Arlington, Texas (March 20, 2025) — The Michigan Panthers announced on Thursday that the team has set its final roster at 50 players as the Panthers prepare for the upcoming UFL season.
The majority of last year’s team (68 percent) that finished the regular season 7-3 and had an appearance in the USFL Championship game return for the 2025 season. There are six players on the roster with ties to Michigan (either being from Michigan or playing collegiately in the state) including offensive lineman Brian Dooley (attended Eastern Michigan), quarterback Rocky Lombardi (born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and attended Michigan State), defensive back Keni-H Lovely (attended Western Michigan), running back Nate McCrary (from Muskegon, Michigan and attended Saginaw Valley State), tight end Gunnar Oakes (attended Eastern Michigan) and defensive end Kenny Willekes (from Rockford, Michigan and attended Michigan State).
The following is the Michigan Panthers 50-man roster:
|
No. |
Name |
Position |
Last College |
|
19 |
Adonis Alexander |
CB |
Virginia Tech |
|
98 |
Levi Bell |
DE |
Texas State |
|
73 |
Jake Burton |
OL |
Baylor |
|
69 |
Cohl Cabral |
OL |
Arizona State |
|
96 |
T.J. Carter |
DE |
Kentucky |
|
97 |
Ron’Dell Carter |
DE |
James Madison |
|
26 |
Matthew Colburn II |
RB |
Wake Forest |
|
60 |
Victor Curne |
OL |
Mississippi |
|
10 |
Noah Dawkins |
LB |
Citadel |
|
15 |
Akeem Dent |
S |
Florida State |
|
77 |
Brian Dooley |
OL |
Eastern Michigan |
|
8 |
Danny Etling |
QB |
LSU |
|
25 |
Tyree Gillespie |
S |
Missouri |
|
5 |
Frank Ginda |
LB |
San Jose State |
|
80 |
Cole Hikutini |
TE |
Louisville |
|
61 |
Noah Johnson |
OL |
Kansas State |
|
12 |
Rocky Lombardi |
QB |
Northern Illinois |
|
18 |
Keni-H Lovely |
DB |
Western Michigan |
|
82 |
Xavier Malone |
WR |
Henderson State |
|
4 |
Siaosi Mariner |
WR |
Utah State |
|
44 |
Garrett Marino |
DT |
UAB |
|
28 |
Nate McCrary |
RB |
Saginaw Valley State |
|
14 |
D.J. Miller Jr. |
DB |
Kent State |
|
81 |
Jaylon Moore |
WR |
Tennessee-Martin |
|
45 |
Donavan Mutin |
LB |
Houston |
|
21 |
Kai Nacua |
FS |
BYU |
|
86 |
Samson Nacua |
WR |
BYU |
|
75 |
Ryan Nelson |
OL |
Virginia |
|
84 |
Gunnar Oakes |
TE |
Eastern Michigan |
|
54 |
Jordan Ober |
LS |
Nebraska |
|
72 |
Chim Okorafor |
OL |
Benedictine College (KS) |
|
99 |
Walter Palmore |
DT |
Missouri |
|
3 |
Bryce Perkins |
QB |
Virginia |
|
33 |
B.T. Potter |
K |
Clemson |
|
6 |
Devin Ross |
WR |
Colorado |
|
76 |
Keith Russell |
OL |
Missouri Western |
|
20 |
Jaden Shirden |
RB |
Monmouth |
|
9 |
Marcus Simms |
WR |
West Virginia |
|
57 |
Breeland Speaks |
DE |
Mississippi |
|
91 |
Ron Stone Jr. |
DE |
Washington State |
|
42 |
Mika Tafua |
DE |
Utah |
|
2 |
Arnold Tarpley III |
S |
Vanderbilt |
|
1 |
Levonta Taylor |
CB |
Florida State |
|
22 |
Bryce Torneden |
S |
Kansas |
|
17 |
Malik Turner |
WR |
Illinois |
|
36 |
Seth Vernon |
P |
Portland State |
|
11 |
Javin White |
LB |
UNLV |
|
32 |
Kedrick Whitehead Jr. |
S |
Delaware |
|
48 |
Kenny Willekes |
DE |
Michigan State |
|
85 |
Jalen Wydermyer |
TE |
Texas A&M |
The following player has been placed on the injured reserve list:
De’Gabriel Floyd LB East Los Angeles College
The following players have been placed on waivers:
Chidi Okeke OL Tennessee State
Corrion Ballard S Utah
Gavin Holmes WR Baylor
Gemon Green CB Michigan
J.D. Duplain OL Michigan State
James Walker III OL Southeastern Oklahoma
Keonte Schad DL Oregon State
KiAnte Hardin DB Pittsburg State
Phazione McClurge WR Indiana State
Ralen Goforth LB Washington
Simon Laryea P Abilene Christian
Toa Taua RB Nevada
The Michigan Panthers will kick off their 2025 campaign on the road at the Memphis Showboats on Sunday, March 30 at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Panthers will follow that game up with three straight home games at Ford Field. In Week 2, Michigan will host the Birmingham Stallions on Friday, April 4 at 8 p.m. ET as part of FOX Sports’ FOX UFL Friday package, which is a new night dedicated to UFL action taking place each Friday during the 10-week regular season. On Sunday, April 13, the Panthers will host the San Antonio Brahmas at 12 p.m. ET on ABC. The team’s last appearance on FOX UFL Friday will come in Week 4 as Michigan will host the Memphis Showboats at 8 p.m. ET on April 18.
The Panthers will make their first ever trip to The Dome at America's Center to face the St. Louis Battlehawks on Saturday, April 26 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Michigan returns to the friendly confines of Ford Field on Sunday, May 4 to host the D.C. Defenders at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The Panthers will then play three straight road games, all on Saturdays, first visiting the Arlington Renegades on May 10 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. In Week 8, Michigan will travel to the Houston Roughnecks on May 17 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. The team’s final road game will be at the Birmingham Stallions on May 24 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC. Michigan will close its regular season schedule by hosting the Houston Roughnecks on Saturday, May 31 at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN.
To find out more about the 2025 Michigan Panthers, see the full schedule and purchase tickets, fans can click on UFLPanthers.com.
About the UFL
The United Football League (UFL) is the professional spring football league, born from the groundbreaking 2024 merger of the XFL and USFL. With the visionary backing of RedBird Capital Partners, FOX, Dany Garcia and Dwayne Johnson, the UFL is redefining the football landscape. Built on tradition and positioned to innovate and expand fan engagement and player opportunities, the league is poised for growth with its eight teams in key markets: Arlington (TX), Birmingham (AL), Detroit (MI), Houston (TX), San Antonio (TX), Memphis (TN), St. Louis (MO), and Washington D.C. The UFL is committed to pushing the boundaries of the game and delivering an elevated experience for players, fans, and partners alike.