While the USFLPA dropped a bombshell on their players the Michigan Panthers were still in the lab signing players. GM Steve Kazor made Two huge acquisitions to strengthen the Defensive Line. Kazor brought back All-USFL Defensive Linemen Breeland Speaks along with former Kansas Jayhawk Daniel Wise.
Speaks joined the Panthers last season in December of 2022. The Ole Miss alum put together an All-USFL season totaling 9 sacks and 53 tackles while also serving as a mentor to Seahawks Defensive End Levi Bell. Speaks earned Defensive Player of the Week honors twice in 2023, enroute to a contract with the San Francisco 49ers. Speaks would get released by San Francisco in August and now returns for his 2nd season in spring football.
Wise joins the Panthers as a Five-year NFL vet out of Kansas. As a UDFA in 2019 Wise made the Cowboys Practice Squad before bouncing around the NFL with the Cardinals, Commanders and Chiefs respectively from 2020 to 2023. Wise was released by Kansas City during final cuts in August of 2023 before joining the Panthers late Tuesday night. His brother Deatrich Wise Jr. is a defensive lineman for the New England Patriots since 2017.
Going into the new year the Panthers currently roster 53 players as the USFL and XFL continue to finalize their merger. Last season Michigan went 4-6 enroute to a Northern Division playoff berth in 2023 under first year head coach Mike Nolan. For more insight on the merger please check out the video below.
