Of the five United Football League teams, the provisional roster of the Omaha Nighthawks is the most difficult to break down, because we don’t know how many of these players will be at mini-camp, sign with the team, etc.

For the first part of the analysis, I am working under the assumption all of these players are in play, with the exception of cornerback Frank “Twitter” Walker and wide receiver Devard Darling. For the projected starters, it is simply my best guess of who the best players are of who is likely to be in Omaha for training camp.

While it might seem unlikely on the surface that the Nighthawks could get any of the bigger names on their provisional roster, keep in mind a) the same thing was said about some of the players the Florida Tuskers ended up with last year, and b) it’s unlikely Omaha general manager Rick Mueller and player personnel director Ted Sundquist would use up their important time compiling this roster if they weren’t at least relatively certain there would be a positive outcome.

OFFENSE

When you have names like Jeff Garcia, Patrick Ramsey, D.J. Shockley and Andrew Walter, it’s unlikely the Nighthawks will struggle at quarterback. JaMarcus Russell is toxic, and, at this point, shouldn’t be considered. Ahman Green is the top name at running back, but there are plenty of quality choices besides the ex-Green Bay Packer (Justin Fargas, Chris Brown and Shaud Williams). Whomever the quarterback is, there will be plenty of targets to throw to in wide receivers Craphonso Thorpe, Ronald Curry, Keith Eloi, Robert Ferguson and Ashley Lelie. Christian Hopkins is an under-rated tight end.

Omaha also could feature a solid offensive line, with longtime National Football League veteran Dennis Norman at center, ex-Tusker guards P.J. Alexander and Fred Matua and three NFL vet tackles (Shawn Andrews, George Foster and Adrian Jones).

DEFENSE

Talk about pass-rush ability at defensive end – a rotation of Charles Grant, Chike Okeafor and Dewayne White would give the Nighthawks NFL-quality sack potential. Wendell Bryant (ex-Las Vegas Loco) and NFL vets Hollis Thomas, Kenny Peterson and Dusty Dvoracek give Omaha a ton of depth inside at tackle.

At linebacker, just a few out of the group of Ryan Fowler, Tyjuan Hagler, Victor Hobson, Cato June, Gary Stills and Nate Webster would make one of the best corps in the UFL. The Nighthawks also have plenty of options in the secondary – Ricardo Colclough, DeMarcus Faggins, Terell Maze, Fred Smoot and DeJuan Tribble at cornerback and Willie Andrews, Daniel Bullocks, Anthony Dorsett, Nick Ferguson, Calvin Lowry, Aaron Rouse and Stuart Schweigert at safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker Obi Egekeze is the team’s lone specialist on the roster, as it still is looking for a punter and long snapper.

PROJECTED STARTERS

QB – Garcia

RB – Green

WR – Thorpe

WR – R. Ferguson

WR – Eloi

TE – Hopkins

LT – Foster

LG – Matua

C – Norman

RG – Alexander

RT – Jones

DE – White

DT – Bryant

DT – Thomas

DE – Okeafor

OLB – Stills

MLB – Webster

OLB – June

CB – Smoot

CB – Faggins

S – Bullocks

S – N. Ferguson