The Houston Gamblers are shaking things up on Special Teams. Kicker Gabe Brkic and long snapper Logan Klusman have been signed ahead of USFL season three.
Some offseason movement for multiple #USFL teams:
Houston Gamblers signed K Gabe Brkic & LS Logan Klusman (h/t @Newsusfl)
K Nick Vogel and LS Ross Reiter no longer are on the Gamblers roster.
Michigan Panthers signed TE Gunnar Oakes (h/t @USFLShadow).
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) July 8, 2023
Due to these signings, Houston has released both Nick Vogel and Ross Reiter. Vogel has been with the Gamblers for the past two seasons, while Reiter was the long snapper for 2023. Nick was 13/17 (76%) this year, going 5/5 in week nine.
Even though this move surprises some, it was in the works for a while. Houston had their eyes on Logan Klusman before season two, but wasn’t in a position to sign him then. Now, Klusman is available, and has joined the team following a successful career at Kansas.
Gabe Brkic
Gabe Brkic is an intriguing pickup out of Oklahoma. In his final two years there, he was 40-52 on field goal attempts, and 10-14 on kicks from beyond 50 yards. His long of 56 came during his senior year at the school.
Gabe Brkic from the LOGO.
56-yard FG with ease. pic.twitter.com/WQToXCkMZj
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 4, 2021
He then spent some time with the Green Bay Packers, but ultimately was released after just one preseason game. Brkic was 3-3 on XP’s during that matchup, but missed a field goal attempt. In addition, Coach Matt LaFleur mentioned that he tweaked his hamstring during warmups, which could have played a role in his release.
Final Thoughts
The Houston Gamblers will look to build upon a 5-5 record in 2023, having missed the playoffs the last two seasons. With two new special teams players on the squad, it’s clear that HC Curtis Johnson and GM Robert Morris are looking to make some changes before next year. Punters Hunter Niswander and Andrew Galitz currently remain on the roster.
It was a pleasure watching Nick Vogel and Ross Reiter play in the USFL, and we wish them all the best moving forward in their respective careers.
What are your thoughts on these USFL signings for the Houston Gamblers? Will Gabe Brkic be a good fit for Curtis Johnson’s team? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
