Former Stallions Making an Impact in the NFL
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by Steve Irvine
A trio of former Birmingham Stallions players are making an impact in the NFL while the organization’s decision-makers are busy building a roster that will chase a fourth consecutive spring football championship. Outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman (Denver Broncos) and defensive tackle Khalil Davis (former Houston Texans and now San Francisco 49er) are proving themselves on the defensive side while Brandon Aubrey (Dallas Cowboys) continues to be perhaps the most dynamic placekicker in the NFL.
“Seeing our Stallions in the NFL just goes to show the talent level in the UFL,” said Birmingham Stallions head coach Skip Holtz, who has directed his team to three consecutive league titles. “It is giving them the vehicle they need to get there and then once they go get there, they are making the most of it. I am so proud of all our players who have been given that shot. And there are plenty more in this league who can do that if given the opportunity."
The 6-foot-3, 270-pound Tillman, who was a key part of two USFL championships and last season’s UFL championship, was not activated by the Broncos until the third game of the NFL season. He made that move pay off immediately, contributing three tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits in a 26-7 win over the Tampa Bay Bucs on Sept. 22 in Tampa. Tillman became the fourth undrafted player since 1990 with at least two sacks in his first career game, according to a story on DenverBroncos.com.
"My group of guys, they gave me the confidence," Tillman said to DenverBroncos.com after the Sept. 22 game. "They told me all week that I could go out there and do it and [to] just trust myself [and] just do what I do."
He had a pair of tackles in a 10-9 victory over the New York Jets on Sept. 29. He is currently listed as second team, behind starter Nick Bonitto, at weakside linebacker. This is Tillman’s first time on an NFL roster. He has played in six games overall, contributing six tackles and two sacks, heading into Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
Aubrey set a Dallas Cowboys record when he hit a 65-yard field goal in a win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 22. He is on the doorstep of challenging the NFL record long field goal of 66 yards by Baltimore’s Justin Tucker in 2021. He made a 66-yard field goal in an exhibition game against the Las Vegas Raiders in August but that does not count as an official record because it did not come in a regular season game. During the 21 games of his NFL career thus far, he is 13-of-14 from 50-59 yards and made all three of his attempts of 60 yards or longer. He has missed just twice – 32-of-34 – inside of 50 yards. His lone miss outside of 50 yards came from 52 yards in the fourth quarter of a loss to the New York Giants on Sept. 26. He scored all the Cowboys’ points in a 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions this past week.
“Everyone wants to make every kick, no one more than me,” Aubrey said after the loss to the Giants. “I want to make every kick I go out there and attempt. In reality, that’s not going to happen. I just have to bounce back and make the next kick.”
Aubrey, who was 53-of-57 on field goals and 58-of-61 on extra points in two seasons with the Stallions, was selected as the NFL’s Special Teams Player of the Month for September. He won that award twice last season.
Davis, a former backup defensive tackle for the Texans who was recently traded to the 49ers, had eight tackles and two sacks in seven games for a team that is 6-3. Davis has been a part of six NFL franchises, earning a Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Bucs in the 2020-21 season. His only regular season game action, before last season, consisted of two games for Tampa Bay in 2020 and one game with the Indianapolis Colts in 2021. He was with the Birmingham Stallions in 2023. Davis joined the Texans for the 2023 season after helping the Stallions win a USFL Championship. He was recently traded to the 49ers. He began that NFL season on the practice squad but played in 15 games after being elevated to the active roster. He finished with 32 tackles and two sacks.
Steve Irvine is a longtime Alabama sportswriter.