(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB J’Mar Smith, RB CJ Marable, RB Bo Scarbough, FB Bobby Holly, WR Adrian Hardy, WR/KR Marlon Williams, OC Cohl Cabral, OG Jahmir Johnson, OG Matt Kaskey, OG Justin Evans, OT O’Shea Dugas, OT Derwin Gray, DE Dondrea Tillman, DE Jonathan Newsome, DT Willie Henry, DT Willie Yarbary, LB Scooby Wright, CB Brian Allen, DS Christian McFarland, DS Tyree Robinson, DS JoJo Tillery, DS Bryce Torneden, PK Brandon Aubry and PT Colby Wadman.
Key Players Departing:
WR/RS Victor Bolden Jr. (Broncos), WR Osirus Mitchell (Showboats), TE Thaddeus Moss (Bengals), LB DeMarquis Gates (Bears), CB Tae Hayes (UFA) and CB Josh Shaw (UFA).
Key Additions:
DE Darrion Daniels (UFA), DE Joe Jackson (UFA), DT Khalil Davis (UFA), LB Rashad Smith (UFA) and CB TJ Carter (Rams).
Draft Picks:
Round 01: Pick 07 – OT Kadeem Telfort (UAB)
Round 02: Pick 14 – OT Quinton Barrow (Grand Valley State)
Round 03: Pick 22 – QB Micale Cunningham (Louisville)
Round 04: Pick 30 – WR Derius Davis (TCU)
Round 05: Pick 38 – DE Zeke Vandenburgh (Illinois State)
Round 06: Pick 47 – OT Colby Sorsdal (Willaim & Mary)
Round 07: Pick 55 – WR Grant DuBose (Charlotte)
Round 08: Pick 63 – OG Mark Evans (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)
Round 09: Pick 71 – DE BJ Thompson (Stephen F. Austin)
Round 10: Pick 79 – DB Starling Thomas (UAB)
2022 Results
W01: NEW JERSEY GENERALS L 24-28
W02: @ Houston Gamblers L 28-33
W03: @ New Orleans Breakers L 13-22
W04: TAMPA BAY BANDITS W 16-10
W05: @ Philadelphia Stars W 30-17
W06: MICHIGAN PANTHERS W 33-17
W07: @ Pittsburgh Maulers W 26-16
W08: NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS W 10-9
W09: HOUSTON GAMBLERS L 15-17
W10: @ Tampa Bay Bandits W 21-18
PLA NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS W 31-17
USFL vs. Philadelphia W 33-30
Misc. Info:
2022 Record: 9-1 (1st in USFL South/USFL Champions)
Home: 4-1
Away: 5-0
South: 5-1
North: 4-0
Head Coach: Skip Holtz
Birmingham: 9-1
Career: 163-122
Postseason: 2-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: J’Mar Smith (131-239, 1573 yards, 54.8%, 6.6 avg., 10 TD, 6 TD)
Rushing: CJ Marable (102 car., 401 yards, 3.9 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Marlon Williams (32 rec., 474 yards, 14.8 avg., 4 TD)
TDs Scored: CJ Marable (5)
Sacks: Jonathan Newsome/Willie Yarbary (3.5)
Tackles: JoJo Tillery (56)
Interceptions: Lorenzo Burns (2)
Pass Deflections: Brian Allen (9)
Tackles For Loss: Dondrea Tillman (7)
Forced Fumbles: Jonathan Newsome/Scooby Wright III (2)
Kick Returners: None
Punt Returns: Peyton Ramzy (2 ret., 41 yards, 20.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Brandon Aubrey (18-22 fg/fga., 82%, 22-24 xp/xpa., 76 pts.)
Punting: Colby Wadman (46 punts, 2073 yards, 45.1 avg., 17 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 6 J’Mar Smith
RB: 11 CJ Marable
FB: 44 Bobby Holly
WR: 17 Marlon Williams
WR: 16 Adrian Hardy
TE: 0 Thaddeus Moss
LT: 77 Derwin Gray
LG: 63 Matt Kaskey
OC: 69 Cohl Cabral
RG: 74 O’Shea Dugas
RT: 76 Darius Harper
KR: 16 Adrian Hardy
PK: 10 Brandon Aubrey
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 90 Joe Jackson
DT: 96 Willie Henry
DT: 55 Jonathan Newsome
DE: 99 Dondrea Tillman
LB: 33 Scooby Wright III
LB: 35 Rashad Smith
CB: 29 Brian Allen
CB: 22 Lorenzo Burns
DS: 9 Tyree Robinson
DS: 5 Christian McFarland
DS: 27 JoJo Tillery
PR: 16 Adrian Hardy
PT: 15 Colby Wadman
Team Grades:
OffenseQuarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: A
Schedule:
4/15 NEW JERSEY GENERALS | Last season’s 28-24 win was the first meeting between teams since the relaunch.
4/22 MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS | First home meeting between teams since the relaunch.
4/29 NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS | Birmingham leads the series 3-0. Last season’s 10-9 win was their first regular season home win of the series since the relaunch.
5/07 at Pittsburgh Maulers | Last season’s 30-17 win was the first meeting between teams since the relaunch.
5/13 HOUSTON GAMBLERS | The series is tied 1-1. Last season’s 15-17 loss was their first home loss of the series since the relaunch.
5/20 at Michigan Panthers | Last season’s 33-17 win was the first meeting between schools since the relaunch.
5/27 at New Orleans Breakers | Birmingham won (30-17) last season’s road meeting between teams.
6/03 PHILADELPHIA STARS | Last season’s 30-17 win was the first meeting between teams since the relaunch.
6/10 at Houston Gamblers | Birmingham lost (28-33) last season’s road meeting between teams.
6/17 at Memphis Showboats | First road meeting between teams since the relaunch.
Predictions:
Home: 5-0
Road: 4-1
South: 6-0
North: 3-1
Overall: 9-1 (1st in USL South/USFL Champions)
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