Defense wins championships, and the Michigan Panthers have leaned on their defense over the last two seasons in the USFL to win games. A big reason for that is their star linebacker Frank Ginda, who has lit the USFL by storm with his strong performances.
Following a stint in the NFL in 2023, Ginda is back with the Panthers after the team signed him on Wednesday. Michigan also released defensive end Tyree Johnson to make room for Ginda on the roster.
The 2023 season for Ginda with the Panthers was one of the best defensive performances in recent memory. He finished the year with 104 tackles, three interceptions and one sack while starting all 10 games, and the performance earned him a spot on the All-USFL Team and USFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Ginda’s first season in the USFL was just as strong; he produced 90 tackles and one sack for the Panthers. He also played for the New York Guardians of the 2020 XFL and the San Diego Fleet of the AAF in 2019.
The NFL came calling for Ginda after his stellar 2023 season when the Atlanta Falcons signed him during training camp before ultimately releasing him. He signed with the Falcons once again in November, spending a month on their practice squad. Ginda also played for the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints in 2018 and 2019.
Johnson was signed by the Panthers last summer after a short stint with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in preseason. He previously attended training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, and his career numbers with the Texas A&M Aggies from 2018 through 2021 include 100 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, two pass deflections, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 47 games.
Michigan will have their star linebacker back, putting Ginda in the driver's seat to be a surefire starter in 2024. While the Panthers’ defense already looked good on paper, the move ensures that Michigan will be even more competitive in a tough USFL Conference.
Training camp for the UFL begins Feb. 23, and the Panthers open their season against the St. Louis Battlehawks on March 30.
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