The Memphis Showboats signed wide receiver Sam Pinckney and defensive back Amir Riep on Wednesday according to the UFL Transactions page. Memphis also released offensive linemen Darrin Paulo and Jordan McCray, linebackers Greg Reaves and Tyshun Render, and defensive back Lamont McPhatter II.
Sam Pickney is six foot four and weighs 220 pounds. The 25-year-old from Greenwood, South Carolina, signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. In 2024, he made one catch for seven yards in one preseason game. The Panthers released him on December 3, 2024.
Collegiately, Pickney played three seasons at Georgia State (2019-21) making 110 catches for 1,586 yards, 13 touchdowns, and one carry for 12 yards in 30 games for the Panthers. He was named Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference in 2020.
Then, he transferred to Coastal Carolina (2022-23) making 143 catches for 2,023 yards, 11 touchdowns, one carry for seven yards, one kick return for two yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 26 games for the Chanticleers. He was named a two-time Third Team All-Sun Belt Conference.
Amir Riep is six foot one and weighs 195 pounds. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Riep signed with the Iowa Barnstormers (IFL) on January 15, 2025.
Collegiately, Riep played three seasons at Ohio State (2017-19) making 33 tackles (19 solos, 14 assists), three interceptions for 16 yards, and six pass breakups in 40 games for the Buckeyes. Then, he transferred to Lincoln (CA) University in 2023 making 87 tackles, five sacks, four forced fumbles, and five pass breakups in 12 games for the Oaklanders.
Darrin Paulo is six foot five and weighs 320 pounds. The 27-year-old from Sacramento, California, re-signed with the Memphis Showboats on November 9, 2023. In 2024, Paulo started 10 games. In 2024, Memphis’s offense ranked last in total offense (2,303), rushing yards (650), passing yards (1,653), yards per game (230.3), and seventh in touchdowns (21). The Showboats re-signed him on August 27, 2024.
The New Orleans Saints signed Paulo as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Paulo had stints with the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions. The Tampa Bay Bandits signed Paulo on June 10, 2022, and was placed on the practice squad. He played one game for the Bandits in 2022 before returning to Detroit on July 29, 2022, and spent the season on the practice squad. He played three preseason games for the Detroit Lions in 2023. He was released on August 27, 2023.
Collegiately, Paulo played four seasons at Utah (2016-19) playing both tackle positions in 53 games for the Utes. In 2019, he was named First Team All-Pac 12 after helping Utah finish the season ranked No. 1 in the Pac-12 in rushing offense (204.1).
Jordan McCray is six foot three and weighs 280 pounds. The 32-year-old from Miami, Florida, played 8 games for the Memphis Showboats in 2024. In 2024, Memphis’s offense ranked last in total offense (2,303), rushing yards (650), passing yards (1,653), yards per game (230.3), and seventh in touchdowns (21). The Showboats re-signed McCray on August 27, 2024.
McCray went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft. He spent time with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers. Orlando Predators, Cleveland Gladiators, Baltimore Brigade, Chicago Bears, Orlando Apollos, Tampa Bay Vipers, Massachusetts Pirates, Birmingham Stallions, and San Antonio Brahmas.
McCray signed with the Memphis Showboats on April 19, 2023. McCray started 8 games in 2023. Memphis was ranked sixth in passing yards per game (172.4), sixth in passing touchdowns (10), sixth in rushing yards per game (85.9), and seventh in rushing touchdowns (4).
Collegiately, McCray played four seasons at the University of Central Florida (2010-13) playing 44 games for the Knights. He was named First Team All-AAC, All-C-USA Honorable Mention, and the Conference USA All-Freshman Team.
Greg Reaves is six foot two and weighs 241 pounds. The 28-year-old from Bradenton, Florida, made 22 tackles (11 solos, 11 assists), 2 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble in 10 games. The Showboats re-signed Reaves on August 28, 2024.
Reaves signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2020 but was released on August 1, 2020. He later played for the Sea Lions (TSL).
The Memphis Showboats (then the Tampa Bay Bandits) drafted Reaves in the 30th round (241st pick) in the 2022 USFL Draft. In his first season, Reaves had 37 tackles (20 solos, 17 assists), five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and four pass breakups in ten games for the Bandits in 2022.
In 2023, Reaves had 33 tackles (18 solos, 15 assists), four tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions for 15 yards, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and three pass breakups in ten games.
Collegiately, Reaves played four seasons at South Florida (2016-19) making 210 tackles (116 solos, 94 assists), 30.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, one interception for 48 yards, seven pass breakups, and three fumble recoveries in 45 games for the Bulls.
Tyshun Render is six foot three and weighs 255 pounds. The 27-year-old from Newnan, Georgia, was drafted by the Memphis Showboats in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft. In 2024, Render made 22 tackles (11 solos, 11 assists), 2 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble in 10 games. The Showboats re-signed Render on August 27, 2024.
Render signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He spent two seasons with Miami playing one regular season game.
The New Jersey Generals drafted Render in the first round (285th pick) of the 2022 USFL Supplemental Draft. Render made 28 tackles (12 solos, 16 assists), three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and three pass breakups in ten games for the Generals in 2022. In the playoffs, he made four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist). In 2023, Render made 14 tackles (8 solo, 6 assists), four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and two pass breakups in six games.
Collegiately, Render played four seasons at Middle Tennessee State (2016-19) with 119 tackles (71 solos, 48 assists), 19.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one interception, eight pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 51 games for the Blue Raiders.
Lamont McPhatter II is five foot ten and weighs 175 pounds. The 28-year-old from New Castle, Pennsylvania, made 57 tackles (38 solos, 19 assists), three tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in eight games for the Showboats in 2024. The Showboats re-signed McPhatter II on October 3, 2024.
The Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL) signed McPhatter II on October 13, 2022, before the team became the Memphis Showboats. In 2023, McPhatter II made 14 tackles (8 solos, 6 assists), and one interception in four games.
Collegiately, McPhatter II played one season at Ball State in 2015 making one tackle (1 solo) and one forced fumble in two games for the Cardinals.
Then, McPhatter II transferred to California (Pennsylvania) (2017-19) making 197 tackles (118 solos, 79 assists), 13.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, 12 interceptions for 345 yards, four touchdowns, 31 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, one blocked kick, four kick returns for 134 yards, and one punt return for 25 yards in 32 games for the Vulcans.
He was named First Team All-American by AP, Second Team All-American by D2Football.com and Don Hansen Football Gazette, and two-time First Team All-PSAC.
