Dooley, Hoskins and Oakes to Play in UFL
Volume 4 Issue 5
Three Northwest Ohioans are set to play in the United Football League this season. Brian Dooley (Toledo St. John’s) and Gunnar Oakes (Swanton) are suiting up for the Michigan Panthers and Phil Hoskins (Whitmer) will debut for the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Brian Dooley
Eastern Michigan graduate Brian Dooley will be making his professional football debut this spring with the Michigan Panthers. Dooley is an offensive lineman that played five seasons for Eastern Michigan. Dooley was twice named Second Team All-MAC and once to the Third Team.
Dooley holds the Eastern Michigan record for games played and games started. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tennessee Ttians last season but did not make the final roster.
Phil Hoskins
Kentucky graduate Phil Hoskins will be making his UFL debut with the St. Louis Battlehawks this spring. Hoskins played three season for the Wildcats before being drafted by the Carolina Panthers. He spent two seasons with Carolina, bouncing back and forth between the active roster and practice squad.
Hoskins spent the 2022-2023 playoff season on the Super Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs practice squad. He then spent the 2023 season between the active roster and the practice squad. He then spent 2024 on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad until October. Hoskins is expected to be a starter for the Battlehawks.
Gunnar Oakes
Eastern Michigan graduate Gunnar Oakes will be in his second season with the Michigan Panthers. Oakes had three receptions last year as a tight end in his professional debut season.
Prior to the UFL, Oakes spent five seasons at Eastern Michigan. In his final season he had 27 seasons for 279 yards. Oakes helped the Eagles win their first bowl game since 1987.