The Michigan Panthers re-signed wide receiver Devin Gray, offensive lineman Jarrett Horst, defensive linemen Garrett Marino and Mika Tafua, and defensive back Kedrick Whitehead according to the UFL Transactions page.
Devin Gray is six foot and weighs 192 pounds. The 29-year-old from Reno, Nevada, was drafted by the Michigan Panthers in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft. In 2024, Gray made 17 catches for 181 yards, one touchdown, and three punt returns for 27 yards in 10 games. In the 2024 USFL Conference Championship Game, Gray made three catches for 33 yards, and two punt returns for 18 yards.
Gray was with the Baltimore Ravens in 2021. He played three preseason games with four catches for 46 yards. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2018 from Cincinnati. Gray also played for the Generals in the TSL in 2021. He also had a stint with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.
The Philadelphia Stars drafted Gray in the 13th round (104th pick) in the USFL draft. In 2022, Gray made 26 catches for 215 yards and two touchdowns in nine games.
In the North Division semifinals against New Jersey, Gray had four catches for 29 yards. In the USFL Championship game against the Birmingham Stallions had five catches for 46 yards and one touchdown. In 2023, Gray made 50 catches for 501 yards and one touchdown in 10 games.
Collegiately, Gray played three seasons at Sierra College (2013-15) with 111 catches for 1,757 yards and 17 touchdowns in 21 games for the Wolverines. Then, transferred to Cincinnati (2016-17) with 86 catches for 1,304 yards eight touchdowns, and 13 punt returns for 110 yards in 24 games for the Bearcats.
Jarrett Horst is six foot six and weighs 300 pounds. The 24-year-old from Middleton, Wisconsin, signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. Horst was drafted first overall by the Michigan Panthers in the 2023 USFL Draft. In addition, Horst was also drafted by the Orlando Guardians (XFL).
In 2024, Horst played eight games, of which five were starts. In 2024, he played 10 games, of which 9 were starts. Michigan’s offense was ranked third in total yards (3,007), second in rushing yards (1,252), sixth in passing yards (1,755), third in yards per game (300.7), and tied third in touchdowns (27).
Collegiately, Horst began at Ellsworth Community College in 2018 playing three games for the Panthers before transferring to Arkansas State (2019-20). He played left tackle in 19 games in two seasons for the Red Wolves. In 2019, the Red Wolves had 300 yards in total offense and 312.1 passing yards per game. He was named Third Team All-Sun Belt Honors.
Then, Horst transferred to Michigan State (2021-22) playing 16 games at left tackle for the Spartans. In 2022, he played a total of 427 snaps. He was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 2020.
Garrett Marino is six foot two and weighs 290 pounds. The 30-year-old from Mission Viejo, California, signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2020. The Cowboys released him on July 28, 2020.
Next, Marino signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on January 14, 2021. He played two seasons in Saskatchewan making 22 tackles and five sacks in 13 games before he was released on September 7, 2022.
Then, Marino signed with the Michigan Panthers on October 6, 2022. In 2023, Marino made 25 tackles (17 solo, 8 assists), 8 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two pass breakups in 9 games. In the North Divisional Playoffs against the Pittsburgh Maulers, Marino made four tackles (2 solo, 2 assists) and one tackle for loss.
In 2024, Marino made 21 tackles (15 solo, 6 assists), three tackles for loss, two sacks, five pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 10 games. In the USFL Conference Championship against the Birmingham Stallions, Marino made three tackles (2 solo, 1 assist).
Collegiately, Marino played one season at Montana State in 2014 making 8 tackles (5 solo, 3 assists), one tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits in five games. Then, Marino transferred to the University of Alabama-Birmingham (2017-19) making 95 tackles (60 solo, 35 assists), 28 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 10 pass breakups, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, and one touchdown in 40 games for the Blazers.
Mika Tafua is six foot three and weighs 250 pounds. The 27-year-old from Laie, Hawaii, made 10 tackles (8 solo, 2 assists) in seven games for the Michigan Panthers in 2024. The Michigan Panthers released Tafua on May 15, 2024.
He re-signed with the Panthers on May 22, 2024. He finished the 2024 season making 16 tackles (9 solo, 7 assists), and half a sack in 9 games. In the USFL Conference Championship Game against the Birmingham Stallions, Tafua made one fumble recovery.
Tafua signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2022. In 2022, Tafua made three tackles (2 solo, 1 assist), one sack, one quarterback hit, and one pass breakup in three preseason games. After Dallas, Tafua spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad.
Collegiately Tafua played four seasons at Utah (2018-21) making 133 tackles (73 solo, 60 assists), 32 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, nine pass breakups, three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and one touchdown in 44 games for the Utes. He was named He was named First Team All-PAC 12 in 2021.
Kedrick Whitehead Jr. is five foot eleven and weighs 195 pounds. The 24-year-old from Middletown, Delaware, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on May 15, 2023. He played one preseason game with three tackles (3 solo) before suffering an injury and was released.
Whitehead Jr. signed with the Michigan Panthers on March 5, 2024. In 2024, he made 39 tackles (22 solo, 17 assists), one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup in 10 games. In the 2024 USFL Conference Championship Game against the Birmingham Stallions, Whitehead Jr. made two tackles (2 solo).
Collegiately, Whitehead Jr. played five seasons at the University of Delaware (2018-22) with 295 tackles (159 solo, 136 assists), 10.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, five interceptions for 30 yards, 25 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 55 games for the Fightin’ Blue Hens.
Whitehead Jr. was named four-time First Team All-CAA, a nine-time All-American, and three-time team captain (2020-22). He currently ranks 21st in school history in career tackles (295), sixth among defensive backs, and was the tenth sophomore in program history to reach 100 tackles in a single season.
