The Alliance of American Football allocates regional talent to its eight markets -- it's one of the things the new league does best. Bill Polian, AAF co-founder and head of football, told CBS Sports that he took this concept from the USFL days and put his own spin on it. It allows for a local fanbase to get behind a team based on familiar names while the AAF continues to develop that talent. (More on that process can be found here.)
(Week 2 of the AAF kicks off this weekend; here's how you can watch.)
"We went back to the USFL experience and we realized that it gave us two things. Number one was instant recognition in the home market because players that were not well-known to the football public at large are quite well-known in their local markets. That was a huge plus," Polian said. "And then secondly, it gave us an orderly and reasonable way of making sure that the talent was kind of spread evenly."
Already, fans have indicated they'll follow a team based on players they knew from college or the pros. So if you're looking for an AAF team to support, perusing over the rosters is a great place to start. Here are all eight rosters for the 2019 season. If nothing else, some of the names that pop up will be sure to surprise you.
Arizona Hotshots
| Name | Number | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
John Wolford | 7 | QB | Wake Forest |
Jack Heneghan | 11 | QB | Dartmouth |
Trevor Knight | 10 | QB | Texas A&M |
Larry Rose | 32 | RB | New Mexico State |
Tim Cook | 20 | RB | Oregon State |
Jhurell Pressley | 26 | RB | New Mexico |
Justin Stockton | 30 | RB | Texas Tech |
Richard Mullaney | 16 | WR | Oregon State |
Rashad Ross | 15 | WR | Arizona State |
Josh Huff | 88 | WR | Oregon |
Freddie Martino | 84 | WR | North Greenville |
Marquis Bundy | 18 | WR | New Mexico |
Thomas Duarte | 81 | TE | UCLA |
Gerald Christian | 82 | TE | Louisville |
Connor Hamlett | 89 | TE | Oregon State |
Bryce Williams | 85 | TE | East Carolina |
Jacob Ohnesorge | 62 | C | South Dakota State |
Patrick Lewis | 67 | C | Texas A&M |
Josh Allen | 65 | OG | Louisiana-Monroe |
Alex Thompson | 68 | OG | Monmouth |
Malcolm Bunche | 79 | OG | UCLA |
Brant Weiss | 71 | OT | Toledo |
Andrew Lauderdale | 76 | OT | New Hampshire |
Pierce Burton | 70 | OT | Ole Miss |
Rykeem Yates | 92 | DE | Nevada |
Olubunmi Rotimi | 94 | DE | Old Dominion |
Siupeli Anau | 93 | DT | Northern Arizona |
Will Sutton | 98 | DT | Arizona State |
Marcus Hardison | 91 | DT | Arizona State |
Trenton Thompson | 95 | DT | Georgia |
Chunky Clements | 97 | DT | Illinois |
Kaelin Burnett | 50 | LB | Nevada |
Nyles Morgan | 55 | LB | Notre Dame |
Da'Sean Downey | 59 | LB | UMass |
Edmond Robinson | 51 | LB | Newberry |
Carl Bradford | 52 | LB | Arizona State |
Steven Johnson | 49 | LB | Kansas |
Scooby Wright | 58 | LB | Arizona |
Sione Teuhema | 54 | LB | Southeastern Louisiana |
Obum Gwacham | 44 | LB | Oregon State |
Steve Beauharnais | 53 | LB | Rutgers |
Rahim Moore | 45 | DB | UCLA |
Sterling Moore | 25 | DB | SMU |
Robert Nelson | 21 | DB | Arizona State |
Erick Dargan | 27 | DB | Oregon |
SaQwan Edwards | 31 | DB | New Mexico |
Randall Goforth | 22 | DB | UCLA |
Dexter McDougle | 38 | DB | Maryland |
Kieron Williams | 37 | DB | Nebraska |
Jeff Locke | 9 | P | UCLA |
Nicholas Dooley | 48 | LS | UTEP |
Nick Folk | 2 | K | Arizona |
Atlanta Legends
| Player | Number | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
Peter Pujal | 6 | QB | Holy Cross |
Aaron Murray | 11 | QB | Georgia |
Matt Simms, | 4 | QB | Tennessee |
Denard Robinson | 25 | RB | Michigan |
Lawrence Pittman | 24 | RB | Wingate |
Tarean Folston | 26 | RB | Notre Dame |
Akrum Wadley | 27 | RB | Iowa |
Seantavius Jones | 15 | WR | Valdosta State |
Justin Thomas | 10 | WR | Georgia Tech |
James Quick | 17 | WR | Louisville |
Ervin Philips | 82 | WR | Syracuse |
Montay Crockett | 13 | WR | Georgia Southern |
Malachi Jones | 14 | WR | Appalachian State |
Bug Howard | 82 | WR | North Carolina |
Charles Standberry Jr. | 80 | TE | Louisville |
Keith Towbridge | 89 | TE | Louisville |
Garrett Hudson | 87 | TE | Richmond |
Freddie Burden | 64 | OL | Georgia Tech |
Trae Moxley | 60 | OL | Colorado State |
Matthew Schmidt | 62 | OL | Furman |
Avery Gennesy | 65 | OL | Texas A&M |
John Kling IV | 70 | OL | Buffalo |
Tyshon Henderson | 76 | OL | Clark-Atlanta |
Brandon Pertile | 77 | OL | Virginia |
Chase Farris, | 75 | OL | Ohio State |
Tavaris Barnes | 94 | DE | Clemson |
J.T. Jones | 91 | DE | Miami (Ohio) |
Bijhon Jackson | 99 | DT | Arkansas |
Tracy Sprinkle | 90 | DT | Ohio State |
David Dean | 95 | DT | Virginia |
T.J. Barnes | 93 | DL | Georgia Tech |
Ro'Derrick Hoskins | 55 | LB | Florida State |
Totauhelotu Lotulelei, | 51 | LB | UNLV |
Brandon Watts | 58 | LB | Georgia Tech |
Jeff Luc | 50 | LB | Cincinnati |
Tyriq McCord | 56 | LB | Miami |
Dylan Donahue | 54 | LB | West Georgia |
Khalil Bass | 52 | LB | Portland State |
KeShun Freeman | 92 | LB | Georgia Tech |
Corey Griffin | 41 | DB | Georgia Tech |
Tyson Graham Jr | 32 | DB | South Dakota |
Desmond Lawrence | 23 | DB | North Carolina |
Donatello Brown | 33 | DB | Valdosta State |
Carlos Merritt | 20 | DB | Campbell |
Dwayne Hollis | 22 | DB | North Carolina Wesleyan |
Doran Grant | 21 | DB | Ohio State |
Ed Reynolds | 31 | DB | Stanford |
Damian Swann | 29 | DB | Georgia |
Quincy Mauger | 42 | DB | Georgia |
Cameron Nizialek | 9 | P | Columbia |
Jeff Overbaugh | 44 | LS | San Diego State |
Younghoe Koo | 7 | K | Georgia Southern |
Birmingham Iron
| Player | Number | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
Luis Perez | 12 | QB | Texas A&M - Commerce |
Keith Price | 8 | QB | Washington |
Blake Sims | 6 | QB | Alabama |
Ladarius Perkins | 41 | RB | Mississippi State |
Trent Richardson | 33 | RB | Alabama |
Brandon Ross | 45 | RB | Maryland |
Ty Isaac | 32 | RB | Michigan |
Amba Etta-Tawo | 14 | WR | Maryland |
Quan Bray | 81 | WR | Auburn |
L'Damian Washington | 85 | WR | Missouri |
DeVonzea Felton | 13 | WR | Tuskegee |
Tobias Palmer | 16 | WR | NC State |
Quinton Patton | 18 | WR | Louisiana Tech |
Connor Davis | 88 | TE | Stony Brook |
Busta Anderson | 89 | TE | South Carolina |
Braendon Bowman | 80 | TE | South Alabama |
J.C. Hassenauer | 70 | C | Alabama |
Avery Young | 73 | OG | Auburn |
Kitt O'Brien | 79 | OG | Ball State |
Dominick Jackson | 77 | OT | Alabama |
Michael Dunn | 67 | OT | Maryland |
Korren Kirven | 78 | OT | Alabama |
Brandon Greene | 60 | OT | Alabama |
Larson Graham | 62 | OT | Duquesne |
Aaron Adeoye | 58 | DE | Southeast Missouri State |
Devin Taylor | 53 | DE | South Carolina |
Casey Sayles | 90 | DT | Ohio |
Nick James | 93 | DT | Mississippi State |
Josh Frazier | 71 | DT | Alabama |
Lawrence Okoye | 97 | DT | No College |
Rickey Hatley | 94 | DT | Missouri |
Jeremy Faulk | 63 | DT | Garden City C.C. |
Johnny Maxey | 99 | DT | Mars Hill |
Jonathan Massaquoi | 57 | LB | Troy |
Beniquez Brown | 42 | LB | Mississippi State |
Ike Spearman | 52 | LB | Eastern Michigan |
Shaheed Salmon | 56 | LB | Samford |
Xzavier Dickson | 51 | LB | Alabama |
Matthew Wells | 54 | LB | Mississippi State |
Max Redfield | 20 | DB | Indiana (PA) |
Ryan White | 31 | DB | Auburn |
Jaleel Wadood | 33 | DB | UCLA |
Jamar Summers | 26 | DB | UConn |
Elijah Campbell | 35 | DB | Northern Iowa |
Bradley Sylve | 29 | DB | Alabama |
Jack Tocho | 34 | DB | NC State |
Jacob Hagen | 27 | DB | Liberty |
Trovon Reed | 23 | DB | Auburn |
Joe Powell | NA | DB | NA |
Colton Schmidt | 2 | P | UC-Davis |
Cole Mazza | 48 | LS | Alabama |
Nick Novak | 9 | K | Maryland |
Memphis Express
| Player | Number | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
Zach Mettenberger | 8 | QB | LSU |
Brandon Silvers | 12 | QB | Troy |
Christian Hackenberg | 14 | QB | Penn State |
Zac Stacy | 20 | RB | Vanderbilt |
Rajion Neal | 34 | RB | Tennessee |
Anthony Manzo-Lewis | 49 | RB | Albany |
Cordon Moog | 85 | RB | Baylor |
Terrence Magee | 43 | RB | LSU |
Devin Lucien | 13 | WR | Arizona State |
Reece Horn | 17 | WR | Indianapolis |
Damore'ea Stringfellow | 82 | WR | Ole Miss |
Alton "Pig" Howard | 81 | WR | Tennessee |
Dontez Byrd | 18 | WR | Tennessee Tech |
Fabian Guerra | 86 | WR | Fairmont State |
Kayaune Ross | 88 | WR | Kentucky |
Brandon Barnes | 80 | TE | Alabama State |
Adrien Robinson | 47 | TE | Cincinnati |
Demetrius Rhaney | 65 | C | Tennessee State |
Oni Omoile | 61 | C | Iowa State |
Jessamen Dunker | 66 | OG | Tennessee State |
Daronte Bouldin | 60 | OG | Ole Miss |
Robert Myers | 70 | OG | Tennessee State |
Dallas Thomas | 67 | OG | Tennessee |
Christian Morris | 71 | OT | Ole Miss |
Toby Weathersby | 76 | OT | LSU |
Anthony Morris | 77 | OT | Tennessee State |
Jamichael Winston | 91 | DE | Arkansas |
Corey Vereen | 98 | DE | Tennessee |
Sam Montgomery | 90 | DE | LSU |
Julius Warmsley | 92 | DT | Tulane |
Greg Gilmore | 97 | DT | LSU |
Montori Hughes | 95 | DT | Tennessee-Martin |
Latarius Brady | 94 | DT | Memphis |
Anthony Johnson | 96 | LB | LSU |
DeMarquis Gates | 58 | LB | Ole Miss |
Davis Tull | 55 | LB | UT-Chattanooga |
Benetton Fonua | 50 | LB | Hawaii |
Quentin Gause | 54 | LB | Rutgers |
Colton Jumper | 45 | LB | Tennessee |
Drew Jackson | 53 | LB | Western Kentucky |
Brandon Maiden | 28 | DB | Jackson State |
Justin Martin | 33 | DB | Tennessee |
Jeremy Cutrer | 39 | DB | Middle Tennessee State |
Arnold Tarpley, III | 25 | DB | Vanderbilt |
Malik Boynton | 23 | DB | Austin Peay |
Jonathan Cook | 31 | DB | Memphis |
Charles James, II | 24 | DB | Charleston Southern |
Channing Stribling | 30 | DB | Michigan |
Terrell Bonds | 21 | DB | Tennessee State |
Brad Wing | 4 | P | LSU |
Josh Jasper, | 3 | P | LSU |
Ryan Navarro | 44 | LS | Oregon State |
Orlando Apollos
| Player | Number | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
Garrett Gilbert | 3 | QB | SMU |
Austin Appleby | 5 | QB | Florida |
Kevin Anderson | 4 | QB | Fordham |
D'Ernest Johnson | 22 | RB | South Florida |
Ryan Green | 32 | RB | Florida State |
De'Veon Smith | 24 | RB | Michigan |
Akeem Hunt | 25 | RB | Purdue |
Ishmael Hyman | 13 | WR | James Madison |
Chris Thompson | 14 | WR | Florida |
Jalin Marshall | 17 | WR | Ohio State |
Marvin Bracy-Williams Jr. | 10 | WR | Florida State |
Donteea Dye Jr | 11 | WR | Heidelberg |
Rannell Hall | 16 | WR | UCF |
Charles Johnson | 12 | WR | Grand Valley State |
Sean Price | 80 | TE | South Florida |
Matt Weister | 89 | TE | Buffalo |
Scott Orndoff | 83 | TE | Pitt |
Jordan McCray | 64 | C | UCF |
Andrew Tiller | 75 | OG | Syracuse |
Tre Jackson | 63 | OG | Florida State |
Ronald Patrick | 71 | OG | South Carolina |
Marquis Lucas | 74 | OG | West Virginia |
Aaron Evans | 66 | OT | UCF |
Chris Martin | 77 | OT | UCF |
Quinterrius Eatmon | 70 | OT | South Florida |
Earl Okine | 59 | DE | Florida |
Josh Banks Sr. | 92 | DE | Wake Forest |
Giorgio Newberry | 99 | DE | Florida State |
Izaah Burks Sr. | 97 | DT | Bowling Green |
Anthony Moten | 98 | DT | Miami |
Leon Orr | 93 | DT | Florida |
Antonio Guerad | 90 | DT | UCF |
Marquez White | 27 | CB | Florida State |
LaDarius Gunter | 37 | CB | Miami |
D'Joun Smith | 31 | CB | FAU |
Keith Reaser | 29 | CB | FAU |
Cody Riggs | 20 | CB | Notre Dame |
Mark Myers Jr. | 23 | CB | Southeastern (Fla.) |
Andrew Ankrah | 55 | LB | James Madison |
Terence Garvin | 51 | LB | West Virginia |
Ryan Davis Sr. | 95 | LB | Bethune Cookman |
Reggie Northrup II, | 52 | LB | Florida State |
Azeem Victor | 54 | LB | Washington |
Christian French | 58 | LB | Oregon |
Jacob Pugh III | 50 | LB | Florida State |
Will Hill III | 33 | DB | Florida |
Jerome Couplin III | 21 | DB | William & Mary |
Joshn Evans | 26 | DB | Florida |
Bryce Canady | 28 | DB | FIU |
Ben Turk | 1 | P | Notre Dame |
Drew Ferris | 53 | LS | Florida |
Elliott Fry | 2 | K | South Carolina |
Salt Lake Stallions
| Player | Number | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
Josh Woodrum | 6 | QB | Liberty |
Austin Allen | 8 | QB | Arkansas |
Matt Linehan | 10 | QB | Idaho |
Terrell Newby | 34 | RB | Nebraska |
Joel Bouagnon | 36 | RB | Northern Illinois |
Matt Asiata | 44 | RB | Utah |
Branden Oliver | 33 | RB | Buffalo |
Sam Mobley | 81 | WR | Catawba |
Dres Andersn | 16 | WR | Utah |
De'Mornay Pierson-El | 15 | WR | Nebraska |
Adonis Jennings | 17 | WR | Temple |
Jordan Leslie | 19 | WR | BYU |
Kenny Bell | 80 | WR | Nebraska |
Kaelin Clay | 11 | WR | Utah |
Tanner Balderree | 89 | TE | BYU |
Nick Truesdell | 85 | TE | Grand Rapids JC |
Austin Traylor | 83 | TE | Wisconsin |
Anthony Denham | 88 | TE | Utah |
Austin Davis | 78 | C | Duke |
Jake Bennett | 67 | C | Colorado State |
Tuni Kanuch | 66 | OG | BYU |
Nick Callender | 76 | OG | Colorado State |
Jeremiah Poutasi | 73 | OL | Utah |
Salesi Uhatafe | 64 | OL | Utah |
Ryan Cummings | 79 | OT | Wyoming |
Leon Johnson | 63 | OT | Temple |
Karter Schult | 94 | DE | Northern Illinois |
Darius Hamilton | 91 | DT | Rutgers |
Mike Purcell | 98 | DT | Wyoming |
Tenny Palepoi | 95 | DT | Utah |
Sealver Siliga | 96 | DT | Utah |
Eddy Wilson | 97 | DL | Purdue |
Handsome Tanielu | 92 | DL | BYU |
Chris Odom | 93 | DL | Arkansas State |
Ed Shockley | 52 | LB | Villanova |
Josh Banderas | 52 | LB | Nebraska |
Trevor Reilly | 59 | LB | Utah |
Luke Carrezola | 55 | LB | UConn |
Greer Martini | 51 | LB | Notre Dame |
Anthony Williams | 50 | LB | Utah State |
Gionni Paul | 57 | LB | Utah |
Steve Williams | 23 | CB | Cal |
Jordan Sterns | 31 | DB | Oklahoma State |
Henre' Toliver | 38 | DB | Arkansas |
Micah Hannemann | 27 | DB | BYU |
C.J. Smith | 35 | DB | North Dakota State |
Chanceller James | 24 | DB | Boise State |
Will Davis | 26 | DB | Utah State |
Cody Brown | 21 | DB | Arkansas State |
Austin Rehkow | 5 | P | Idaho |
Colton Taylor | 49 | LS | Virginia Tech |
Taylor Bertolet | 1 | K | Texas A&M |
San Antonio Commanders
| Player | Number | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
Logan Woodside | 5 | QB | Toledo |
Dustin Vaughan | 10 | QB | West Texas A&M |
Marquise Williams | 12 | QB | North Carolina |
David Cobb | 27 | RB | Minnesota |
Kenneth Farrow, II | 20 | RB | Houston |
Aaron Green | 22 | RB | TCU |
Trey Williams | 35 | RB | Texas A&M |
Josh Stewart | 80 | WR | UTSA |
Darius Prince | 15 | WR | Penn State - Beaver |
Greg Ward, Jr. | 84 | WR | Houston |
John Diarse | 18 | WR | TCU |
Mekale McKay | 82 | WR | Cincinnati |
Alonzo Moore | 19 | WR | Nebraska |
De'Marcus Ayers | 14 | WR | Houston |
Stehly Reden | 89 | TE | Texas A&M Kingsville |
Cam Clear | 85 | TE | Texas A&M |
Evan Rodriguez | 88 | TE | Temple |
Cole Hunt | 83 | TE | TCU |
Brian Folkerts | 67 | OL | Washburn |
Fred Lauina | 61 | OL | Oregon State |
Cyril Richardson | 73 | OL | Baylor |
Mason Gentry | 79 | OL | SMU |
Mo Porter | 70 | OL | Baylor |
Jovann Letuli | 75 | OL | Akron |
Jaryd Jones-Smith | 72 | OL | Pitt |
Andrew McDonald | 69 | OL | Indiana |
Winston Craig | 96 | DT | Richmond |
Arthur Miley | 93 | DL | Southern |
Matt Godin | 99 | DL | Michigan |
Joey Mbu | 90 | DL | Houston |
De'Vante Bausby | 41 | CB | Pittsburgh State |
Joel Lanning | 57 | LB | Iowa State |
Shaan Washington | 54 | LB | Texas A&M |
Deion Barnes | 94 | LB | Penn State |
Kennan Gilchrist | 50 | LB | Appalachian State |
Austin Larkin | 53 | LB | Purdue |
Jayrone Elliott | 52 | LB | Toledo |
Danny Ezechukwu | 56 | LB | Purdue |
Nick Temple | 55 | LB | Cincinnati |
Tyrone Holmes | 58 | LB | Montana |
Darnell Leslie | 51 | LB | Monmouth |
Chase Dutra | 30 | DB | Indiana |
Nick Orr | 24 | DB | TCU |
Jordan Thomas | 23 | DB | Oklahoma |
Duke Thomas | 21 | DB | Texas |
Kurtis Drummond | 25 | DB | Michigan State |
Orion Stewart | 28 | DB | Baylor |
Derron Smith | 32 | DB | Fresnio State |
Zack Sanchez | 33 | DB | Oklahoma |
Joseph Zema | 6 | P | Incarnate Word |
Scott Daly | 49 | LS | Notre Dame |
Nick Rose | 9 | K | Texas |
San Diego Fleet
| Player | Number | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
Mike Bercovici | 11 | QB | Arizona State |
Phillip Nelson | 9 | QB | East Carolina |
Alex Ross | 4 | QB | Coastal Carolina |
Terrell Watson | 39 | RB | Azusa Pacific |
Paul James | 31 | RB | Rutgers |
Ja'Quan Gardner | 32 | RB | Humboldt State |
Brian Brown | 83 | WR | Richmond |
Francis Owusu | 82 | WR | Stanford |
Kameron Kelly | 14 | WR | San Diego State |
Dontez Ford | 12 | WR | Pitt |
Nelson Spruce | 81 | WR | Colorado |
Laquvionte Gonzalez | 10 | WR | Southeastern (Fla.) |
Marcus Baugh | 85 | TE | Ohio State |
Ben Johnson | 88 | TE | Kansas |
Gavin Escobar | 89 | TE | San Diego State |
Jeremiah Kolone | 62 | C | San Jose State |
Damien Mama | 71 | OG | USC |
John Montelus | 60 | OG | Notre Dame |
Darrell Greene | 72 | OG | San Diego State |
Chris Gonzalez | 74 | OG | San Jose State |
Beau Nunn | 67 | OT | Appalachian State |
Terry Poole | 79 | OT | San Diego State |
Daniel Brunskill | 75 | OT | San Diego State |
Brett Boyko | 69 | OT | UNLV |
Brandon Hodges | 77 | OT | Pitt |
Damontre Moore | 94 | DE | Texas A&M |
Alex Barrett | 93 | DE | San Diego State |
Meffy Koloamatangi | 97 | DE | Hawaii |
Myles Nash | 91 | DE | Rutgers |
Shakir Soto | 92 | DT | Pitt |
Gelen Robinson | 98 | DT | Purdue |
Andrew Stelter | 99 | DT | Minnesota |
Tani Tupou | 90 | DT | Washington |
Justin Williams | 24 | CB | Hampton |
Ron Brooks | 33 | CB | LSU |
Greg Ducre | 26 | CB | Washington |
Jude Adjei-Barimah | 21 | CB | Bowling Green |
Ryan Moeller | 25 | SS | Colorado |
Damarius Travis | 27 | SS | Minnesota |
John Lotulelei | 53 | LB | UNLV |
Eric Pinkins | 42 | LB | San Diego State |
Travis Feeney | 41 | LB | Washington |
Frank Ginda | 58 | LB | San Jose State |
AJ Tarpley | 59 | LB | Stanford |
Kenneth Olugbode | 51 | LB | Colorado |
Kendall James | 37 | DB | Maine |
Jordan Martin | 22 | DB | Syracuse |
Demetrius Wright | 34 | DB | USC |
Curtis Mikell | 28 | DB | Southern MIss |
Donny Hageman | 1 | P | San Diego State |
Ryan Winslow | 18 | P | Pitt |
Ryan DiSalvo | 49 | LS | San Jose State |
