NFL News & Analysis

Every USFL team's highest-graded players heading into Week 5

The Memphis Showboats defensive end Jeff McCulloch (33) runs out of the tunnel with enthusiasm before they battle against the Philadelphia Stars at the Simmons Liberty Bank Stadium in Memphis. Memphis Showboats

PFF has you covered for all offseason leagues, in addition to grades and analysis for the NFL and college football. We'll be diving into every USFL team's highest-graded players each week. Let's get into the numbers ahead of Week 5.

Be sure to also check out our XFL highest-graded players.


Birmingham Stallions

  1. WR Davion Davis (82.5)
  2. QB Alex McGough (80.8)
  3. RB ZaQuandre White (80.0)
  4. DI Jordan Thompson (76.0)
  5. DI Khalil Davis (75.4)

Davion Davis has generated a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeted this season, hauling in 19 receptions on 21 targets for three scores and 268 yards — 125 of which have come after the catch.

Jordan Thompson's 76.7 pass-rushing grade ranks third among USFL interior defenders. While he has yet to record a sack, his eight quarterback pressures and 14.1% pass-rush win rate are both top-five marks at the position.


Houston Gamblers

  1. WR Justin Hall (89.8)
  2. RB Mark Thompson (83.9)
  3. EDGE Ronheen Bingham (83.2)
  4. OT Avery Gennesy (74.7)
  5. C Nick Buchanan (73.7)

No wide receiver in the USFL has forced more missed tackles than Justin Hall's 14, and his 2.72 yards per route rank second at the position. He was quiet in the Gamblers' Week 4 blowout win, but that was primarily because of Mark Thompson's dominant day on the ground.

Ronheen Bingham leads the USFL in quarterback pressures (22) through four weeks. He has racked up four sacks, four hits and 14 hurries, in addition to 11 other reps where he beat his blocker but didn't generate pressure.


Memphis Showboats

  1. EDGE Jeff McCulloch (88.0)
  2. WR Vinny Papale (80.8)
  3. DI John Atkins (76.2)
  4. RB Kerrith Whyte Jr. (76.1)
  5. WR Ryan McDaniel (75.1)

The USFL leader in pass-rushing grade (91.0), Jeff McCulloch has recorded seven pressures on just 45 pass-rushing snaps. His Week 4 effort earned him an elite 94.3 game grade.

Vinny Papale is pacing the USFL in contested catches (six), including three in Week 4. He has yet to find the end zone or top 60 receiving yards in a game in 2023, but he is making all the tough catches.


Michigan Panthers

  1. EDGE Breeland Speaks (87.5)
  2. RB Reggie Corbin (86.6)
  3. CB Josh Butler (76.9)
  4. RB Stevie Scott III (75.1)
  5. EDGE Tre Williams (74.2)

After a torrid start to the 2023 season, headlined by 10 quarterback pressures in two games, Breeland Speaks has quieted down a bit with three pressures across his past two outings. Still, his 19.4% pass-rush win rate is a top-five mark among edge defenders.

Reggie Corbin leads the USFL in rushing grade (91.1) through four weeks. Of his 256 rushing yards, 217 have come after contact. Corbin is also one of four USFL running backs to have broken 10 or more tackles.


New Jersey Generals

  1. LB Chris Orr (91.0)
  2. RB Darius Victor (84.7)
  3. DI Kenny Randall (84.7)
  4. DI Toby Johnson (80.9)
  5. EDGE Hercules Mata'afa (80.8)

The highest-graded defender in the USFL, Chris Orr is making his mark in all three phases: run defense, pass rushing and coverage. He sports an 80.0-plus grade in each facet and ranks second in the league in run stops (11).

Darius Victor is averaging .41 broken tackles per carry — by far the highest mark among USFL running backs thus far. His 5.8 yards after contact per attempt also top the charts.


New Orleans Breakers

  1. LB Vontae Diggs (86.6)
  2. RB Wes Hills (84.8)
  3. TE Sage Surratt (82.7)
  4. QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson (78.9)
  5. WR Lee Morris (78.8)

Most linebackers tend to get picked on in coverage, but Diggs is not like most linebackers. His 90.1 coverage grade leads the position, as he's allowed just 38 yards on eight targets.

With 390 yards, eight touchdowns and 18 broken tackles in just three weeks, Wes Hills is far and away the USFL's most productive running back. He leads the position in just about every positive category.


Philadelphia Stars

  1. OG Shamarious Gilmore (84.3)
  2. EDGE Ali Fayad (78.0)
  3. S Cody Brown (75.6)
  4. EDGE Adam Rodriguez (75.6)
  5. WR Chris Rowland (72.9)

Shamarious Gilmore's 87.1 pass-blocking grade through Week 4 beats out that of all other offensive linemen. Across a league-high 174 pass-blocking snaps, he has surrendered just three pressures — none of which were sacks.

A 91.2 game grade in Week 3 boosted Fayad into the top five, and he remains there after four weeks of action. His five run stops rank second among all USFL edge defenders.


Pittsburgh Maulers

  1. LB Reuben Foster (90.1)
  2. DI Olive Sagapolu (86.5)
  3. S Eli Walker (76.2)
  4. WR Tre Walker (73.9)
  5. DI Boogie Roberts (73.5)

Reuben Foster, a former first-round NFL draft pick, simply continues to live up to his pedigree. He didn't play in Week 4 due to injury but remains the USFL's highest-graded linebacker in run defense (93.7). He has four tackles for loss or no gain and a forced fumble in run defense.

Tre Walker has played in only two games thus far but qualifies for the snap threshold. His Week 4 effort earned him an 80.0 game grade, as he hauled in a contested catch on one of his three targets.

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