Josh Harvey-Clemons, Keke Coutee, Texans at Redskins 11/18/18 (KA Sports)
With UFL training camp beginning this week, the D.C. Defenders have signed wide receiver Keke Coutee.
Coutee is a pretty notable pickup for the Defenders, given what he has done in the NFL. He boasts impressive career stats, with 85 receptions for 966 yards and three touchdowns across 33 games.
Coutee’s acquisition comes after former Defenders wide receiver Josh Hammond announced his retirement yesterday. Hammond was a starter at slot receiver for D.C. last XFL season and totaled 34 receptions for 331 yards and one touchdown in 10 games. He now joins Lucky Jackson and Chris Blair as Defenders starting receivers from last year who will not return for the upcoming season.
The hope is that Coutee, along with other offseason additions, will help fill the Defenders’ receiving-production void left by Jackson, Blair, and Hammond not returning.
Coutee began his professional football career with the Houston Texans, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
During his rookie season, Coutee was limited to just six games due to a recurring hamstring injury. Regardless, he displayed promise and achieved career-highs in receptions (22) and receiving yardage (287). His NFL debut saw him record 11 receptions for 109 catches against the Indianapolis Colts – not too shabby for his first professional action. He scored his first NFL touchdown on a one-yard pass from Deshaun Watson against the Dallas Cowboys in the next week.
During the 2019 NFL season, Coutee saw action in nine games in a depth role. He missed the season opener with a sprained ankle and then was healthy for the rest of the season. He totaled 22 receptions for 254 yards.
In 2020, Coutee appeared in just five games with the Texans – indicating his diminishing role with the team. Houston released him as part of final roster cutdowns following training camp the following year.
Coutee has since received opportunities on the offseason rosters/practice squads of the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins, the last team he spent time with, waived him as part of final roster cutdowns in 2023.
Prior to the NFL, Coutee had spent his three-year collegiate career at Texas Tech, where he broke out as a sophomore with 55 receptions for 890 yards and seven touchdowns. His junior season and final year at the collegiate level saw him earn First-Team All-Big 12 honors. His 1,429 receiving yards from that season rank second in program history.
Overall, Coutee is a speedy receiver who the Defenders will ideally use in the slot – replacing Hammond. Coutee also adds value as a return specialist, with some experience from college and the NFL.
