The Memphis Showboats just received a major boost to their units as they enter the halfway point of their season.
Earlier this week, the UFL announced that RB Wes Hills signed with the team and that WR Daewood Davis was activated off IR.
Player Background
Wes Hills played for the New Orleans Breakers in 2023 and for the Michigan Panthers in 2024. He played well enough for New Orleans to be named on the All-USFL list. Hills makes his return to spring football after a torn quad tendon sidelined him in the final weeks of the UFL regular season last year. With his presence, the Showboats may have found their answer at the RB position.
Daewood Davis is familiar with fans alike after being selected for All-UFL honors last year following a breakout season that ultimately put his name on the map. He is set to make his season debut this weekend against the Houston Roughnecks after sitting out the first five weeks to an injury he suffered with the Carolina Panthers last year. His absence has been felt this year as the Showboats’ wide receiver core hasn’t been consistent this season. It’s very much possible that Davis could have a big game this weekend after seeing how St. Louis Battlehawks’ receiver Hakeem Butler performed in his first game from injury last week.
The Showboats’ Season So Far
Memphis began the season 0-4, prompting concern for what is going wrong and what could be improved. They sought answers at key positions such as QB and RB but just couldn’t find a way to turn the tide. Interim HC Jim Turner and his staff needed to try something new after a Week 4 loss to Michigan left much to be desired. So, they settled on giving QB Dresser Winn a chance to prove himself as the team starter against the Birmingham Stallions. Winn went on to exceed expectations with how he took care of the football during the matchup, giving the Showboats the confidence they needed to beat the Stallions in overtime 24-20 to earn their first win of the season.
The Memphis Showboats may be 1-4 right now but they still have enough time to change the narrative these next few weeks.
The USFL Conference’s Outlook
The USFL Conference is currently up for grabs as the Birmingham Stallions and Michigan Panthers each hold a 3-2 record. The Houston Roughnecks are not that far behind with a 2-3 record. They will look to continue their newly-found resurgence at TDECU Stadium against Memphis this Saturday.
Teams have seen changes week by week, whether it’s due to injuries or by the way they perform on the field. Whatever it may be, it’s been made clear that teams of each conference will fight until the very last snap to secure spots in the playoffs.
Conclusion
Memphis must continue to put up results if they want to show that they are serious about going to the UFL Championship this June. Building interest among their fanbase has been a constant struggle due to their lackluster performance these last two seasons. With these new signings and Winn’s breakout performance, they can’t have anymore excuses. It’s time to win.
image credit: Commercial Appeal from Memphis, TN, USA, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
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