The Birmingham Stallions were resurrected from the original 1980’s USFL United States Football League. The USFL was rebooted in 2022 and the Stallions captured back to back championships. The Stallions would go on to survive the merger of the USFL and the XFL, which now is called the UFL, United Football League. Both leagues had 8 teams each. Both leagues merged and are only keeping 8 teams as 8 teams folded for now & players were thrown in a draft for the surviving teams to pick from. The Stallions were able to keep their core guys that have helped them win two championships in the USFL. The Stallions want the three peat & they are bringing Taco Tuesday to Alabama. In a savvy move by the Stallions, they are signing former first round draft pick Taco Charlton to bolster their defense for another championship run.

His real name is Vidauntae Charlton who goes by Taco. Charlton was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft in 2017 28th overall by the Dallas Cowboys. Charlton played his collegiate ball with the University of Michigan. Charlton’s junior season with the Wolverines, he played in 13 games & had 30 tackles while racking up 5.5 sacks. Then his senior year he was named to the First Team All Big Ten. Taco made a name for himself. He had 40 tackles with ten sacks in 2016. The Cowboys thought he would be a sure thing to give them a pass rusher that can kill the quarterback. Charlton’s college stats were solid in 46 games. He had 93 tackles which 28 of them were for a loss. He had 19 sacks, 2 pass deflections, and forced a fumble. Charlton would not have the same success in the NFL as he played parts of six seasons with 5 teams. In his first season as a Cowboy, he played 16 games & racked up 3 sacks. Taco mania was over after two seasons in Dallas. In year three of his NFL career, he signed with the Dolphins where heplayed in ten games, started 5, and racked up 5 sacks. His best year in the NFL. Last time Taco was part of the sack stat was 2021 with the Steelers when he registered a half of sack. After the Dolphins, he played 1 season with the Chiefs. His last season came with the Bears in 2022 in 5 games with 3 tackles of which one was solo. Taco has played in 60 total NFL games and has tallied 11.5 sacks, 54 solo tackles, and forced 4 fumbles.

The thing about these spring football leagues is it helps players that were not selected in the NFL develop their skills. These spring leagues have developed some guys that just needed to play some professional games. The NFL has gobbled up that talent from these spring leagues. The UFL and the rest of the spring flings help guys like Taco Charlton get back to the NFL. Last year Reuben Foster suited up for the Pittsburgh Maulers.

Foster was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers number 31 overall. Foster had some off the field issues and injuries sidelined him. Foster is another guy who was talented in college and showed some flashes of brilliance on the NFL field. He has not made it back to the NFL but had a nice year with the Maulers last year as they went to the USFL championship and lost to the Birmingham Stallions. Foster had 53 tackles last year, 5 sacks, and an interception. Since Maulers folded up shop in this merger, Foster will play this season in the UFL with the Houston Roughnecks. Foster is only 29 years old and he wants to be playing football, so the UFL checks all the boxes right now.

Taco Charlton is also only 29 years old and the Stallions could be the ticket he needs to get back to the NFL. He could also just enjoy being back on the football field like Reuben Foster. The Stallions team has a solid roster with the core returning and the some new intriguing pick ups. Taco will be challenged in a good way. The Stallions head coach Skip Holtz can get the best out of his team. I can see Holtz finding ways to get the best out of Taco. Find that college version of Charlton and unleash the beast on the field at the opposing quarterbacks in the UFL. Just the motivation Charlton should have to be on a competitive team and work hard to gel with the team, rise up to the challenge, and help this Stallions team win games. Some of these guys just need to play the game and remove the heavy burden of having to be in the NFL off their shoulders. If he can remove that pressure from his mind set and leave everything on the field, he could be getting some interest from NFL teams by next season. Get the football juices flowing and eventually everything will take care of itself. The Stallions defense will serve up Tacos and Scooby Snacks this first season of the merger. Scooby Wright, the line backer for the Stallions’ last two seasons, is looking to get back on the field as injuries set him back last season. The Stallions get my vote for having the best names on their defense.