In anticipation of a new spring football league, the United Football League started signing free agents this week, following two dispersal drafts that combined 16 USFL and XFL teams into eight franchises.
42 players, including two Alabama alums who are joining the Birmingham Stallions, have signed to agreements, according to the new league, which was launched on Friday.
Guard Deonte Brown and wide receiver Slade Bolden are two of the nine free agents that have signed with Birmingham. Bolden and Brown played together for the Crimson Tide in the seasons of 2018–19 and 2019–2020.
Brown, a prep sensation at Decatur’s Austin High School, was selected in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He was a member of the Carolina Panthers practice squad for the majority of the previous three seasons. In 2021, Brown participated in three NFL regular-season contests.
Bolden attended the Baltimore Ravens’ NFL training camp in 2022 but was placed on injured reserve. When the Atlanta Falcons cut their preseason roster to the regular season cap in 2023, Bolden was discharged from training camp.
Wide receiver Kevin Austin, defensive linemen Carlos Davis and Owen Carney, defensive back Mark Gilbert, running back Larry Rountree III, offensive lineman Josh Sokol, and tight end Jordan Thomas are among the other players who have signed with the Stallions.
