The USFL championship game is here, pitting the Birmingham Stallions against the Philadelphia Stars in the resurgent league’s final game of the 2022 season.
That the game could even be played is a success, as leagues such as the AAF and XFL didn’t even survive long enough to play postseason games. The USFL will return for a second season in 2023, providing at least another year for the league to establish a foothold as a viable alternative to the NFL.
Whether the USFL’s best players will return remains to be seen. Several standouts have warranted at least passing interest from the NFL. One such player who will play in Sunday’s championship game is Stallions running back Bo Scarbrough.
The former Alabama standout, who had a brief stint in the NFL, will be among the names considered for a jump back to the league — especially with a big showing against the Stars in the championship game.
Here’s what you need to know about Scarbrough’s first — and perhaps only — season in the USFL, as well as his history at Alabama and brief stint in the NFL.
When did Bo Scarbrough join USFL?
Scarbrough was not among the players in the pool for the inaugural USFL Draft. Instead, he signed as a free agent with the Stallions on May 9, along with former Miami offensive tackle Tyree St. Louis.
We picked up some good ones 🐎 #GiddyUp pic.twitter.com/HAZ6MAUJDE
— Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) May 10, 2022
Scarbrough did not play his first game for the Stallions until Week 5 of the season, when he made his debut on Sunday, May 15 — against the Stars, incidentally.
Bo Scarbrough Birmingham Stallions stats
Scarbrough has rushed 84 times for 352 yards (4.2 yards per carry) and one touchdown in seven games (six starts). Below are how his rushing totals rank among other USFL running backs…
- Attempts: 84 (13th)
- Attempts per game:14.0 (2nd)
- Rushing yards: 352 (10th)
- Yards per carry: 4.2 (15th)
- Yards per game: 58.7 (3rd)
- Rushing TDs: 1 (T-18th)
Below are Scarbrough’s game logs for the 2022 season, starting with his debut in Week 5:
| Week | Opponent | Attempts | Yards | YPC | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Stars | 7 | 25 | 3.6 | 0 |
| 6 | Panthers | 16 | 104 | 6.5 | 1 |
| 7 | Maulers | 27 | 100 | 3.7 | 0 |
| 8 | Breakers | 14 | 54 | 3.9 | 0 |
| 9 | Gamblers | 11 | 31 | 2.8 | 0 |
| 10 | Bandits | 9 | 38 | 4.2 | 0 |
| Semifinal | Breakers | 11 | 39 | 3.5 | 0 |
Bo Scarbrough USFL highlights
Scarbrough’s season totals have been propped up significantly by two games in Weeks 6 and 7, in which he rushed for 104 and 100 yards against the Michigan Panthers and Pittsburgh Maulers, respectively.
Scarbrough was the Stallions’ bell cow in those games, leading the team in rushes and yards (which he also did in Weeks 8-9). Against Michigan, he rushed 16 times for 104 yards and a score, easily his best game of the season, stats-wise. He also caught two passes for 15 yards:
Scarbrough was slightly less effective the following week against Pittsburgh; he rushes 27 times for 100 yards, adding one reception for a single yard:
MORE: USFL playoffs bracket, explained: How does the 2022 postseason format work?
What teams did Bo Scarbrough play for in NFL?
2018
Scarbrough was selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cowboys, with the 236th overall pick. Dallas released him on Sept. 1, 2018, electing to keep only two running backs on the roster; he signed to the team’s practice squad on Sept. 3 before he was once again released on Oct. 9.
The Jaguars signed Scarbrough on Oct. 11, where he stayed for two months. The Seahawks then signed him off Jacksonville’s practice squad on Dec. 18, though he was declared inactive for the team’s final two games of the season.
2019
The Seahawks waived Scarbrough on Aug. 31, 2019, once again making him a free agent.
He made his breakthrough in the NFL with the Lions, who signed him to the team’s practice squad on Nov. 6. He finally made the active roster 10 days later as a depth piece as running back Kerryon Johnson missed time with a torn meniscus. He was named starter for the Lions’ Week 11 game vs. the Cowboys, rushing 14 times for 55 yards and a score. Detroit ultimately lost, 35-27.
The following week, he rushed 18 times for 98 yards against Washington, again in a loss (this time 19-16). He played again in a third straight loss the following week, rushing 21 times for 83 yards in a 24-20 loss to the Bears. He was declared inactive in Week 15. In all, he appeared in six games, starting five, for the Lions in 2019. He rushed 89 times for 377 yards (4.2 yards per carry) and a score.
2020
Scarbrough was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 6, 2020, for the Lions; he was briefly activated on Oct. 24 before ultimately getting waived a week later. On Nov. 11, the Seahawks again picked Scarbrough up for their practice squad; he was elevated to the active roster a week later against the Cardinals. He rushed six times for 31 yards. He reverted to the practice squad for the remainder of the season.
2021
Scarbrough was signed to the Raiders’ practice squad on Aug. 6, 2021, but was waived 10 days later.
MORE: Breakers vs. Stallions final score, results in USFL playoff semifinal
Bo Scarbrough Alabama stats
Scarbrough never quite lived up to his billing as one of the top athletes of the 2014 recruiting class, but was still a significant piece of two Crimson Tide national championship teams. His best season undoubtedly was his sophomore campaign, in which he rushed 125 times for 812 yards and 11 touchdowns, all of which mark single-season highs.
Scarbrough only rushed for 100 or more yards twice in his three-year career at Alabama, both of which came in 2016: Against Tennessee (109 yards) and Washington, in the College Football Playoff semifinal game (180 yards).
Below are Scarbrough’s stats at Alabama, including attempts, yards, yards per carry and touchdowns:
| Year | Attempts | Yards | YPC | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 18 | 104 | 5.8 | 1 |
| 2016 | 125 | 812 | 6.5 | 11 |
| 2017 | 124 | 596 | 4.8 | 8 |
Bo Scarbrough 247 profile
Scarbrough, who enrolled at Alabama after playing at nearby Northridge High School (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), was among the top players not only in the state of Alabama, but also the entire 2014 recruiting class.
He ranked as the No. 16 overall player in the country per 247Sports’ Composite rankings, the No. 2 athlete (trailing only Michigan enrollee Jabrill Peppers) and the No. 2 player in the state of Alabama (trailing cornerback and future Alabama teammate Marlon Humphrey).