Safety Tra Fluellen, Middle Tennessee State (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
The Roughnecks took an interesting approach to yesterday’s UFL College Draft. Instead of claiming the rights to a majority of undrafted free agents who are currently under contract with NFL teams but face an uphill battle in making the regular-season roster, which is what all the other teams did, Houston drafted nine players who are not with any NFL team. While this means there is a higher chance these players will be available to join the Roughnecks next spring, it potentially sacrifices the quality of their draft class.
The following is a breakdown of each of Houston’s 2024 UFL College Draft selections:
Round 1: DE Eyabi Okie, Charlotte
Okie has great football talent but couldn’t quite live up to his potential as one of the best recruits in his 2018 class due to off-field issues. Despite receiving SEC All-Freshman honors for his true freshman campaign that saw him put up nine tackles and two tackles for loss with Alabama, he was dismissed from the program in the summer of 2019 for what people believe were academic issues. A year later, he was dismissed from Houston’s program for “off-field problems”. He landed on his feet with UT-Martin, where he spent one season before moving to Michigan in 2022. With the Wolverines, he recorded 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks. For the fifth time, Okie decided to transfer, moving to Charlotte for his final year of collegiate eligibility. His fifth collegiate season proved to be his best one yet, as he totaled 56 tackles and led his team with 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks on his way to Second-Team All-AAC honors.
If it weren’t for his “character issues,” Okie would certainly be on an NFL roster right now. The former five-star edge rusher has an excellent mix of explosiveness and strength that he uses to get after the quarterback and to wreak havoc in the backfield. If he can keep himself in check with the Roughnecks, he can be an extremely valuable addition.
Round 2: S Tra Fluellen, Middle Tennessee
After transferring from Houston Baptist, Fluellen spent the final three seasons of his collegiate career at Middle Tennessee. With the Lightning, he was a two-year starter and totaled 197 tackles, 16 passes defended, 7.5 tackles for loss, and five interceptions across 36 contests. Coming off a junior campaign that saw him record a team-high 104 tackles, he entered his final season in 2023 on the Bronco Nagurski (Best Defensive Player) and Jim Thorpe Award Watch Lists (Best Defensive Back). However, he couldn’t quite live up to the expectations, going on to miss the last two games of the year with a torn ACL, and settling for an All-Conference USA Honorable Mention.
Fluellen went undrafted and unsigned during the 2024 NFL Draft process, as he’s still recovering from a torn ACL which occurred last November. Nonetheless, he proved to be a playmaker when healthy in college. He can make plays on the ball whether it be in pass coverage or run support from the safety position. The Roughnecks will look for him to continue to do so.
Round 3: OG Kameron Stutts, Auburn
Stutts was a two-year starter at right guard for Auburn. In the SEC, he was put to the test on a weekly basis, yet he held his own for the most part. He finished the 2023 season with a 70.0 PFF pass-blocking grade and 62.8 PFF run-blocking grade. On 298 pass-block snaps, he allowed 12 quarterback pressures (seven hurries and five sacks). This was a slight regression from 2022, where he only allowed two sacks and 10 total pressures on 273 snaps.
Stutts has great size at 6-5 323 lbs. He blocks with a physical style and has a high motor. He was named a team captain for his final collegiate season as a testament to his leadership abilities. He most recently participated in the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears Rookie Minicamps.
Round 4: LB Donovan Manuel, FIU
Manuel had two great seasons at FIU to finish his collegiate career after transferring from East Tennessee State. Across 24 games during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he amassed 218 tackles, 24.0 tackles for loss, six passes defended, and five forced fumbles. He was an All-Conference USA Honorable Mention in 2022, while he earned Second-Team All-Conference USA for his performance in 2023.
Manuel was known throughout his collegiate career for his ability to fly around the field. Not only that, but when he gets to the ball carrier, he will hit hard. His five forced fumbles in the 2023 season set a FIU record for most fumbles forced in a season by an individual player. He had equal success playing the inside and outside linebacker positions in college. Earlier this year, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent but was released shortly after.
Round 5: OC Hayden Gillum, Kansas State
Initially a walk-on who spent much of his first four seasons on the bench, Gillum became a two-year starter at center for Kansas State. Overall, he allowed just one sack over 1,676 snaps. Both of the seasons where he was a starter yielded All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors for him. K-State’s offense as a whole also had much success while Gillum was in the starting lineup, ranking 23rd and 35th among 133 FBS teams in 2022 and 2023, respectively, on PFF. The Wildcats’ run game was also ranked 15th by PFF in both seasons where he was the starting center.
With his agility, Gillum was often utilized as a puller in Kansas State’s gap-run scheme. He’s decently sized at 6-3 300 lbs. Unlike a lot of other offensive linemen, he spent his entire collegiate career at one position, center.
Round 6: TE Malcolm Epps, Pitt
As a highly touted four-star recruit out of high school, Epps never quite lived up to his potential. Initially at Texas, he went on to transfer twice in college due to a lack of playing time. His best season came in 2019 as a redshirt freshman with the Longhorns where he recorded 20 catches for 232 yards and two touchdowns as a part-time starter. In contrast, his most recent and lone season at Pitt saw him rack up only nine receptions and 115 yards.
Epps has all the physical tools to become the best red zone threat in the UFL next year. He is extremely athletic for his staggering 6-6 257 lbs frame. Not only was he a standout football player in high school, but he was a basketball and track star as well. He runs a 4.65s 40, which is impressive for his size.
Round 7: LB Xavier Benson, Oklahoma State
In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated prospects in yesterday’s entire draft class. Despite an impressive collegiate resume, he’s among the few draftees who didn’t even get invited to an NFL rookie minicamp.
Benson started his collegiate career at Texas Tech, where he was a full-time starter as a redshirt freshman in 2019, before transferring to Tyler College (JUCO) for one season. He then transferred back to the power-five level, moving to Oklahoma State for his final two years of eligibility. He started all 27 games over his two seasons with the Cowboys and recorded 141 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. He was among his team’s leading tacklers for both seasons.
Round 8: CB Rayshad Williams, Texas Tech
Williams started his collegiate career at UCLA before transferring to Texas Tech where he spent three seasons. Overall, he finished his career with 25 passes defended and one interception, while allowing a 56% completion percentage. He also participated in the Hula Bowl back in January, allowing him to boost his stock. He signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent back in May, but now at least has the UFL as a backup plan.
Williams has prototypical size for his position at 6-3 215 lbs. He made for a physical boundary corner throughout college and had some great breaks on the ball whether it be in pass coverage or run support, displaying his explosiveness and knack for the ball.
Round 9: CB Malik Dunlap, Texas Tech
The Roughnecks followed up on drafting Williams by selecting one of his former Texas Tech teammates. Dunlap was with the Red Raiders for three seasons, one of which yielded All-Big 12 honors in 2022, after he had transferred from NC State. At Texas Tech, he was a two-year starter and recorded 76 tackles, 23 passes defended, and four interceptions across 32 games. He earned a 79.9 PFF pass-coverage grade for the 2023 season, good for the best on his team.
Just like Williams, Dunlap plays his position with good physicality and always has eyes for the ball. Dunlap also has ideal size and length with his 6-3 220 lbs frame, which will only make things easier for him in breaking up passes.
Round 10: TE Geor’Quarius Spivey, Mississippi State
Spivey’s collegiate journey was an interesting one. He spent his first three seasons at Mississippi State, appearing in 27 games with five starts over that span. He then transferred to TCU where he continued as a part-time starter for two seasons. He recorded 11 catches for 136 yards and one touchdown with the Horned Frogs during their run to the CFP Championship game in 2022. As a graduate, Spivey transferred back to Mississippi State but was ruled ineligible to play in 2023, so he remained with the team as just a practice player to prepare for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Spivey spent his entire collegiate career sharing live-game action snaps with other tight ends, which is likely what we will see him do with the Roughnecks. He can be useful as both a possession catcher and a blocker with his big 6-5 240 lbs frame.
