The UFL season is fast approaching! On Monday, the league held the final phase of their dispersal draft, where teams could add any available player who played in the league last year. This is the final step in the XFL-USFL merger before the season begins. Here are the results for the Michigan Panthers dispersal draft.
Michigan Panthers Dispersal Draft Results
The Michigan Panthers selected 14 players in the dispersal draft on Monday, January 15th.
- CB Nate Brooks
- S Will Adams
- OT Eric Abojei
- K Cole Murphy
- P Kyle Kramer
- DE Vantrel McMillan
The Michigan Panthers focused on the defense in the dispersal draft and getting some key special teams players. They were one of the teams that only selected a handful of players, partly because they protected so many players in the first two phases.
Michigan Panthers Dispersal Draft Analysis
The Panthers had a rough season last year. They never found their groove and finished seasons 4-6. The team went defense with their first two picks, where they were strong last year. Michigan is committed to stopping the opposing offense and picked up some of the top players from last year. This team protected many players in the first couple of phases of the dispersal draft, so the options were limited in the final phase. Despite only picking six players, they added some key players.
Player To Know: Nate Brooks
Brooks was an absolute steal for the Michigan Panthers in the dispersal draft. Brooks was a part of the USFL champion Birmingham Stallions last season and was a huge part of the defense. The talented cornerback had 42 tackles and two interceptions in ten games. He started all ten games. Brooks also brings NFL experience as he has bounced around the league since 2019 before landing in the USFL.
Brooks can immediately come in a start for the Panthers. For many franchises, the third phase of the dispersal draft was a place to find potential rotation pieces. Michigan may have gotten their starting safety. This is a great pick for the team and a candidate for the draft’s biggest steal.
Player To Know: Vantrel McMillan
McMillan has spent two years with the Panthers and has 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks in two starts. While Brooks may become a starter, McMillan will likely become a rotational piece in the pass rush. He joins Breeland Speaks in the pass rush, one of the team’s strengths. For any pass rush to be successful, rotational pieces are necessary. If players are not kept fresh, they will struggle to generate pressure on the quarterback in the fourth quarter.
McMillan also brings a familiarity to the roster. Since the defensive end has been with the team for the past two years, he already knows the coaching staff, and they know him. They will likely be able to get the most out of him since they are familiar with him. This may seem like a subtle advantage, but in sports, those advantages can be the difference between winning and losing.
2024 Outlook
The Michigan Panthers quietly had a good dispersal draft. While phase three was focused on the defense, they picked up some nice offensive pieces in the first two phases. The team picked up the leading rusher in the USFL last year, Wes Hills. They also took a flyer on former LSU quarterback Danny Etling, who is no stranger to big games. New head coach Mike Nolan has a talented roster and is hoping to make some noise in the inaugural season of the UFL.
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Matt has been following sports since he was a kid. While football is his primary focus, Matt can talk about any sport anytime. He is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
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