Quarterback Jason Bean, Kansas State, the first pick of the 2024 UFL Rookie Draft.
The 2024 UFL College Draft took place on Wednesday, Jul. 17, allowing each team to claim the rights to 10 players who were eligible to be selected but went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. Unlike the NFL Draft, there is no guarantee that any of these players will actually sign with the UFL team that drafted them. In the Showboats’ case, they selected 10 undrafted free agents who are currently signed with an NFL team for training camp. However, most of these rookies face uphill battles in making their current team’s 53-man roster and/or practice squad. With a 19-12 victory over the Houston Roughnecks in week 10, the Memphis Showboats earned the right to the first pick in each round of last Wednesday’s draft.
The following is a breakdown of each selection from the Showboats, who are looking to improve from a 2-8 record in 2025.
Round 1: QB Jason Bean, Kanas
Bean was an on-and-off starter at Kansas over three seasons while competing with injury-prone quarterback Jaylon Daniels. Overall, Bean started 22 of the 28 games he appeared in with the Jayhawks. He also missed ten games from 2021 to 2023 either on the bench or due to injury. His most recent season was his most successful one, as he threw for a career-high 2,130 yards with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He compiled a respectable 6-3 win-loss record in the games he started. Before KU, Bean had been at North Texas for three years, starting one full season.
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Bean signed with the Indianapolis Colts, where he will battle former Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger and fellow UFL draftee Kedon Slovis (D.C. Defenders) for a third-string spot.
Bean’s speed and athleticism stand out the most for the former track star. If Memphis’ offensive line struggles as much as it did last year, these traits will certainly help him when improvising in instances where protection breaks down. He has a relatively strong arm that allowed him to make off-balance throws while on the run throughout college. However, his accuracy is inconsistent, while his decision-making on passes is questionable at times.
Round 2: RB Blake Watson, Memphis
Watson spent the first five seasons of his collegiate career with Old Dominion, where he totaled 398 carries for 2,146 yards and 14 touchdowns in 36 games (24 starts). For his final year of eligibility, he transferred to Memphis. With the Tigers, he really put himself on the map, notching career-highs in both rushing yardage (1,152 yards) and touchdowns (14) for one season on his way to First-Team All-AAC honors. Watson signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent.
If Watson can’t stick in the NFL, then the Showboats are getting a steal. He has superb vision, speed, and elusiveness. He is also good in the receiving department, having totaled 928 receiving yards on 113 catches in his collegiate career. He runs with toughness too, failing to have gone down upon initial contact on many runs throughout college.
Round 3: NT Evan Anderson, FAU
Anderson was a four-year starter at Florida Atlantic, starting in 37 career games. He totaled 145 tackles, including 20 for a loss and seven sacks. His PFF rush defense grades were ranked 11th, 14th, and 14th in 2021 (84.5), 2022 (87.4), and 2023 (83.7), respectively, among FBS interior defensive linemen nationwide. He earned All-Conference honors (All-C-USA Honorable Mention—2021 , All-C-USA Second Team—2022, All-AAC Third Team—2023) in each of his last three collegiate seasons.
At 6-3 326 lbs, Anderson has excellent size for a nose tackle. If he’s going to have any success at the professional level, it will be as a pure run stuffer. With his big frame, he takes up space on the line and can withstand double teams with his strength. He is currently under contract with the San Francisco 49ers for training camp.
Round 4: WR Jalen Coker, Holy Cross
Coker holds multiple program records from his four-year tenure at Holy Cross, including the all-time record for career receiving yardage (2,715 yards) and touchdown catches (31). His most successful season was also his final one, which saw him make 59 catches for 1,040 yards and 15 touchdowns on the way to back-to-back First Team All-Conference honors in addition to a First Team FCS All-American mention. He signed with the Carolina Panthers after going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Coker isn’t the speediest receiver or flashiest route runner, but he has the size at 6-1 208 lbs to pose mismatches against smaller defensive backs. He showed good concentration, plus ball-tracking ability on contested and sideline catches throughout college. At his ceiling, he can become Memphis’ top downfield receiver and a fade-machine in the red zone.
Round 5: DE Eric Watts, UConn
Watts played in 47 career games over four seasons at Connecticut. Overall, with the Huskies, he compiled 147 tackles, including 23 for a loss and 9.5 sacks. In the pre-draft process, he received invites to Reese’s Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine, where most of his testing numbers were middle-of-the-pack compared to other defensive ends in attendance. After going unselected in the draft, he signed with the New York Jets.
Watts has an explosive first step toward the ball and plays with a high motor. With that, he is pretty rangy for his position and is able to consistently get to the heart of rushing plays from the backside for the opportunity to make a tackle and can chase down receivers after the catch in the flats. However, throughout college, there were more than an ideal amount of occurrences where he got too eager and over-pursued off the edge, resulting in poor angles and missed tackles.
Round 6: C Andrew Raym, Oklahoma
Raym started 29 career games exclusively at center in four seasons at Oklahoma, earning back-to-back All-Big 12 Honorable Mentions in 2021 and 2022 followed by All-Big 12 Second Team honors in 2023 as a senior. He missed the last three games of his junior season with a shoulder injury. In that same season, the Sooners led the Big 12 in rushing yards per game (219.4), while Raym earned a respectable 71.0 PFF run-blocking grade, which was third among centers in his conference.
Raym isn’t the most fluid mover or strongest offensive lineman. But he plays with tons of grittiness and physicality on each snap that allowed him to have success during his time at Oklahoma. His big 6-4 314 lbs frame only helps his cause. Raym is currently under contract with the Carolina Panthers but has a sound backup option with his rights held by the Showboats, who can use any help they can get on their offensive line
Round 7: LB Yvandy Rigby, Temple
Rigby appeared in 35 games throughout his collegiate career at Temple, totaling 207 tackles, including 11.5 for a loss and four sacks, plus two forced fumbles. For his graduate season in 2023, he earned a single-digit jersey number—a Temple tradition given to players who lead by example on and off the field. This demonstrates that the traits as a leader and teammate are definitely there for Rigby.
Rigby is a rangy inside linebacker with good lateral quickness that allows him to get from sideline to sideline and make plays on the football. In run defense, he displays good gap integrity and toughness that makes him a force inside the box. However, he’s not an ideal option as a pass coverage ‘backer. He is currently under contract with the Baltimore Ravens, who signed him as an undrafted free agent.
Round 8: CB Ja’Quan Sheppard, Maryland
Sheppard’s first three seasons at Cincinnati came with little action until he became a starter in 2022. For the 50 tackles and 10 pass breakups he totaled in 12 games during the 2022 season, he earned First-Team All-AAC honors. He then transferred to Maryland for his final year of collegiate eligibility, where he had 31 tackles with a team-high eight pass breakups. After the 2024 NFL Draft, Sheppard signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent.
Sheppard’s most appealing trait is arguably his pro-caliber size for a defensive back, standing at 6-1 201 lbs. Maryland mainly utilized him as an outside deep-zone corner, where he’s seemingly most effective with his skillset. He lacks the twitchiness to be a press corner but is quick enough to stick with receivers in the area he’s responsible for in zone coverage. He struggled in run support and with consistently wrapping up the ball carrier throughout his collegiate career, which is a negative.
Round 9: TE McCallan Castles, Tennessee
Castles spent his collegiate career at three different schools, beginning at Cal where he spent the 2018 season as a redshirt and then decided to transfer midway through 2019. He ultimately decided to move to UC Davis, where he was honored three times in as many seasons as an All-Big Sky selection. As a graduate transfer, Castles transferred to Tennessee where he came off the bench in all 13 games, recording 22 receptions for 283 yards and five touchdowns. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent.
Castles is a versatile tight end who can play all over the field. In Tennessee’s spread system, he lined up everywhere from the traditional tight end position attached on the line, to H-back, and even out-wide. He is decently athletic, especially for his position, which helps him as a receiving tight end. Castles also uses his athleticism to his advantage as a lead blocker in run plays and in working fluidly to unblocked defenders.
Round 10: WR Mason Tipton, Yale
Tipton left quite the mark at Yale, finishing third in program history in career touchdown receptions (19), while finishing fifth and sixth, respectively, in receptions (132) and receiving yardage (2,067 yards). He earned three straight All-Ivy mentions to close out his collegiate career, including an Unanimous First-Team All-Ivy selection for his 2023 campaign which saw him make a career-high 52 receptions for 786 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Tipton is a vertical threat with great speed to beat defensive backs and good ball skills to help him haul in any passes thrown his way. He ran a blazing 4.33s 40 at his pro day, which would have been tied for second-best among wide receivers at the NFL Combine. Just like Coker, who was selected in the fourth round, I like Tipton as a downfield target and a fade beast in the red zone. Tipton is currently under contract with the New Orleans Saints, who signed him as an undrafted free agent.
