Football

Reports: Mixed Feelings as Birmingham Stallions Pass Rusher, Running Back Heading to NFL

Nero Scofield

The first two players from the UFL champion Birmingham Stallions are off the board. Dondrea Tillman is signing with the Denver Broncos and Ricky Person Jr. will join the Seattle Seahawks.

Former Minnesota Gophers star Antoine Winfield Jr. has rapidly risen to become one of the NFL’s elite defensive backs. CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin recently ranked him as the 16th-best player under 25 in the league. Winfield, who secured a four-year, $84.1 million extension this offseason, was recognized by Pro Football Focus as the top safety last season and has been among the top 10 safeties for the past three seasons. Benjamin praised Winfield’s pivotal role in the Buccaneers’ defense, particularly his standout performance in 2023 that fueled another playoff run. During his college career, Winfield amassed 177 tackles, 9 interceptions, and 3 touchdowns.

After clinching their third straight league championship, the Birmingham Stallions are attracting significant NFL interest. Pass rusher Dondrea Tillman has signed a three-year contract with the Denver Broncos, as reported by Mike Klis of 9News. Additionally, NFL reporter Aaron Wilson noted that running back Ricky Person Jr. has joined the Seattle Seahawks. Tillman played all 10 regular-season games for the Stallions, achieving 27 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Last season, he contributed 32 tackles and four sacks in 10 starts. Person was the team’s second-leading rusher with 297 yards and six touchdowns in nine games, and last season he recorded 83 yards and a touchdown in four games.

Michigan recently hosted several top recruits from the 2025 class, marking the end of official visit season. Among the visitors was Ivan Taylor, a top-50 safety committed to Notre Dame, who also visited Alabama and Florida in June. He praised Michigan’s coaching staff, particularly Coach Moore, and noted that his parents were impressed. Four-star wide receiver Taz Williams visited Michigan for the third time, highlighting his strong relationships with the coaching staff. Williams is set to announce his decision on July 13, with Michigan, Penn State, SMU, and Texas A&M in the running. Four-star linebacker Kamar Archie also visited and appreciated the team’s camaraderie and the welcoming environment. Defensive lineman Maxwell Roy has narrowed his choices to Michigan, Ohio State, and Rutgers, with Ohio State currently leading. Meanwhile, defensive line commit Bobby Kanka reaffirmed his commitment to Michigan, and four-star linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng included Michigan in his top five schools.

Birmingham had another impressive season, finishing with a 9-1 record and claiming both the USFL Conference and UFL titles. They defeated the Michigan Panthers in the former and secured a 25-0 victory over the San Antonio Brahmas in the UFL Championship. As of Wednesday, contracts of UFL players have been ended to enable them to pursue opportunities with NFL teams.

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