Memphis Showboats Add WR’s Eli Stove & Isiah Hennie
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Memphis Showboats Add WR’s Eli Stove & Isiah Hennie

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The Memphis Showboats are finalizing their roster as UFL Training Camp gets underway. Their latest two additions are a couple of speedy wideouts – with Eli Stove and Isiah Hennie joining the fold to close out their offensive pickups.

WR Eli Stove

Eli Stove is back in the spring scene, after a year off due to the merger. Stove is a name that USFL fans will recognize, as he spent time with the now-defunct New Orleans Breakers.

Stove played his college football at Auburn, spending five seasons with the team. Across that span, he racked up 1,186 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

After spending some time searching for a pro opportunity, Eli landed one in the USFL in 2023 with the Breakers. He didn’t see much action at wideout, recording just five catches for 61 yards. However, he was a gem on special teams – with 29 returns for 749 yards. Eli also had a rushing touchdown in a week nine win over Memphis.

Eli went undrafted during the USFL-XFL Dispersal Drafts. This led to a CFL stint up in Ottawa, where Stove saw action in a few games. Now, with Memphis hungry for slot receivers (and impact players on special teams), he finds a new home with the Showboats.

WR Isiah Hennie

While he hasn’t officially signed his contract quite yet, we’ve confirmed with multiple sources that Isiah Hennie is headed to Arlington to join the Showboats roster. One of the most electrifying spring ball athletes is back: and could prove to be a key pickup for Memphis in 2025.

Isiah burst onto the scene in the USFL in 2022, with the Pittsburgh Maulers. He saw an increased workload down the stretch of the season, recording 18 receptions for 198 yards and three scores. Hennie also was utilized on special teams: flashing his potential on multiple returns.

This led to Isiah becoming an integral piece to the Maulers’ Championship run in 2023. Hennie was a starting receiver for over half the season, recording 474 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Isiah was named All-USFL punt returner, after leading the league with 297 PR yards and a score.

After the Maulers dissolved in the merger, Isiah was selected by the Houston Roughnecks in the Dispersal Draft. Hennie, though, was underutilized in Houston as they had a room full of small slot WR’s (i.e. Justin Hall, Cyril Grayson) – and he never fully found his role. Isiah was an impact player on special teams with 10 kick returns for 328 yards; but ball control issues were a problem – and it led to his release midway through the year.

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Now, Hennie joins the Memphis Showboats – in what is a strategic signing by GM Jim Monos. Hennie worked with ST coach Marc Hull in Pittsburgh, and now reunites in Memphis. With how things are trending, do not be surprised if Hennie is the starting returner for the Showboats at some point in 2025.

DT Dillon Faamatau Retires

In other news, it looks like DT Dillon Faamatau is stepping away from football, prior to reporting to camp. Dillon has spent the last two years in the USFL/UFL with Memphis, totaling 21 tackles. The former Oklahoma product was slated to enter camp for a third season as a Showboat, but now chooses to retire.

What are your thoughts on Isiah Hennie and Eli Stove signing with the Memphis Showboats? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!

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