The D.C. Defenders released 15 players as part of the first round of UFL training camp roster cutdowns. Here is a list of all the players who were waived:
CB Elijah Blades
OT Adonis Boone
TE Ben Bresnahan
WR Isaiah Coulter
WR Mike Harley Jr.
WR John Hightower
DT Donovan Jeter
WR C.J. Johnson
OT George Moore
OT Chidi Okeke
OT Jack Plumb
DT Boogie Roberts
WR Trea Shropshire
CB Adam Sparks
RB Tabyus Taylor
Surprises
Out of the 15 players released, a few stand out the most. Both Adam Sparks and Boogie Roberts were starters on their respective USFL/XFL teams in 2023.
Sparks played in six games with the Vegas Vipers—missing the rest due to injury—and recorded 32 tackles and one interception. The Defenders had added Sparks during the Mini-Dispersal Draft on Jan. 5 after the Vipers dissolved with the merger.
While Sparks is talented, it’s worth considering that the Defenders’ secondary is already stacked and includes guys like 2023 All-XFL cornerback Michael Joseph and 2017 first-round NFL draft pick Gareon Conley.
Meanwhile, Roberts spent the last two years with the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers before they ceased operations with the merger. He was a key piece of Pittsburgh’s defensive unit during the 2023 season, which saw the Maulers reach the championship. In 10 games, he recorded 32 tackles and three sacks. The Defenders had added Roberts during the Super-Dispersal Draft on Jan. 15.
The release of defensive tackle Donovan Jeter also comes as a surprise.
Although Jeter did not play in the 2023 USFL/XFL due to his NFL contract, he was an intriguing pickup for the Defenders when they selected him during the Mini-Dispersal Draft. He had originally signed with the Houston Roughnecks (XFL) during the offseason, but their dissolution after the merger led to his availability for the draft.
Since going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, Jeter has bounced around four different NFL organizations, including the Washington Commanders, with whom he played in one game as a rookie. Before his professional career, he was at Michigan for four seasons, recording 38 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss in 37 appearances.
While the releases of Roberts and Jeter are surprising, the Defenders’ interior defensive line rotation is already full of depth and consists of players like returner Joe Wallace and newcomer T.J. Barnes – both were starters on their respective teams’ defensive lines during the 2023 XFL Championship.
Wide Receivers/Offensive Tackles
Nine of the 15 players released were either wide receivers or offensive tackles.
C.J. Johnson and Trea Shropshire were receivers added via the XFL Rookie Draft held last summer, while Isaiah Coulter, Mike Harley Jr., and John Hightower were added more recently after training camp started and were released as part of cutdowns.
With this weekend’s transactions, the Defenders’ receiving corps is down to seven players. Former Houston Texans receiver Keke Coutee and former Iowa Hawkeyes receiver Brandon Smith headline D.C.’s revamped pass-catching group from last year. Smith along with Jazz Ferguson, who missed much of last XFL season due to injury, are the only two returning receivers from last season for the Defenders.
Adonis Boone and Jack Plumb were tackles added via the XFL Rookie Draft process and were released this weekend. Moreover, George Moore and Chidi Okeke were added during the Post-Merger Dispersal Process.
Moore started five games with the Arlington Renegades during the 2023 XFL season before getting traded to the Seattle Sea Dragons over the summer – putting him in the Dispersal Draft Pool after Seattle dissolved, which allowed the Defenders to pick him up.
Okeke started six games with the San Antonio Brahmas during the 2023 XFL season. After San Antonio left him unprotected, the Defenders picked him up during the Super-Dispersal Draft.
Without Liam Ryan or Kyle Murphy from last season, there are still some questions to be answered on the Defenders’ offensive line. Just last week, D.C. traded for former Birmingham Stallions offensive tackle Jahmir Ross-Johnson, who could possibly take over one of the open spots on the line.
Remaining Players/Final Thoughts
Elijah Blades, Ben Bresnahan, and Tabyus Taylor round out the cuts that the Defenders made.
Expect some of these guys to get calls back from the Defenders later in the season when other guys go down with injuries. If not, there are plenty of opportunities for these guys in other professional football leagues to make a name for themselves.
The next set of cuts is set for Mar. 23, which will see teams narrow rosters from 58 players to 50 ahead of the regular season.
Very surprised to hear Roberts name in cuts.