YouTube.