The United Football League (UFL) announced that Michigan Panthers quarterback Bryce Perkins was named the 2025 UFL Offensive Player of the Year, and defensive back Kedrick Whitehead Jr. was named the 2025 UFL Special Teams Player of the Year on Tuesday.
Bryce Perkins is six foot three and weighs 214 pounds. The 28-year-old from Queen Creek, Arizona, re-signed with the Michigan Panthers on August 26, 2024. In 2025, he completed 108 of 158 passes (69%) for 1,342 yards, nine touchdowns, two interceptions, 47 carries for 269 yards, and five touchdowns in seven games. Perkins was named to the All-UFL Team in 2025 and earned the UFL’s Pizza Hut Offensive Player of the Week honor three times.
Perkins signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2020 spending two and half seasons on the practice squad while the Rams won the Super Bowl in 2021. In 2022, Perkins played five games for the Rams completing 19 of 34 passes (55.9%) for 161 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and one carry for 19 yards.
The Michigan Panthers signed Perkins on April 24, 2024. In 2024, he completed 30 of 38 passes (79%) for 343 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 20 carries for 180 yards, and 2 touchdowns in 4 games.
Collegiately, Perkins started at Arizona State (2015-16) but redshirted his freshman year and missed the 2016 season with a broken neck. Next, He transferred to Arizona Western Community College in 2017 completing 114 of 180 passes (63.3%) for 1,311 yards, 7 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 69 carries for 353 yards, and four touchdowns in 10 games for the Matadors.
Then, Perkins transferred to Virginia (2018-19) completing 545 of 845 passes (64.5%) for 6,218 yards, 47 touchdowns, 21 interceptions, 439 carries for 2,235 yards, and 20 touchdowns in 27 games for the Cavaliers. In 2019, Perkins set the UVA single-season passing record with 3,538 yards.
Kedrick Whitehead Jr. is five foot eleven and weighs 195 pounds. The 25-year-old from Middletown, Delaware, re-signed with the Michigan Panthers on August 12, 2024. In 2025, he made 54 tackles (38 solos, 16 assists), four tackles for loss, and four pass breakups in 10 games. He played 118 snaps on special teams and was recognized for being the “Iron Man” of Michigan’s special teams.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Whitehead Jr. as an undrafted free agent on May 15, 2023. He played one preseason game with three tackles (3 solo) before suffering an injury and was released.
Whitehead Jr. signed with the Michigan Panthers on March 5, 2024. In 2024, he made 39 tackles (22 solo, 17 assists), one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup in 10 games. In the 2024 USFL Conference Championship Game against the Birmingham Stallions, Whitehead Jr. made two tackles (2 solos).
Collegiately, Whitehead Jr. played five seasons at the University of Delaware (2018-22) making 295 tackles (159 solos, 136 assists), 10.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, five interceptions for 30 yards, 25 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 55 games for the Fightin’ Blue Hens.
Whitehead Jr. was named four-time First Team All-CAA, a nine-time All-American, and three-time team captain (2020-22). He currently ranks 21st in school history in career tackles (295), sixth among defensive backs, and was the tenth sophomore in program history to reach 100 tackles in a single season.
