January 30, 2026
By Sam Weiger
It’s always a thrill to see talented players evolve into All-UFA caliber stars. We saw this from players like Mark Henke, Adam Miller, and McKay Yorgason last year. Who should we be watching for that evolution in 2026?
Aidan Downey
For close followers of the sport, Aidan Downey’s inclusion on this list shouldn’t come as a surprise. The University of Georgia standout and 2024 Callahan Award winner has long been one of the most celebrated names in the college game. Though his UFA availability was previously restricted by his college schedule, Downey’s recent graduation potentially opens the door for a full season.
He enters this year on the heels of a career-best performance, averaging 272 yards per contest over eight appearances and posting a +3.5 plus/minus per game—the third-best mark on the Breeze roster.
As DC prepares for life without Jonny Malks, Thomas Edmonds, and potentially Rowan McDonnell, the stage is perfectly set for Downey to have his breakout UFA season. A specialist in the backfield, he possesses the rare vision to thread high-stakes passes into the end zone with excellent precision. Should McDonnell sit out the 2026 season, Downey is a natural successor to fill the massive playmaking void left by last year’s assist leader.
Nate de Morgan
Like Downey, Nate de Morgan has been making waves in collegiate ultimate, but his collegiate career is just getting started. Last year, at just 19, he earned Ultiworld All-American Second Team honors while anchoring Carleton CUT’s Men’s Division I Championship run. His production drew immediate comparisons to established UFA superstars like John Randolph and Tobias Brooks, signaling a ceiling far higher than the average up-and-comer.
Though the Salt Lake Shred utilized him sparingly due to their veteran depth, de Morgan was high-impact in limited minutes. He proved his big-play capability throughout the season, from his signature layout block against Oakland to his ability to generate separation against elite defenders during Salt Lake’s regular season battle with Minnesota.
In 2026, de Morgan will join the Wind Chill after his eight-game 2025 season with the Shred. In those eight appearances, de Morgan gained invaluable UFA experience, including a Divisional Championship and a trip to Championship Weekend.
Given his track record, a full-scale breakout feels like an inevitability. His ability to quickly earn a significant role on Salt Lake’s title-contending roster, combined with his dominant collegiate pedigree, makes it clear that he is on the fast track to becoming a star in this league.
Conor Belfield
While often operating in the shadow of Zeppelin Raunig and Garrett Martin, Conor Belfield emerged for the Cascades’ O-line in 2025. In a stellar rookie campaign, he finished third in the UFA in receiving yards per game, averaging a massive 321.38 yards and proving to be one of the league’s dangerous deep threats.
Belfield’s ability to maintain high-volume production against elite competition separates him from the pack. He flashed his ceiling early with 338 receiving yards in his debut, later peaking with a 504-yard performance in Week 4 (both games against Oakland).
Most impressively, his highest-impact games came against the Salt Lake Shred, where he averaged a +8.5 plus/minus per game. Producing at that level against UFA heavyweights confirms that his stats aren't just spike weeks against weaker teams, but a reflection of a top-tier skillset.
Finishing the year with 23 assists, 20 goals, and seven blocks, Belfield has already achieved a statistically impressive season, yet he still possesses significant untapped potential.
While he is clearly capable of making a case for the UFA’s top receiver next year, it will be especially interesting to see if the 2023 Mixed Club Defensive Player of the Year provides more defensive highlights. Either way, the signs point toward a potential breakout for Belfield.
Jack Wisner
Jack Wisner, a defensive Phoenix standout, is one of the more underrated players poised for a major breakout. After an impressive rookie campaign where he tied for the most goals among Philly D-liners (11) and ranked second on the team in blocks (13), Wisner hit his stride late in the year. His late season standout performances against New York and DC proved he wasn’t just a flash in the pan; he was figuring out the professional game in real-time.
As we move into 2026, the Phoenix face a significant void left by Nate Little, the team's premier defensive playmaker since 2020. Last season, Little was the only player to match or exceed Wisner in both goals and blocks. While replacing Little’s presence is a tall order, the supporting cast is there for Wisner to thrive with Paul Owens and Adam Grossberg still anchoring the line to feed him scoring opportunities.
Unlike several of the other names on this list, predicting Wisner’s breakout isn’t going to be as straightforward, since he doesn’t have much history indicating an imminent breakout. All we have is last year’s results, the absence of Little, his upward trajectory at the end of last year, and his history as a track athlete to lead us to the conclusion that his big year is coming.
Elliot Hawkins
Elliot Hawkins, the 2025 Men’s Club Division Breakout Player of the Year, joins de Morgan as another elite prospect with significant upside. Currently ranked among the nation's top collegiate players in 2026, Hawkins returns to Indianapolis following a year with the Colorado Apex. He’ll be reuniting with the team that launched his UFA career two years ago.
Indy is hungry for offensive production, and Hawkins fits the bill. Given that the team’s high-profile signings focused primarily on defensive stars, Hawkins is well-positioned to earn a starting spot on the O-line whenever he is in the lineup.
A versatile "do-it-all" talent, Hawkins is a 6'3'' mismatch who can impact the game across every unit. While primarily a dominant deep receiver, he has proven his utility as both a playmaking handler and a disruptive defender.
In only four appearances last year, Hawkins averaged five scores per game and recorded the second-highest plus-minus on the roster. His ability to take over an offense will be vital for a team that struggled mightily to navigate their way into opponent territory and relied too heavily on their top talent last season.
The other underrated aspects of his game that he brings to the ‘Cats are his hucking and defense.
While Hawkins has yet to showcase a high volume of hucks in the UFA, his collegiate and club tape reveal an efficient deep game that is primed for expansion this season. Defensively, his height and explosive athleticism make him a natural disruptor.
Keep a close eye on his matchups against the Wind Chill; Hawkins possesses the combination of height and lateral speed necessary to neutralize Minnesota’s elite D-line scorers. If he can leverage his efficiency as a thrower alongside his shutdown defensive potential, he transforms from a role player into one of the most dangerous two-way threats in the Central Division.
Hunter May
Alex Atkins’ injury absence from the Apex last year opened a door, and Hunter May is on this list because he stepped right through it. Tasked with helping to fill the shoes of a dominant, high-pointing defender like Atkins, May didn't just fill a roster spot—he exceeded expectations as a dual-threat blocker and scorer.
Last year, May finished second among D-liners in goals (12) and receiving yards (756 for players with 100+ defensive points). He was also the only Apex player with at least five games played to maintain a block-per-game average of 1.0 or higher.
What helps him stand out the most is his 6’5” stature, making him one of the tallest players in the UFA. His height makes him more of a role player, so you don’t see him facilitating plays. More often, he’s playing back to prepare for any 50/50 balls in Apex territory.
But his overlooked speed makes him a dangerous cutter on the other end of the field. He was especially dangerous when it came to making some important catches on deep throws last year. While Colorado’s D-line conversion percentage was strong, their huck percentage was middle-of-the-road, so I’m interested to see if they send May deep more often this year.
Another thing May will need to do to help the rebranded Apex truly turn a new leaf is elevate his playmaking against elite competition. Last year, only one of his 11 blocks came against a playoff-bound team. For this revitalization to occur, May must prove he can be a disruptive force when the stakes—and the quality of the opponent—are at their highest.
KJ Koo
We finally witnessed KJ Koo log double-digit appearances in 2025, resulting in career-best metrics across every category.
In 10 games, Koo reached personal bests for goals, blocks, completions, yardage, and hockey assists.
Consistent with his peers on this list, Koo had elite production in high-stakes matchups. His heaviest usage of the 2025 campaign occurred during San Diego’s marquee victory, a 26-25 thriller over Carolina (36 completions, 395 total yards). Previously, in 2024, Koo tallied seven scores and nearly 600 yards against Salt Lake, while his 2022 season featured a two-block average against Colorado and Salt Lake.
Across eight combined appearances during the 2024 and 2022 seasons, he maintained a per-game plus/minus of +4.66. Yet, looking at the full trajectory, it’s clear Koo has been on the verge of a true breakout since 2021.
Koo’s collegiate accolades also hint that a breakout is due; he was a 2022 D-I Men’s All-American Second Team selection, a 2021 First Team All-American, and the 2021 runner-up for Offensive Player of the Year.
Aside from the possibility that he plays only a portion of the season, the primary factor in his breakout potential is the Growlers’ 2026 offensive depth. The team is still awaiting decisions from several key offensive playmakers, most notably Khalif El-Salaam, Jesse Cohen, and Oliver Artus. If one or two of these players doesn’t don a Growlers uniform this year, a window opens up for Koo to thrive. But if all return, there’s definitely a chance that Koo doesn’t break out this year.
