Wolverine Flips Another Elite 49ers 2025 Defensive Edge.

The Michigan Panthers finalized their 50-man roster one week prior to the commencement of the inaugural UFL season.

In order to reduce their roster to 50 for their inaugural season in the United Football League—a combination of the USFL and XFL—the Panthers dismissed eight players on Saturday. previous Michigan State standouts Brian Lewerke and Kenny Willekes, along with other previous players with ties to nearby colleges, are on the final roster.

Lewerke was cut by the Panthers earlier in training camp, but he joined on again earlier this week after Davis Cheek announced his retirement. Lewerke, former LSU quarterback Danny Etling, and former Brown quarterback E.J. Perry are the other two quarterbacks on the team.

Willekes, Lewerke, and former Eastern Michigan tight end Gunnar Oakes were on the roster in addition to former Michigan State offensive tackle Jarrett Horst.

Horst, who attended Michigan State from 2021–22 and was selected first overall in the USFL draft the previous year, is one of six players listed at offensive lineman, while the Panthers have three tight ends in Oakes, a 2018–22 graduate of EMU, and six players listed at offensive tackle. There are three tailbacks on the roster, including former Saginaw Valley State running back Nate McCrary, who was a member of the Cardinals from 2017 to 2019 before having a career-long NFL career.

After finishing his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings, Willekes signed a contract with the Panthers in December. Along with former James Madison player Ron’Dell Carter, Willekes is one of two edge rushers on the team. He moved from being a walk-on to an All-Big Ten player while attending MSU from 2015 to 2019.

Linebacker Jerod Fernandez of North Carolina State, defensive end Vantrel McMillan of Tennessee-Chattanooga, defensive tackle Jamal Milan of Illinois, wide receiver Samson Nacua of BYU, linebacker Nasir Player of East Tennessee State, offensive tackle Gene Pryor of Hawaii, running back Toa Taua of Nevada, and cornerback Alex Thomas of Ferris State were the final eight players cut from the practice squad roster.