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After the USFL’s inaugural ten-week regular season, three former UCF Knights football players will travel from Birmingham, Alabama to Canton, Ohio for the league’s playoffs.
Four former Knights were drafted into the league four months ago, with a fifth player signing with a league team in April.
Three of these players will play in one of the league’s semifinal games between the Birmingham Stallions and the New Orleans Breakers on June 25th at 8 p.m. on NBC.
With that game kicking off in a few days time, here are how all five former Knights did in their first season in the new league.
Marlon Williams
WR — Birmingham Stallions
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Technically the home team of the entire league, the Birmingham Stallions advance to the USFL playoffs with a league-leading 9-1 record partially thanks to former Knights wide receiver Marlon Williams.
BOOM.@TheReall__6 just fought through THREE Bandits defenders to get into the endzone
— Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) June 18, 2022
@FOXSports pic.twitter.com/8FiilObRxH
Williams is third in the league in receiving yards, with 474 receiving yards, and is also tied for the second-most receiving touchdowns in the league with four.
He’s also second in yards per game (52.7), and third in yards per reception (14.8) and yards after catch (197).
Williams only missed one game this season due to a knee injury, per the Stallions’ Twitter account.
Marlon Williams caught that... with no helmet @TheReall__6
— Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) May 21, 2022
: @NBCSports @PeacockTV pic.twitter.com/NWxpI6BGbw
Of all five UCF players in the league, Williams arguably made the best case for a spot on an NFL roster, thanks to his size and big-play ability.
Jordan McCray
C — Birmingham Stallions
Thanks for all the laughs @JMcc63! pic.twitter.com/5ovx3oOACW
— Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) June 17, 2022
Center Jordan McCray doesn't just contribute to the Birmingham Stallions with his humor.
McCray has started all 10 games for the team, defending quarterback J’Mar Smith or opening up running lanes for running backs C.J. Marable and Bo Scarbrough, who both rank Top 10 in the league in rushing yards.
Smith, Marable, and Scarbrough also each have one Offensive Player of the Week honor to their names.
Goooooooooooooood@JMcc63 | #GiddyUp pic.twitter.com/6sAYoRPhQF
— Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) May 7, 2022
Nevelle Clarke
DB — New Orleans Breakers
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Defensive back Nevelle Clarke was not drafted into the league, signing with the New Orleans Breakers on April 1.
Despite a hamstring injury keeping him out of two games in May, Clarke tallied 15 tackles and an interception in eight games of action.
HE’LL TAKE THAT‼️
— UCF Alumni (@UCFALUMNI) April 25, 2022
Nevelle Clarke ’18 with his first @USFL INT pic.twitter.com/oR3aGIFbOT
Clarke’s Breakers (6-4) will take on Williams and McCray’s Stallions in the USFL Playoff’s South Division Final game on June 25th at 8 p.m. on NBC, setting up a potential UCF-on-UCF matchup on the outside.
Who's ready for the @USFLBreakers and @USFLStallions to go head-to-head once again this Saturday in the Inaugural Playoffs?
— USFL (@USFL) June 21, 2022
Which team is coming out on top, or ? pic.twitter.com/kaIwLwZVy7
Rashard Causey
DB — Tampa Bay Bandits
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Defensive back Rashard Causey began his season on the Bandits practice squad, but was called up to the active roster before Week 4, per the Tampa Bay Bandits Twitter account, and played the rest of the season.
In his seven games of action, Causey tallied 13 total tackles.
The Bandits finished the regular season with a 4-6 record, outside of postseason contention.
Rannell Hall
DB — Tampa Bay Bandits
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Rannell Hall moved from wideout to defensive back with the Tampa Bay Bandits and made limited playing time count despite fighting injuries.
Hall began the season on the inactive roster with what the Bandits’ Twitter account said was a thigh injury. He would develop a hand injury later in the season.
Despite playing in only four games, Hall ended his season with 17 total tackles.
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