Early USFL Award and Playoff Predictions
April 25, 2022
MVP (Most Valuable Player): Kyle Sloter, QB, New Orleans Breakers
On Sunday, Sloter’s Breakers trounced the Tampa Bay Bandits in a lopsided 34-3 affair. Sloter tossed two touchdowns, ran in another and threw for 266 yards (FoxSports.com). Making beautiful reads left and right, Sloter was impossible to stop as the Breakers offense dominated. As of now, the Breakers are one of just two remaining undefeated teams (Birmingham being the other) and have been dominant in both of their convincing victories. While the MVP is an individual award, the recipient must lead his team to success, and, currently, no other player has done a better job than that of Sloter. The Northern Colorado product produced beautiful throws under pressure and perfectly led his team into the endzone on multiple occasions. For now, no one deserves this one more than Sloter, the Breakers’ ideal leader.
OPOY (Offensive Player of the Year): Osirus Mitchell, WR, Birmingham Stallions
With 8 receptions, 144 yards and two touchdowns through two games, Mitchell currently stands as the league leader in receiving touchdowns and second in receiving yards. Standing at 6’5″, Mitchell is virtually un-guardable down the field, serving as an amazing deep threat for the Stallions. The former Mississippi State Bulldog has a great shot at returning to the NFL and creating more buzz in the USFL if he continues his incredible production.
DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year): Davin Bellamy, DE, New Orleans Breakers
Bellamy has made a name for himself after a monstrous first two games. The former Georgia Bulldog has a genuine shot at reviving his NFL career as he has been very difficult to block. His speed and size allow him to easily throw down the quarterback and make plays. Bellamy currently leads the league in sacks (FoxSports.com) and there is not a better pass rusher in the entirety of the USFL right now. Bellamy is the clear early favorite for the prestigious DPOY.
STPOY (Special Teams Player of the Year): Victor Bolden Jr, KR/WR, Birmingham Stallions
Bolden’s big play ability is huge, and the shifty returner leads the league in return yards by a very good amount (139 yards more than the next-highest player). In the receiving game, Bolden has been equally as productive, contributing for 84 yards, the seventh-most in the league (FoxSports.com). While he is shorter in stature, standing at just 5’8″ 178 lbs, he has a tremendous amount of speed to make up for it. No return man has been nearly as consistently productive as Bolden who has been a valuable asset for the Stallions.
Championship Game: New Jersey Generals vs. New Orleans Breakers
While the Generals stand at just 1-1 through two games, they have shown plenty of promise to being potential champions. Quarterback De’Andre Johnson has proven to be very valuable, extending plays with his legs and making throws on the move. If he can dial in his accuracy, Johnson could arguably be the best overall quarterback in the USFL. Their defense has proved to hold up decently and WR Randy Satterfield has monstrous talent. Playing in the easier North Division will help them in their route to the championship.
As for the Breakers, they are currently first in the South Division and have left everything out on the field in both of their contests. QB Kyle Sloter is looking like a league-MVP and their defense, led by Bellamy, looks to be on pace with the Houston Gamblers as the best in the league. The Breakers’ running game, powered by T.J. Logan Jr and Jordan Ellis, has been virtually impossible to stop, with the two combining for 252 yards and 3.93 yards per carry. Playing in a stacked South Division could hamper their chances, but it still makes sense to see the all-around balanced Breakers outlast the Birmingham Stallions for a trip to the championship.
All in all, the Breakers appear to be the most balanced team in the USFL. Consistent play from skill players, edge rushers and their secondary makes it hard to pick against them.
Final Score Prediction: Breakers 31 Generals 17