During Friday’s Mini-Dispersal Draft, the D.C. Defenders put a clear emphasis on bolstering their defense. And who can blame them? While playmakers like All-XFL defensive end Davin Bellamy and All-XFL cornerback Michael Joseph were bright spots last season, the Defenders’ defensive unit struggled as a whole.
In their only regular season loss to the 1-9 Orlando Guardians, the Defenders allowed a season-high 400 total yards and 37 points to an offense that had been struggling. Guardians quarterback Quinten Dormady had his best performance of the season – throwing for 328 yards and three touchdowns with a 79.4% completion rate. And while this was D.C.’s only loss during the regular season, there were multiple instances where their defensive struggles almost cost them had it not been for their high-powered offense, which essentially carried them in some games.
Everything eventually caught up to the Defenders when it mattered most in the XFL Championship. While the offense recovered after a shaky start that saw the Arlington Renegades get out to an early 14-0 lead – the defense never did. And the Defenders went on to lose to the underdog Renegades in the title game, 35-26.
Going into the draft, the Defenders had already made some notable claims on defense earlier in the offseason, claiming former college standouts Gareon Conley (Ohio State) and Robert Windsor (Penn State). But the additions made on Friday only further strengthened the defense.
With the third-overall pick, the Defenders added All-XFL linebacker Trent Harris. Harris was a premier edge rusher for the Houston Roughnecks in 2023. The Super Bowl LIII champion recorded an XFL-high 9.5 sacks. He totaled 30 tackles, including 12 for a loss – tied for first in the XFL last year.
With Davin Bellamy receiving interest up north in the CFL, Harris would be an excellent replacement at edge rusher for the Defenders. Conversely, if Bellamy stays, he and Harris would be a nightmare for opposing offenses.
The Defenders followed up drafting Harris by selecting his former teammate, Tim Ward. Ward rushed on the opposite side of Harris last season. He finished second on Houston in both tackles for a loss (eight) and sacks (five) in only six games – missing four due to a shoulder injury.
Ward totaled 125 tackles at Old Dominion University, including 30.5 for a loss and 14 sacks through four seasons. He landed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and stuck with the team through their Super Bowl LIV victory.
As if the Defenders hadn’t reinforced their defensive line enough with the selections of Harris and Ward, they also added defensive tackle Donovan Jeter, who had signed a Letter of Intent with the Roughnecks in December.
Jeter went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft after a five-year career at Michigan, which saw him rack up 38 tackles, including two for a loss. He has since spent time with four different NFL teams, including the Washington Commander, who he appeared in a game with.
To complement the duo of edge rushers and Jeter, D.C. drafted former Vegas Vipers safety Deontay Anderson, who finished eighth league-wide in tackles (52) last season. Anderson, who earned All-XFL honors, can work his way into the Defenders’ safety rotation with the likes of Kentrell Brice and Santos Ramirez this upcoming season.
Through four seasons at the University of Houston after transferring from Ole Miss, where he earned Second-Team Freshman All-SEC honors, Anderson made 209 tackles, including 10.5 for a loss, and had 20 pass breakups. The hard-hitter also has experience playing linebacker from his time with the Cougars.
Speaking of former Vipers players, the Defenders also added cornerback Adam Sparks on Friday. Sparks started six games with the Vipers in 2023, recording 31 tackles and one interception. He missed three contests during the second half of the season due to an elbow injury.
Sparks spent four seasons at Mizzou before transferring to Louisiana-Monroe for his final year of eligibility. He tallied 146 tackles and 15 pass breakups in 46 games through his collegiate career.
Sparks will likely be competing against DeJuan Neal, who started last year, and newcomer Gareon Conley for snaps at the corner position opposite Michael Joseph.
During Friday’s draft, the Defenders also added linebacker Jordan Evans, defensive end Tariquious Tisdale, and cornerback Elijah Blades. While it’s a little more challenging to envision these players in a starting role with the Defenders, each has a good shot at making the 50-man roster.
Evans and Tisdale were rotation players with the Sea Dragons last season. Evans recorded 13 tackles, including three for a loss in four games. Tisdale, who spent some time in training camp with the Defenders, had five tackles, including two for a loss and two sacks, while appearing in the final two games for the Sea Dragons last year.
Blades signed a Letter of Intent with the Roughnecks in October. The Pasadena, CA native spent his collegiate career at four schools – starting at Arizona Western Community College, then moving to Texas A&M, Florida, and Buffalo. He recorded 88 tackles and one interception through his six-year career.
Deondre Francois and Offensive Line Additions
Entering Friday’s draft, the Defenders also had some questions to be answered on offense – primarily at the quarterback position, with the status of Jordan Ta’amu and D’Eriq King undetermined. Additionally, Geremy Hickbottom, who signed with D.C. midway through last season, went “unprotected,” leaving the team without a quarterback ahead of the draft.
Ta’amu, the 2023 XFL Offensive Player of the Year, finished the regular season third in both passing yardage and passing touchdowns, with 1,894 and 14, respectively. He added 298 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, as his Defenders finished with a league-best 9-1 regular season record. It goes without saying that if he doesn’t return – whoever replaces him will have some big shoes to fill.
During the draft, the Defenders began rebuilding their quarterback room by selecting Deondre Francois – passing up on available players like Jalan McClendon and Quinten Dormady. Both of whom looked like promising starters for their respective former teams at the end of last season.
Francois spent three years at Florida St and was one of the top freshman quarterbacks in the country – leading freshman signal-callers with 3,350 passing yards on the way to 2016 ACC Rookie of the Year honors and a 10-3 record for his Seminoles.
Francois entered his sophomore season on the Maxwell (Player of the Year), Walter Camp (Player of the Year), and Davey O’Brien (Best Quarterback) watchlists. However, all the hype ended abruptly after Francois sustained a season-ending injury in the season opener versus Alabama.
Upon returning from injury in 2018, Francois started all 11 games for the Seminoles. But neither he nor his team replicated the success they generated during his first year. Following the season, Francois transferred to Hampton University, where he played for one year – recording 2,139 passing yards and a school-record 26 passing touchdowns on a 56.7% completion rate.
Before joining the Guardians, Francois spent time in the Fan-Controlled Football League from 2021 to 2022.
While Francois looked like he had a bright future ahead during his time with the Seminoles – where he ranks eighth in program history with 481 career completions and 6,496 yards of total offense, ninth with 6,291 career passing yards, and 14th with 36 career passing touchdowns, his performance last season with Orlando was underwhelming.
Appearing in five games with the Guardians last season, only one of which he started, Francois completed 51.3% of his passes (20-for-39) and threw 140 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. He did not play in the Guardians’ only win of the season versus the Defenders.
With each team mandated to carry at least three rostered quarterbacks, expect the Defenders to target another quarterback – maybe from the USFL this time – during the Super-Dispersal Draft on January 15.
Along with Francois on offense, the Defenders drafted two linemen – George Moore and Jean Delance.
Moore played nine games with Arlington last season – starting in five. He had a 59.9 PFF pass-blocking grade and a 39.9 PFF run-blocking grade with the Renegades last season. Moore, out of Oregon, was traded to the Seattle Sea Dragons earlier this offseason, making him eligible for the draft.
Moore has experience at both the guard and tackle positions, meaning he can be in the running for one of the open starting positions voided by former Defenders offensive guard Liam Ryan – who announced his retirement.
Meanwhile, Delance, who signed a Letter of Intent with the Roughnecks in December, spent one season at Texas before transferring to Florida. With the Gators, Delance was a three-year starter at right tackle. He participated in the 2022 NFL Combine but went undrafted.
What’s Next?
While adding a quarterback and two All-XFL players on defense highlights this draft class, expect the Defenders to pick up another quarterback (or two) in the upcoming January 15 draft. As mentioned earlier, Jalan McClendon and Quinten Dormady are names to look out for from the XFL. On the other end, from the USFL, former Pittsburgh Maulers quarterback Troy Williams is a name to look out for.
With the status of Lucky Jackson and Chris Blair unclear for next season, the Defenders’ top two wide receivers last season, expect the receiver position to also be a point of interest in the upcoming draft.
