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USFL Week 9 QB Rankings: Cookus and McGough Battle Rise to The Top, MBT Breaks His Skid

Another week of the USFL season has come to a close, and the USFL Quarterbacks are wheeling and dealing in hopes of earning a playoff berth. While USFL QBs continue to do battle as no team has clinched, Quarterbacks like McLeod Bethel-Thompson, and the rest of the South Division QBs held fast by putting together 4-0 slate against the North. Overall, All Eight USFL teams remain alive for the playoffs going into week 9, and will have to depend on their signal callers in the final two weeks of the season.

9. Kyle Lauletta New Jersey Generals Previous Ranking #6

Stats: 2/4 16 Passing Yards 0 TD 1 INT 0 Rushing Attempts 0 Rushing Yards

Not much could be said about Lauletta’s performance in Week 8. The former Richmond Spider put together a weak lackluster performance in another opportunity to solidify his chance in staying with a USFL team. With DeAndre Johnson injured Lauletta has been given a chance to make an impact in hopes of extending his Pro Football, for the past several weeks he’s failed to do so, and at this point may be looking at his last days as a starting Quarterback in any league.

8. Dakota Prukop New Jersey Generals Previous Ranking Unranked

Stats: 14/25 128 Passing Yards 2 TD 1 INT 6 Rushing Attempts 76 Rushing Yards

Prukop made some highlight reel-esque plays this weekend however struggled overall to provide a bit of consistency for the Generals offense in their “win now” mode. While Johnson may still be injured, it appears that Prukop should be in position to give New Jersey their best chance to win and possibly make a last second splash in the playoffs. Him or a recent signee from Eastern Washington.

7. Kenji Bahar Houston Gamblers Previous Ranking #9

Stats: 11/20 128 Passing Yards 1 TD 0 INT 6 Rushing Attempts 5 Rushing Yards

It was a safe performance from Bahar who led the Gamblers to a victory thanks to the help of Chris Blewitt. Bahar has looking like a top tier Quarterback in the USFL until an injury kept an out for a week. Since his return Bahar has been reeled in a bit, not airing the ball down field as much and playing a bit like Jordan Ta’amu did in the early goings of the 2023 XFL season.

6. Troy Williams Pittsburgh Maulers Previous Ranking #8

Stats: 20/26 214 Passing Yards 0 TD 0 INT 7 Rushing Attempts 36 Rushing Yards 1 TD

Williams was the best QB in the Gamblers Maulers showdown this past Saturday. Williams went back to the ground in addition to being extremely proficient through the air with a 76.9 completion % for Pittsburgh this past weekend. While the Maulers did lose and drop to 2-6, Williams gave his Kicker a chance to win the game, and has been a bright spot for Pittsburgh this whole season, throwing for over 1,000 yards and totaling 7 touchdowns.

5. Cole Kelley Memphis Showboats Previous Ranking #2

Stats: 15/24 176 Passing Yards 0 TD 1 INT 12 Rushing Attempts 24 Rushing Yards 0 TD 1 Fumble

Kelley’s drop from last week’s rankings is less about his play and more about the play of the Quarterbacks ranked higher on our list. Kelley, made a lot of plays that don’t show up in the stat sheet, and his final stat line was a bit tarnished with an interception. While Kelley this week was plagued by some inaccuracy in addition to often times leaving the ball in the air a bit, to his wide receivers. While it’s not always pretty Kelley, has willed the Showboats to a 5-3 record including 5 straight victories as he continues to keep the Showboats alive in the 2023 playoff hunt.

4. Josh Love Michigan Panthers Previous Ranking #3

Stats: 22/32 221 Passing Yards 2 TD 1 INT 2 Rushing Attempts 8 Rushing Yards 1 Fumble

After a much-needed victory in Week 7, a slow start and questionable clock management was the downfall of the Panthers in Week 8. With Michigan primed for two back-to-back battles against Northern opponents look and Love playing his best three weeks of football the Panthers will lean on the San Jose State alum to will them into a playoff berth.

3. McLeod Bethel-Thompson New Orleans Breakers Previous Rankings #4

Stats: 25/34 328 Passing Yards 2 TD 2 INT 0 Rushing Attempts 0 Rushing Yards

MBT put the Breakers back in the win column despite some up and downplay in week 8. The CFL all-star continue to utilize his dynamic arsenal guiding Johnnie Dixon and Johnathan Adams to over 100 yards receiving each. Despite, his two interceptions (one of which was a tipped pass of his receivers hands), MBT continues to provide the Breakers with a stable presence by distributing the ball out to the Breakers dynamic playmakers.

2. Case Cookus Philadelphia Stars Previous Ranking #5

Stats: 20/32 265 Passing Yards 3 TD 1 INT 5 Rushing Attempts 19 Rushing Yards

Despite a heroic effort, Cookus and the Stars fell victim to a game winning drive led by MVP front runner Alex McGough who edged out Philadelphia by Three points. Overall Cookus and the Stars remain in first place and with the improvement of Philadelphia’s Pass Protection Cookus has managed to make the Stars far more competitive against the USFL’s strongest teams. A side note Cookus surpassed 3,000 USFL career Passing Yards and threw his 20th, 21st, and 22nd career Touchdown Passes in his USFL career.

1. Alex McGough Birmingham Stallions Previous Ranking #1

Stats: 24/35 333 Passing Yards 3 TD 0 INT 5 Rushing Attempts 19 Rushing Yards 1 Fumble

McGough continues to put together an MVP season and has distanced himself from any challenger at this point. Another 300 plus performance coupled with another game winning drive and McGough has the Stallions easily as the USFL’s best team through the leagues first 8 weeks. Another milestone McGough has totaled 20 Touchdowns (16 Passing, 4 Rushing) and becomes the 1st player in the modern USFL to accomplish this feat.

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Pat Rifino is a former Security Contractor turned writer. He began his writing career talking about geo-politics, and the defense industry. Now Pat writes about alt-league football, while hanging out with his dogs in his off time.

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