Edge rusher Chauncey Rivers, Green Bay Packers (Packers Wire)
We have the first trade since the onset of UFL training camp. The D.C. Defenders are dealing recently acquired edge rusher Chauncey Rivers to the Birmingham Stallions for offensive tackle Jahmir Ross-Johnson.
Rivers spent the 2023 XFL season with the Houston Roughnecks – totaling 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 10 games. He went unclaimed during the Post-Merger Dispersal Process and became a free agent. He signed with the Defenders on Feb. 28. about a little more than a week ago.
Rivers’ journey throughout his collegiate career was quite a ride.
After being kicked off the University of Georgia football team due to discipline issues, Rivers landed at East Mississippi Community College, where his team was featured on Netflix’s Last Chance U docu-series in 2016.
After one season at the JUCO level, Rivers transferred to Mississippi State but missed the 2017 season due to academic ineligibility. He served as a key reserve in his first season playing with the Bulldogs in 2018 before moving into the starting lineup for his final year of eligibility. He totaled 43 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks, which yielded him Second-Team All-SEC honors to close out his collegiate career.
Since going undrafted in 2020, Rivers has spent time with the Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers but has seen minimal live-game action.
While it is easier to see Rivers getting in the edge-rushing mix with the Stallions rather than the Defenders, who have 2023 All-XFL edge rushers Davin Bellamy and Trent Harris rostered, it will likely still be an uphill battle for Rivers to get into Birmingham’s rotation. Especially considering how late he’s joining the team, with the first round of roster cutdowns coming tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Ross-Johnson appeared in eight games, starting five, at offensive tackle for the Stallions during the 2023 USFL season. He also struggled with a shoulder injury throughout the season, which is why he missed some games.
The Stallions reclaimed Ross-Johnson in the eighth round of the Post-Merger Super Dispersal Draft on Jan. 15. But Birmingham has also loaded up their offensive line over the offseason by picking up guys like Deonte Brown, Zach Johnson, and Calvin Ashley. So it makes sense why they looked to get value at another position.
Ross-Johnson spent his collegiate career at four different schools: Rhode Island, Arizona Western Community College, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. He brings his tall 6-5 300 lbs to the reigning back-to-back USFL champions.
With two of the Defenders’ full-time offensive line starters, Liam Ryan and Kyle Murphy, not returning from last season, Ross-Johnson has a chance to fill one of those spots. However, he’s already at a disadvantage due to how late he’s joining D.C. in training camp.
