The DC Defenders are a professional American football team that have made their home in Washington, D.C. Founded by Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment and owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson’s Alpha Acquico, the Defenders bring excitement to Audi Field each game day with competitive matchups against top teams from around the country.
With its passionate fan base and strong commitment to excellence on and off the field, this is one team you don’t want to miss.
1. Scooby Wright III
Arizona Cardinals
Career
- High school: Santa Rosa (CA) Cardinal Newman
- College: Arizona (2013–2015)
- NFL Draft: 2016 / Round
- Cleveland Browns (2016), Arizona Cardinals (2016–2017), Arizona Hotshots (2019), New England Patriots (2019)*, DC Defenders (2020), Birmingham Stallions (2022–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Roster status: Active
- USFL champion (2022), Unanimous All-American (2014), Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year (2014), First-team All-Pac-12 (2014), Bronko Nagurski Trophy (2014), Lombardi Award (2014), Chuck Bednarik Award (2014), Jack Lambert Trophy (2014)
- Total tackles: 7
- Total tackles: 7
Scooby Wright III was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2016 but did not see any playing time. He then signed with the Cardinals and played there for two seasons before being traded to the Patriots in 2019.
Scooby is a linebacker who plays with strength, speed, and aggression on both sides of the ball. His career began at Santa Rosa Cardinal Newman High School where he recorded 274 tackles and 10 sacks during his three years as a starter.
At Arizona, Scooby led all linebackers in total tackles (128) while also ranking second on the team with four interceptions and one forced fumble.
In 2019, Scooby made an impactful return to Foxborough after spending 2018 with New England's practice squad following theirs.
Super Bowl LI victory over Atlanta Falcons Scooby Wright III is a professional American football player who currently plays as an inside linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL).
Wright was drafted by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, and he has made contributions on both sides of the ball during his three-year career.
He won acclaim for his play as a rookie with 130 tackles, two interceptions, and one sack, and he was named to Pro Bowls in each of his three seasons in Arizona. In 2018, Wright recorded 137 total tackles which led all linebackers in terms of stats that season.
Also Played For: united states football league, usfl
2. Eli Rogers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Career
- High school: Miami Northwestern, (Miami, Florida)
- College: Louisville
- Undrafted: 2015
- Pittsburgh Steelers (2015–2018), DC Defenders (2020), Montreal Alouettes (2021)*, Tampa Bay Bandits (2022)*, Orlando Guardians (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Roster status: Active
- Receptions: 78, Receiving yards: 822, Receiving touchdowns: 4
- Receptions: 78
- Receiving yards: 822
- Receiving touchdowns: 4
Eli Rogers was born in Miami, Florida on December 23, 1992. He attended high school at Miami Northwestern and played college football at Louisville. After going undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft, Eli signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent.
In 2016, he had his best season with the Steelers recording 68 receptions for 1,078 yards and six touchdowns.
Eli is currently a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers and has continued to be one of their most productive players over the past few years Eli Rogers has been a key receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers over the past few seasons.
He had an impressive rookie season in 2015, catching 78 passes for 822 yards and four touchdowns.
In 2016, he continued to be a dominant player on offense, topping 1,000 receiving yards for the third time in his career while also scoring six touchdowns.
Rogers struggled mightily with injuries during 2017 but still managed to top 100 receptions for the fourth time in his career and score nine times overall.
The 2018 season was another solid year from Eli Rogers as he caught 68 passes for 773 yards and seven touchdowns - good enough for second-best on the team behind Antonio Brown's record-breaking performance of 101 catches for 1,291 yards and 14 scores.
3. Cardale Jones
Ohio State Buckeyes football
Career
- High school: Glenville (Cleveland)
- College: Ohio State (2012–2015)
- NFL Draft: 2016 / Round: 4 / Pick: 139
- Buffalo Bills (2016), Los Angeles Chargers (2017–2018), Seattle Seahawks (2019)*, DC Defenders (2020), Edmonton Elks (2022)*, Massachusetts Pirates (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- CFP national champion (2015)
- Pass completions: 6, Pass attempts: 11, TD-INT: 0–1, Passing yards: 96, Passer rating: 46
- Pass completions: 6
- Pass attempts: 11
- TD-INT: 0–1
- Passing yards: 96
- Passer rating: 46
Cardale Jones was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Glenville High School where he played quarterback for the Glens Tigers football team. After graduating from high school, Jones enrolled at Ohio State University where he played for the Buckeyes football team from 2012 to 2015.
In 2016, the Buffalo Bills drafted Cardale in the fourth round of the NFL Draft and he started 13 games as a rookie before being traded to Los Angeles Chargers midway through his second season with Buffalo.
In 2018, after starting all 16 games for Seattle that year but struggling with inconsistencies throughout his career, Jones was traded back to Los Angeles Chargers .
Where he finished out the regular season and then led them to victory in their first playoff game since 2014 against Kansas City Chiefs On March 14th 2019 it was announced that Cardale had signed a two-year contract extension with LA Chargers.
Also Played For: xfl
4. Jay Bromley
New York Giants
Career
- High school: Flushing (Flushing, New York)
- College: Syracuse
- NFL Draft: 2014 / Round: 3 / Pick: 74
- New York Giants (2014–2017), New Orleans Saints (2018), San Francisco 49ers (2019)*, DC Defenders (2020)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Total tackles: 80, Sacks: 2.0, Forced fumbles: 0, Fumble recoveries: 0
- Total tackles: 80
- Sacks: 2.0
- Forced fumbles: 0
- Fumble recoveries: 0
Bromley was drafted by the Giants in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Bromley played college football at Syracuse and started all 45 games he appeared in for the Orange.
Bromley has spent his entire professional career with the Giants, playing in 134 games and making 98 tackles (81 solo) along with 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Bromley is a stout defender who can play either defensive tackle spot or on special teams as a blocker/hitter.
He is an important player for New York going into next season Bromley was drafted by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Bromley played college football at Syracuse and recorded 112 tackles, 10 sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery over his career with the Orange.
Bromley signed a three-year contract with the Giants following his draft and made an immediate impact on their defensive line rotation as he started all 16 games for them in his rookie season.
In 2015, Bromley missed six games due to injury but still managed to record 41 tackles and 2 sacks before being placed on injured reserve towards the end of that year after aggravating an old ankle injury.
In 2016, Bromley again missed time due to injury but returned strong in 2017 recording 57 tackles (second most on defense), 3 sacks (tied for second most) and one interception while also forcing one fumble during 11 starts throughout the season - helping lead.
New York back into playoff contention late in the year before they eventually fell short against Philadelphia despite holding their own statistically through much of regulation/overtime play).
Bromley as he's played every single game thus far for San Francisco posting 66 total tackles (7th most amongst all defenders), 4½ sacks (fourth best) and two interceptions while adding 1 Forced Fumble recovered along with 0 fumble recoveries so far this season.
Which currently ties him atop SF's leaderboard both statistically & logically when looking at how many opportunities each player had to produce these stats.
Also Played For: syracuse orange football
5. Rashad Ross
Arizona Cardinals
Career
- High school: Vallejo (CA)
- College: Arizona State
- Position: Wide receiver
- Undrafted: 2013
- Tennessee Titans (2013)*, Kansas City Chiefs (2013–2014)*, Washington Redskins (2014)*, Chicago Bears (2014)*, Washington Redskins (2014–2016), Detroit Lions (2016)*, San Francisco 49ers (2017)*, Buffalo Bills (2017)*, Arizona Cardinals (2017–2018)*, Arizona Hotshots (2019), Carolina Panthers (2019)*, Los Angeles Wildcats (2020)*, DC Defenders (2020), Montreal Alouettes (2021), San Diego Strike Force (2022)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Receptions: 9, Receiving yards
- Receptions: 9
- Receiving yards: 192
- Return yards: 812
- Total touchdowns: 3
Rashad Ross was born in Vallejo, California and attended high school there. After playing college football at Arizona State, he was undrafted but signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2013.
He spent two seasons with the Titans before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014. In his three years with Washington, Ross made 85 receptions for 1,064 yards and seven touchdowns en route to being named a second-team All-Pro by Pro Football Focus in 2016.
Ross left Washington as a free agent and signed a one-year contract with Chicago Bears on March 9th of this year Rashad Ross attended the University of Southern California and played for their football team from 2009 to 2013.
In his senior year at USC, Rashad Ross was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award which is given to the best receiver in college football.
Ross was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft and he started playing professional football with them during the 2014 season.
He has also played for San Francisco 49ers (2015), Buffalo Bills (2016), Arizona Cardinals (2016–2018) and Arizona Hotshots (2019). His latest team is Carolina Panthers who signed him in 2019 as a free agent after he had been released by Arizona Cardinals earlier that year.
Rashad Ross finished his career with 9 receptions, 192 receiving yards, 812 return yards and 3 touchdowns.
Also Played For: alliance of american football
6. Jhurell Pressley
New Mexico Lobos football
Career
- High school: Red Lion Christian Academy, (Bear, Delaware)
- College: New Mexico
- Position: Running back
- Undrafted: 2016
- Minnesota Vikings (2016)*, Green Bay Packers (2016), Atlanta Falcons (2016–2017)*, Jacksonville Jaguars (2017)*, New York Giants (2018)*, Arizona Hotshots (2019), DC Defenders (2020)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Jhurell Pressley was a running back at Red Lion Christian Academy in Bear, Delaware. He played college football for New Mexico and was undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft.
In 2017, he joined the Washington Redskins on their practice squad but did not make the final roster. In 2018, Pressley signed with the Detroit Lions of the NFL and made one appearance as a substitute during their season opener against Green Bay Packers before being released on September 2nd..
On September 10th., he signed with the DC Defenders of XFL II where he finished his rookie season with 1 rushing touchdown and 5 receptions for 50 yards in 12 games played (10 starts).
Jhurell Pressley was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 3rd round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has played for both the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons during his career, but is most well known for playing with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2017 to 2018.
Jhurell Pressley recorded 97 tackles, 4 sacks, and 1 interception in his three seasons with Jacksonville. The Arizona Hotshots signed him as a free agent ahead of their inaugural season in 2019.
7. Matt Elam
Baltimore Ravens
Career
- High school: William T. Dwyer, (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida)
- College: Florida (2010–2012)
- NFL Draft: 2013 / Round: 1 / Pick: 32
- Baltimore Ravens (2013–2016), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2018–2019), DC Defenders (2020), Tucson Sugar Skulls (2021), Edmonton Elks (2022), Orlando Guardians (2023–present)
- Roster status: Active
- First-team All-American (2012), First-team All-SEC (2012)
- Total tackles: 131, Sacks: 0.5, Forced fumbles: 1, Fumble recoveries: 2, Interceptions: 1
- Total tackles: 131
- Sacks: 0.5
- Forced fumbles: 1
- Fumble recoveries: 2
- Interceptions: 1
Matt Elam is a safety for the Orlando Guardians in the NFL. He was born on September 21, 1991 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and attended William T. Dwyer High School.
After playing college football at Florida from 2010 to 2012, he was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 and played with them until 2016 when he signed with Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
In 2020, Matt joined the DC Defenders of the American Football Conference (AFC) where he currently plays safety. Matt Elam is a former All-American and first-team All-SEC safety at the University of Florida.
He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft, but he has mostly been used as a backup since then.
In 2018, Elam signed with the Orlando Guardians of the Alliance of American Football where he led all safeties in tackles (48) and interceptions (three). He remains an unrestricted free agent heading into 2019.
8. Rahim Moore
Denver Broncos
Career
- High school: Susan Miller Dorsey, (Los Angeles, California)
- College: UCLA
- NFL Draft: 2011 / Round: 2 / Pick: 45
- Denver Broncos (2011–2014), Houston Texans (2015), Cleveland Browns (2016)*, New York Giants (2017)*, Arizona Hotshots (2019), DC Defenders (2020), Arlington Renegades (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Roster status: Active
- Total tackles: 212, Sacks: 1.0, Forced fumbles: 2, Fumble recoveries: 3, Pass deflections: 22, Interceptions: 9
- Total tackles: 212
- Sacks: 1.0
- Forced fumbles: 2
- Fumble recoveries: 3
- Pass deflections: 22
- Interceptions: 9
Rahim Moore was drafted in the second round by the Denver Broncos in 2011. Moore played for the Broncos until 2014, when he was traded to the Houston Texans.
In 2015, Moore signed with Cleveland Browns and remained there for two seasons before being released at the end of 2016 season. Rahim Moore was a unanimous All-American and First Team All-Pac 10 linebacker for the Arizona Hotshots in 2019.
Rahim Moore played at Stanford from 2008-2010, where he was an all American and won the Paul Hornung Award as the nation's best player. Moore then transferred to UA, where he led the Pac10 in interceptions his junior year before being drafted by New York Giants in the second round of 2010 NFL Draft.
Also Played For: arlington renegades, 2011 nfl draft
9. Kentrell Brice
Green Bay Packers
Career
- High school: Ruston (Ruston, Louisiana)
- College: Louisiana Tech
- Undrafted: 2016
- Green Bay Packers (2016–2018), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019)*, Seattle Dragons (2020)*, Chicago Bears (2020)*, Arizona Cardinals (2020)*, Saskatchewan Roughriders (2021), DC Defenders (2023-present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Roster status: Active
- CFL status: American
- Total tackles: 99, Sacks: 1.0, Pass deflections: 6, Interceptions: 1, Forced fumbles: 0
- Total tackles: 99
- Sacks: 1.0
- Pass deflections: 6
- Interceptions: 1
- Forced fumbles: 0
Kentrell Brice is a strong safety who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2016. He played for the Buccaneers and Seahawks before joining the Dragons in 2020.
Kentrell Brice had an impressive rookie season with the Packers, making 11 combined tackles and 2 interceptions while also returning one for a touchdown during his time on the field.
In 2019, he suffered an ankle injury which saw him miss six games of action but he has since bounced back to play well for Tampa Bay this season with 3 interceptions and 12 total tackles so far in 9 games played (including playoffs).
At 28 years old, Kentrell Brice will be looking to continue playing at a high level for many seasons to come and could potentially become an important member of any team's defense next year or beyond Kentrell Brice was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.
He played collegiately at Vanderbilt where he registered 139 tackles, 10 sacks and four interceptions over his career. Brice is a versatile player who can play both outside linebacker and defensive back in the NFL.
In 2019, Brice spent time with both the Arizona Cardinals and Saskatchewan Roughriders on their practice squads before being added to Chicago's roster late in the year as an injury replacement for Danny Trevathan.
At 6'1″ tall and 225 pounds, Kentrell Brice has all of the physical tools necessary to be successful in the NFL based off of his college stats alone.
Also Played For: louisiana tech university football
10. Bradley Sylve
Alabama Crimson Tide football
Career
- High school: South Plaquemines High School
- College: Alabama
- Undrafted: 2016
- Buffalo Bills (2017)*, New Orleans Saints (2017)*, Birmingham Iron (2019), DC Defenders (2020), Los Angeles Wildcats (2020), Philadelphia Stars (2022–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Roster status: Inactive
Bradley Sylve was a highly touted cornerback coming out of high school and played for the Alabama Crimson Tide before being undrafted in 2016. Sylve has spent most of his career playing for the Philadelphia Stars, where he is currently their No.
3 corner. Sylve is known as a physical defender who loves to make plays on the ball, which has led to him accumulating over 100 tackles in each of his three seasons with Philadelphia.
Sylve is set to become a free agent at the end of this season and will likely be looking for another team that can give him an opportunity to play regularly on defense.
If he does find himself without a club next year, it's possible that Bradley Sylve could turn his attention towards making some noise in the NFL draft or signing with another professional football league overseas.
Also Played For: birmingham iron, los angeles wildcats
11. Elijah Campbell
Miami Dolphins
Career
- High school: Central (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
- College: Iowa Western (2014), Northern Illinois (2015), Northern Iowa (2016–2017)
- Undrafted: 2018
- Cleveland Browns (2018)*, Birmingham Iron (2019), DC Defenders (2020), New York Jets (2020), Miami Dolphins (2021–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Roster status: Active
- Total tackles: 3, Pass deflections: 0, Interceptions: 0
- Total tackles: 3
- Pass deflections: 0
- Interceptions: 0
Elijah Campbell was a highly touted cornerback prospect coming out of high school. He attended the University of Iowa, where he played in 32 games and recorded 82 tackles, 10 passes defended, two interceptions and one forced fumble over three seasons.
In 2018, Elijah Campbell went undrafted but signed with the Miami Dolphins as a rookie free agent. He has appeared in four games so far this season and has shown some promise while playing against some talented receivers.
Campbell was highly touted coming out of college and has lived up to the hype so far in his NFL career.
He's been a key part of the Browns defense, both as a starter and on special teams. Campbell is not afraid to get into the mix physically with opposing players and he shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Campbell is an excellent run defender who can also cover tight ends or running backs when needed.
There are few players in the league that are as versatile as Elijah Campbell, which makes him an extremely valuable asset for any team looking for someone able to do multiple things well at an elite level.
The Browns will be hoping that their star defensive lineman can keep up this form for years to come and help them make some serious noise in the AFC North divisional race over the next few seasons.
12. Donnel Pumphrey
Running back
Career
- High school: Canyon Springs, (North Las Vegas, Nevada)
- College: San Diego State
- NFL Draft: 2017 / Round: 4 / Pick: 132
- Philadelphia Eagles (2017), Detroit Lions (2018)*, Philadelphia Eagles (2018–2019)*, DC Defenders (2020)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Super Bowl champion (LII), First-team All-American (2016), 2× MWC Offensive Player of the Year (2015, 2016), First-team All-MWC (2015), NCAA Division I FBS All-Time leading rusher (6,405 yards)
Pumphrey was one of the stars of San Diego State's backfield in 2016 and is considered a top running back prospect in this year's NFL Draft. Pumphrey ran for 3,864 yards and 38 touchdowns during his four-year career at SDSU, earning First Team All-Mountain West honors as a senior.
The 5'8" running back also added 615 yards on 57 receptions over the course of his collegiate career.
Pumphrey was an instant hit with Philadelphia Eagles fans after being selected in the fourth round (132nd overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft - he started all 16 games for Philadelphia last season despite missing time due to injury early on in the campaign.
Expect Pumphrey to compete for carries behind LeSean McCoy and Jay Ajayi when healthy next season – if he can hold onto his spot on Philly’s roster long term, he has a good chance at becoming one of the best players in franchise history.
Also Played For: san diego state football, san diego state aztecs football
13. Tyree Jackson
Quarterback
Career
- High school: Mona Shores (Norton Shores, Michigan)
- College: Buffalo
- Undrafted: 2019
- Buffalo Bills (2019)*, DC Defenders (2020), Philadelphia Eagles (2021–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Roster status: Injured reserve
- MAC Most Valuable Player (2018), MAC Offensive Player of the Year (2018), First team All-MAC (2018)
- Receptions: 3, Receiving yards: 22, Receiving touchdowns: 1
- Receptions: 3
- Receiving yards: 22
- Receiving touchdowns: 1
At 25 years old, Tyree Jackson is already a veteran of the NFL. He played for Buffalo in 2019 before joining the DC Defenders in 2020. Jackson has an impressive tight end record - he was named to the Bills' All-Rookie team in 2018 and made his first career start against Miami that year.
His ability to block on defense gives him an extra edge on offense and makes him a key part of any successful passing game.
Tyree Jackson is set to have another strong season with the DC Defenders this year and look to build on his successful debut campaign with the team next year Jackson was a three-time MAC Offensive Player of the Year and First team All-MAC pick in 2018.
Jackson entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Philadelphia in 2022 and has since recorded 3 receptions for 22 yards and one touchdown. While at Buffalo, Jackson helped lead them to back-to-back conference championships (2018, 2019).
14. Khari Lee
Tight end
Career
- High school: Western Tech, (Catonsville, Maryland)
- College: Bowie State
- Position: Tight end
- Undrafted: 2015
- Houston Texans (2015)*, Chicago Bears (2015), Detroit Lions (2016), Buffalo Bills (2017–2018), DC Defenders (2020), Atlanta Falcons (2020)*, Detroit Lions (2020)*
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Receptions: 2, Receiving yards: 12, Receiving touchdowns: 0
- Receptions: 2
- Receiving yards: 12
- Receiving touchdowns: 0
Khari Lee was undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft, but found success with the Houston Texans. He played Tight End for Bowie State and is currently signed with the Houston Texans.
Lee has a good size at 6'4", 255 lbs, and plays with tenacity on defense as well as offense. With his size and athleticism, Khari Lee could have an impressive career if he continues to play at a high level.
Khari Lee was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Khari Lee played college football at USC and caught 157 passes for 2,781 yards and 22 touchdowns during his time with the Trojans.
In 2016, Khari Lee was traded to Detroit Lions where he spent two seasons before being waived in 2018. After being waived by Detroit, Khari Lee signed a reserve/future contract with Buffalo Bills but was cut before the season began.
Finally, Khari Lee signed a reserve/future contract with DC Defenders where he is currently playing in 2020 preseason games.
15. Simmie Cobbs Jr.
Wide receiver
Career
- High school: Oak Park (IL)
- College: Indiana
- Undrafted: 2018
- Washington Redskins (2018)*, New Orleans Saints (2018), Dallas Renegades (2020)*, DC Defenders (2020), DC Defenders (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- First-team All-Big Ten (2017)
Simmie Cobbs Jr. is a wide receiver for the Washington Redskins and attended Indiana University. He was undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft but signed with the Redskins as an undrafted free agent.
Cobbs has played in 11 games, recording 22 receptions for 287 yards and one touchdown so far in his career.
The 27-year-old is entering his fourth season with the Redskins after being drafted by them in 2016 out of Indiana University where he had 101 receptions for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns during his college career.
Simmie Cobbs Jr. is a versatile player for the Washington Redskins who can play running back, receiver and defensive back. He was named first-team All-Big Ten in 2017 and has caught 87 passes for 1,272 yards and six touchdowns over his three seasons with the team.
Cobbs Jr.'s versatility could be an asset on special teams where he's excellled throughout his NFL career, including averaging 11 tackles per season over the past two years.
After missing most of training camp with a hamstring injury this year, Cobbs Jr will look to bounce back when the Redskins take on New Orleans Saints in their regular season opener on September 9th.
16. Anthony Johnson
Defensive lineman
Career
- High school: O. Perry Walker, (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- College: LSU
- Undrafted: 2014
- Miami Dolphins (2014), Washington Redskins (2015–2016)*, New England Patriots (2016), New York Jets (2016–2017), Indianapolis Colts (2017–2018), Memphis Express (2019), Calgary Stampeders (2019)*, Los Angeles Wildcats (2020), DC Defenders (2020)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- CBS, Sporting News Freshman All-American (2011), Mid Season All-XFL (2020)
- Total tackles: 16, Sacks: 0, Forced fumbles: 0, Fumble recoveries: 1
- Total tackles: 16
- Sacks: 0
- Forced fumbles: 0
- Fumble recoveries: 1
Johnson was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2014, but did not play a game with them. He signed with the Washington Redskins the following year and played two games there before being released.
Johnson then joined the New England Patriots for 2016 and had an impressive season recording nine sacks and helping to lead his team to their sixth Super Bowl victory.
Johnson will be entering his fourth NFL season in 2019, where he is likely to remain one of Tom Brady's key defensive players Johnson was a highly touted recruit out of high school, and he quickly made an impact in the NFL.
Johnson has been a force on the defensive side of the ball for most of his career, recording 16 tackles and 0 sacks in 2016 alone. He also racked up 1 fumble recovery that season, helping lead the Jets to their first playoff appearance in over 20 years.
In 2017, Johnson continued to be one of New York's top defenders while playing alongside star pass rusher Leonard Williams.
However, after starting all 16 games for New York this past year - his sixth with the team - Johnson was traded to Indianapolis in early 2018 as part of a blockbuster deal involving Andrew Luck and Jack Doyle.
In Indy , he played well before being released midway through the season due to injuries (he would later sign back on with Indy.
Eventually landing with Memphis Express late in 2019, Johnson is looking forward to continuing his successful career at least another year or two...though who knows where football will take him next.
17. Holton Hill
Career
- High school: Lamar (Houston, Texas)
- College: Texas
- Position: Cornerback
- Undrafted: 2018
- Minnesota Vikings (2018–2020), Indianapolis Colts (2021)*, Dallas Cowboys (2021)*, Cincinnati Bengals (2021)*, DC Defenders (2023)*
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Roster status: Reserve List
- Total tackles: 73, Sacks: 1.0, Forced fumbles: 0, Fumble recoveries: 1, Interceptions: 1
- Total tackles: 73
- Sacks: 1.0
- Forced fumbles: 0
- Fumble recoveries: 1
- Interceptions: 1
Hailing from Houston, Texas, Holton Hill played college football at Texas. He was undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft but signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent.
Hill made his NFL debut in Week 2 of the 2018 season against the Chicago Bears and recorded four tackles and an interception on defense. In 2019, Hill started all 16 games for the Vikings and had 67 tackles (second highest on team) along with two interceptions and one forced fumble.
The Cowboys signed him to a three-year contract in May 2021 after he showed consistent play throughout preseason workouts.
Holton Hill is an exciting young player that the Cincinnati Bengals should be excited to have on their roster. He brings speed, athleticism and aggression to the defensive backfield which will help make a big impact for them in 2021.
With his versatility, Hill can play either cornerback or safety, giving the Bengals multiple options with how they want to use him depending on the matchup they're facing. He has shown throughout.
His career that he has been able to make some big plays both defensively and offensively which will continue into next season with him wearing a Bengal uniform.
If Holton Hill continues displaying the same level of talent and passion for playing football then he could very well become one of Cincinnati's all-time greats sooner rather than later.
18. Khalid Abdullah
Career
- High school: Heritage High School
- College: James Madison
- Undrafted: 2017
- New York Giants (2017)*, YCF Grit (2018–2019), DC Defenders (2020)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- FCS Championship Game MVP (2017)
Khalid Abdullah was one of the top running backs in college football and is now looking to make an impact in the NFL. He played for James Madison University from 2016-2018, where he ran for over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Abdullah was undrafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017 but signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent later that year. He made his debut for the Jaguars in Week 3 of 2018 against New England Patriots and finished with 31 carries for 202 yards and two touchdowns.
Khalid Abdullah has continued to impress during pre-season action this year, scoring three touchdowns on 29 carries thus far. If he continues at this rate, it's likely that Khalid Abdullah will be playing in Super Bowl LIII next month. Khalid Abdullah is a talented defensive back that can play both corner and safety.
Abdullah has experience playing in the NFL and was drafted by the Giants in 2017 but only played one season before being cut.
He spent time on YCF Grit this year where he impressed coaches with his hard work and competitive nature. Abdullah will likely be looking to play for a team next season, so keep an eye out for him as he continues to improve his skills.
19. Ethan Wolf
Career
- High school: Minster (Minster, Ohio)
- College: Tennessee
- Undrafted: 2018
- Tennessee Titans (2018)*, Green Bay Packers (2018)*, Carolina Panthers (2019)*, Jacksonville Jaguars (2019)*, Green Bay Packers (2019)*, Los Angeles Rams (2019–2020)*, New Orleans Saints (2020)*, Indianapolis Colts (2020)*, New Orleans Saints (2020–2021), DC Defenders (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Receptions: 2, Receiving yards: 8, Receiving touchdowns: 0
- Receptions: 2
- Receiving yards: 8
- Receiving touchdowns: 0
Ethan Wolf played tight end for three seasons at Tennessee before being undrafted in 2018. After not being signed by any NFL teams, he spent the year playing for the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers in the NFL Europa League.
Ethan Wolf is a 27-year-old tight end from Ohio who has bounced around between the NFL and Europe throughout his career so far. Ethan Wolf is a talented wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was drafted by the team in the 2019 NFL Draft and has been playing well so far this season.
Ethan Wolf stands at 6'4" tall and weighs 215 pounds, which gives him good size and strength to be an effective receiver in the NFL.
Ethan Wolf also has excellent speed, which helps him get open quickly downfield on his routes. He will continue to develop his skills as he plays more football games, which makes him one of the most promising receivers in the league today.
20. DeAndre Thompkins
Career
- High school: Swansboro
- College: Penn State
- Position: Wide receiver
- Undrafted: 2019
- Philadelphia Eagles (2019)*, DC Defenders (2020), Pittsburgh Steelers (2020)*, Green Bay Packers (2021)*
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Second-team All-Big Ten (2017)
DeAndre Thompkins was born on October 1, 1995 in Pensacola, Florida. He played high school football at Swansboro and then college football at Penn State.
DeAndre did not play in the NFL draft but he signed with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent in 2019. DeAndre has had a successful career so far with the Bills, recording 25 receptions for 345 yards and one touchdown over his first two seasons in the league.
DeAndre Thompkins is a versatile receiver who can play on the outside or in the slot. He was a Second-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior at Penn State and has consistently produced throughout his career.
The Eagles signed him to a three-year contract this offseason and he should be an important part of their offense moving forward.
21. Briley Moore
Career
- High school: Blue Springs South, (Blue Springs, Missouri)
- College: Northern Iowa, Kansas State
- Undrafted: 2021
- Tennessee Titans (2021), DC Defenders (2023–present)
- Second-team All-Big 12 (2020), First-team All-MVFC (2018)
Briley Moore is a tight end who attended Northern Iowa and Kansas State. Moore played in all 13 games for the Wildcats as a sophomore, catching six passes for 64 yards and one touchdown.
In his first two years at NIU, he started ten of thirteen contests while totaling forty-eight receptions for 612 yards and five touchdowns. After declaring for the draft following his junior season at NIU, Briley was selected by the Washington Redskins with their sixth-round pick (209th overall).
He appeared in nine games during rookie minicamp before being waived on May 12th; however, he was re-signed to the team's practice squad later that day.
Moore signed with DC prior to Week 7 of this season but did not see any action until September 23rd when he caught one pass for eight yards against Arizona.
However, injury forced him off the field early in the fourth quarter and he has since been released from injured reserve.
22. Ryquell Armstead
Career
- High school: Millville, (Millville, New Jersey)
- College: Temple (2015–2018)
- NFL Draft: 2019 / Round: 5 / Pick: 140
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2019–2020), New York Giants (2021)*, New Orleans Saints (2021)*, Green Bay Packers (2021)*, Jacksonville Jaguars (2021), DC Defenders (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- First team All-AAC (2018)
- Rushing yards: 188, Rushing average: 3.8, Receptions: 17, Receiving yards: 160, Receiving touchdowns: 2
- Rushing yards: 188
- Rushing average: 3.8
- Receptions: 17
- Receiving yards: 160
- Receiving touchdowns: 2
Armstead was drafted in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Armstead played college football at Temple and led the team in rushing for three consecutive seasons.
In his two years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Armstead has appeared in seven games total and rushed for a total of 13 yards on six carries. Armstead is a promising prospect who could develop into an elite pass rusher in the NFL.
Armstead was one of the best defenders in AAC this past season, recording 17 receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns.
Armstead has good speed and agility for his size, which gives him coverage ability as well. He needs to work on his strength and conditioning, but Armstead is definitely worth keeping an eye on over the next few years.
Also Played For: temple owls football
23. Elijah Qualls
Career
- High school: Casa Grande, (Petaluma, California)
- College: Washington
- NFL Draft: 2017 / Round: 6 / Pick: 214
- Philadelphia Eagles (2017), Carolina Panthers (2018–2019)*, Baltimore Ravens (2019)*, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019)*, DC Defenders (2020), TSL Linemen (2021), New York Giants (2021)*, BC Lions (2022), Houston Roughnecks (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Super Bowl champion (LII), First Team All-Pac-12 (2016)
- Total tackles: 4
- Total tackles: 4
Elijah Qualls was born on February 11, 1995 in Petaluma, California. He attended Casa Grande High School before playing college football at Washington. After going undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles but only played one game for them before being released midway through the season.
He then spent time with both the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens before signing a three-year deal with Houston Roughnecks in 2019.
Elijah is currently a nose tackle for Houston and has made several big plays during his career so far including two sacks this year alone. Elijah Qualls is a rookie linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He played college football at Washington. Elijah Qualls was selected by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Elijah Qualls had an impressive collegiate career, earning First Team All-Pac-12 accolades in 2016 and Second Team honors in 2017.
While playing for Washington Huskies The 23-year old will be looking to make an impact with his team this season, as he looks to help lead Tampa Bay back to prominence after a disappointing 2018 campaign which saw them finish last in their divisional standings and miss out on playoff action for just the second time since 2003/2004 season.
Elijah Qualls is a versatile linebacker who can play either inside or outside linebacker positions - giving him plenty of potential to succeed both on defence and special teams should he see game time during his rookie campaign.
Also Played For: houston roughnecks
24. Reggie Barlow
Career
- High school: Sidney Lanier High School
- College: Alabama State
- NFL Draft: 1996 / Round: 4 / Pick: 110
- 2× Black College National (2011, 2017), CIAA (2017), 3× SWAC East Division (2010–2012), CIAA Northern Division (2017)
- Receptions: 39, Receiving yards: 522, Receiving touchdowns: 1
- Receptions: 39
- Receiving yards: 522
- Receiving touchdowns: 1
Reggie Barlow is a Head Coach for the DC Defenders. He was born in Montgomery, Alabama and played as an offensive lineman in the NFL before coaching. Reggie has been with the DC Defenders since they started play in 2009 and led them to two playoff appearances during his tenure.
He is known for his hard-nosed approach to coaching which has helped develop some of the league's top players over the years. Reggie Barlow has spent the last 17 years coaching football at various levels. He most recently served as quarterbacks coach for Alabama State before joining Virginia State's staff in 2016.
In 2007, he was named head coach of his alma mater, Alabama State University. Under Barlow's tutelage, the Panthers have made three trips to the Black College National Championship Game and finished runner-up twice (2011, 2017).
As a player at Alabama State from 1995-1999, Reggie helped lead the Panthers to their first ever SWAC East Division title in 2000 and back-to-back appearances in the CIAA Northern Division Tournament (2004 & 2005).
After spending two seasons as an assistant coach with Jacksonville Jaguars under Jack Del Rio (2009–2010), Reggie returned home to take over as DC Defenders' head coach and general manager in early 2013.
25. KD Cannon
Career
- High school: Mount Pleasant, (Mount Pleasant, Texas)
- College: Baylor
- Undrafted: 2017
- San Francisco 49ers (2017)*, New York Jets (2017)*, Los Angeles Rams (2017)*, Dallas Cowboys (2017–2018)*, Saskatchewan Roughriders (2018–2019), Los Angeles Wildcats (2020)*, Team 9 (2020)*, Seattle Dragons (2020), Vegas Knight Hawks (2022), DC Defenders (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- First-team All-Big 12 (2016), Second-team All-Big 12 (2015)
KD Cannon was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2017, but did not see any game action. He originally attended Baylor before transferring to Utah State for his final year of eligibility.
In 2016, KD Cannon caught 47 passes for 830 yards and six touchdowns during his senior season at Mount Pleasant High School in Texas. After going undrafted in 2017, he signed with the New York Jets shortly after the draft ended but was waived a few days later without seeing any playing time.
The Los Angeles Rams claimed him on waivers a few weeks later and he has since seen significant playing time as their primary receiver out of the backfield or on special teams units.
KD Cannon was originally drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kansas State University where he finished his career with 1,835 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns on 202 receptions.
In 2018, Cannon signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). In 2019, Cannon signed a contract to play with the Los Angeles Wildcats of American Football League (AFL).
At season's end he joined Seattle Dragons of National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent for 2020 season.
26. Jordan Williams
Career
- High school: Gainesville, (Gainesville, Florida)
- College: Tennessee
- Undrafted: 2015
- New York Jets (2015)*, Miami Dolphins (2015–2016), New York Giants (2016–2018), Tennessee Titans (2019), DC Defenders (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Total tackles: 2, Sacks: 0.0, Forced fumbles: 0, Fumble recoveries: 0
- Total tackles: 2
- Sacks: 0.0
- Forced fumbles: 0
- Fumble recoveries: 0
Williams attended Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Florida. He was undrafted out of Tennessee in 2015 but signed with the Jets as an outside linebacker.
Williams has appeared in 9 games for the Jets, recording 21 tackles and 1 sack. In 2016, he was waived by the Jets and then signed to their practice squad before being promoted to their active roster later that year.
Williams made his NFL debut in Week 10 against the Buffalo Bills and recorded 3 tackles and a fumble recovery on defense while also returning 2 kickoffs for 51 yards (27 avg).
In 2017, Williams played 14 games for New York recording 56 tackles (33 solo), 6 sacks (-63 yard average) and 4 forced fumbles - one which he returned 34 yards for a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
27. Fadol Brown
Career
- High school: Burke (Charleston, South Carolina)
- College: Ole Miss
- Undrafted: 2017
- Oakland Raiders (2017–2018), Green Bay Packers (2018–2019), Chicago Bears (2019)*, DC Defenders (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Total tackles: 20, Sacks: 0.0, Forced fumbles: 0, Fumble recoveries: 0, Pass deflections: 1
- Total tackles: 20
- Sacks: 0.0
- Forced fumbles: 0
- Fumble recoveries: 0
- Pass deflections: 1
Fadol Brown is a defensive end for the DC Defenders. He played college football for Ole Miss and was undrafted in 2017. After being released by the Raiders, he signed with the DC Defenders in October of that year.
Brown has appeared in 9 games this season and recorded 5 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, 2 pass deflections, and 1 interception. In his career, Brown has registered 22 sacks and 55 tackles for loss through 111 games played (all starts).
Brown was a sixth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2018. He played college football at Howard University. Brown has spent time on both the Packers' and Bears' practice squads this year, but he's yet to appear in a game for either team.
4. Brown is likely competing with Jerrell Freeman for a spot on Chicago's 53-man roster next season.
Also Played For: ole miss rebels football
28. Josh Hammond
Career
- High school: Hallandale, (Hallandale Beach, Florida)
- College: Florida
- Undrafted: 2020
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2020–2021), Philadelphia Eagles (2022)*, New England Patriots (2022)*, DC Defenders (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Roster status: Active
Josh Hammond is a wide receiver for the DC Defenders. He was born on July 24, 1998 in Hallandale Beach, Florida and attended high school at Hallandale. As a college student, he played for the Florida Gators before being undrafted in 2020.
Josh has made several appearances with the DC Defenders including playing in both of their preseason games so far this season.
At 6'0" and 194 pounds, Josh is an imposing physical presence out on the field and looks to be developing into one of the top receivers in competitive American football leagues such as the NFL or CFL.
Josh Hammond is a young player with a lot of potential. He showed some flashes of brilliance in his rookie season and should only continue to improve as he gets more experience.
Josh will be playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars next year, and I'm excited to see how he does on the field. He has plenty of talent and I believe that he can become one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL over time.
29. Kahale Warring
Career
- High school: Sonora High School, Sonora (CA)
- College: San Diego State (2015–2018)
- NFL Draft: 2019 / Round: 3 / Pick: 86
- Houston Texans (2019–2020), New England Patriots (2021)*, Indianapolis Colts (2021)*, Buffalo Bills (2021)*, Jacksonville Jaguars (2021), New Orleans Saints (2022)*, DC Defenders (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Receptions: 3, Receiving yards: 35
- Receptions: 3
- Receiving yards: 35
Kahale Warring was a three-year starter at tight end for San Diego State. He caught 69 passes for 1,027 yards and 10 touchdowns in his college career. The Houston Texans drafted Kahale with 86th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Kahale Warring is a wide receiver for the New England Patriots. He was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Pats and he has played two seasons with them. Kahale possesses good speed, which helps him get open deep downfield, but his biggest strength may be his route running ability.
Kahale will have to continue to develop as a possession receiver if he wants to make an impact on game day at the next level, but he has all of the tools necessary to do so.
30. Andre Mintze
Career
- High school: Imhotep Charter, (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- College: Vanderbilt
- Undrafted: 2021
- Denver Broncos (2021), Minnesota Vikings (2022)*, DC Defenders (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Tackles: 3
- Tackles: 3
Andre Mintze is an outside linebacker for the DC Defenders. He was born on September 10, 1998 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Andre has height of 6 ft 3 inches and weight of 246 pounds.
Andre attended Imhotep Charter high school where he played football and lacrosse before choosing to play football at Vanderbilt University.
At Vanderbilt, Andre was a two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection and became one of just five players in program history with multiple championships (Lacrosse).
Andre was not drafted by any NFL teams but signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2021 after completing his college career at Vanderbilt Mintze is a versatile defender who can play both on the edge and in the middle of the defense.
He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of 2021, but he never played for them due to injuries. In 2023, Mintze signed with DC Defenders and has been a mainstay ever since. Andre is an excellent run defender and often puts pressure on opposing quarterbacks or helps stop big plays from happening.
He's also known as one of the hardest hitters in football and doesn't shy away from taking hits when it comes to defending his teammates or opponents alike.
Andre is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of this season, so fans will definitely want to keep an eye out for him next year if he decides to continue playing professional football.
31. Niles Scott
Career
- High school: Elkton (Elkton, Maryland)
- College: Frostburg State
- Undrafted: 2018
- San Francisco 49ers (2018)*, Denver Broncos (2018)*, Cincinnati Bengals (2018–2019), Buffalo Bills (2020)*, Las Vegas Raiders (2020–2021)*, Tennessee Titans (2021)*, New England Patriots (2021)*, Seattle Seahawks (2021)*, Miami Dolphins (2022)*, DC Defenders (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Roster status: Reserve
- First-team All-NJAC (2017), Second-team All-NJAC (2016)
- Total tackles: 4, Sacks: 0.0, Forced fumbles: 0, Fumble recoveries: 0
- Total tackles: 4
- Sacks: 0.0
- Forced fumbles: 0
- Fumble recoveries: 0
Niles Scott was originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He played for the team during their inaugural season and recorded one tackle before being waived in November.
Scott was then claimed off waivers by the Denver Broncos, where he made a total of 12 tackles over two seasons (2018-2019). In 2020, he joined the Cincinnati Bengals and started all 16 games for them, recording 31 tackles and 2 sacks.
The following year, Scott spent time with both the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders before returning to Cincinnati late in the season. He finished his career with 36 tackles and 3 sacks across 8 appearances (5 starts). Scott started at defensive end for the Patriots in their inaugural season in 1991.
In 1992, Scott was moved to linebacker and led the team with 117 tackles. He also had two interceptions that year. Scott played for Seattle from 1993-1995 before signing with Miami as a free agent in 1996.
There he helped lead the Dolphins to four consecutive division titles (1997-2000). After playing one more season with Miami, Scott retired after 11 seasons in the NFL, having recorded 514 tackles, 31 sacks and six interceptions during his career.
32. Doran Grant
Career
- High school: St. Vincent–St. Mary, (Akron, Ohio)
- College: Ohio State
- NFL Draft: 2015 / Round: 4 / Pick: 121
- Pittsburgh Steelers (2015), Buffalo Bills (2016)*, New York Giants (2016)*, Jacksonville Jaguars (2016–2017)*, Chicago Bears (2017–2018)*, Arizona Hotshots (2019)*, Atlanta Legends (2019), DC Defenders (2020), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2020)*
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- CFP national champion (2015)
Doran Grant was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015. He played for the Steelers for two seasons before being traded to the Washington Redskins in 2017.
In 2018, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys and has been playing there since then. Doran Grant is a cornerback and has spent his entire NFL career thus far with one team: Washington Redskins (2017-2018).
Doran Grant was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. He played for four teams over two seasons before signing with the Arizona Hotshots in 2019.
Grant is a versatile player who has experience at both linebacker and safety positions, and he will be an important member of the team that makes it to Super Bowl LIII.
Doran Grant may not have had as much success statistically as some other players during his time in the NFL, but he has represented his teams very well on and off the field, earning several awards along the way including a CFP national championship with Alabama in 2015.
33. A.J. Tarpley
Career
- High school: Plymouth (MN) Wayzata
- College: Stanford
- Undrafted: 2015
- Buffalo Bills (2015), San Diego Fleet (2019), DC Defenders (2020)
- Second-team All-Pac-12 (2014)
- Total tackles: 8, Sacks: 1.0, Forced fumbles: 1, Fumble recoveries: 0, Interceptions: 2
- Total tackles
- Forced fumbles
- Fumble recoveries
- Interceptions
A.J. Tarpley was a linebacker for the Buffalo Bills in 2015 and played in six games. Tarpley attended Plymouth High School in Minnesota before playing college football at Stanford.
He was undrafted but signed with the Bills as an unrestricted free agent in 2015. In his six appearances for the Bills, he recorded 21 tackles and one sack, both of which were career highs for him during that season.
After spending time on injured reserve late in 2016 due to a shoulder injury, Tarpley is looking to have another strong year with the Bills this upcoming season. A.J. Tarpley was a two-time second-team All-Pac-12 selection and spent four seasons with the San Diego Chargers before being waived in 2017.
He originally signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent, but was waived before playing a single game for them.
After spending time on the practice squad of the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of their season opener in September 2018.
Tarpley made his NFL debut against Indianapolis Colts and played 11 snaps on defense while recording one tackle before being released by Philadelphia at the end of preseason action that year due to injury concerns.
He later signed with San Diego Fleet who compete in afootball America (AFL) where he has started all 10 games this season recording 40 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception and one forced fumble so far.
Also Played For: san diego fleet
34. Pooka Williams Jr.
Career
- High school: Hahnville, (Boutte, Louisiana)
- College: Kansas
- Undrafted: 2021
- Cincinnati Bengals (2021), DC Defenders (2023–present)
- Roster status: Active
- 2× First-team All-Big 12 (2018–2019), Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2018)
- Kickoff returns: 3, Average: 17.3
- Kickoff returns: 3
- Average: 17.3
Pooka Williams Jr. was a running back at Kansas and is currently playing for the DC Defenders in the NFL. Pooka Williams Jr.'s size (5'10", 170 lbs) makes him an imposing runner, and he has shown considerable potential in his short career so far.
Pooka Williams Jr.'s backstory includes growing up in Louisiana and attending Hahnville High School before going on to play college football at Kansas.
While undrafted, Pooka Williams Jr.'s hard work and talent have seen him make some noise on the NFL scene, with plenty of future promise ahead of him if he can maintain this level of performance moving forward Pooka Williams Jr.
is a graduate of Cincinnati Bengals, where he played football for two seasons and helped lead the team to back-to-back Big 12 titles in 2018 and 2019.
He was named First-team All-Big 12 as a freshman in 2018 and led the conference with 17.3 kickoff returns average that season. In addition to his on field accomplishments, Pooka has also been busy off of it - he received his Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University School of Law in May 2019.
35. Jameer Thurman
Career
- High school: Proviso West High School
- College: Indiana State
- Undrafted: 2017
- Calgary Stampeders (2017–2018), Chicago Bears (2019)*, DC Defenders (2020), Calgary Stampeders (2021–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Roster status: Active
- CFL status: American
- Grey Cup champion (2018)
- Tackles: 163, Quarterback sacks: 3, Interceptions: 3, Forced fumbles: 3
- Tackles: 163
- Quarterback sacks: 3
- Interceptions: 3
- Forced fumbles: 3
Jameer Thurman is a linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders. He attended Proviso West High School in Chicago, Illinois and played college football at Indiana State.
Thurman was undrafted in 2017 but joined the Calgary Stampeders in 2018. In his two seasons with the team, he has made 48 tackles and 2 sacks.
Thurman is signed through 2021 with Calgary having an option for 2022 on his contract Thurman has played in both the NFL and CFL, but is most remembered for his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars where he won a Grey Cup championship.
Thurman was drafted by the Jags in 2012 and spent three seasons there before signing with the Edmonton Eskimos as a free agent in 2015.
Thurman had an excellent season with Edmonton last year, registering 163 tackles, 3 quarterback sacks and 3 interceptions while also forcing 3 fumbles. He's looking to build on that success this year with the BC Lions.
36. Tavaris Barnes
Career
- High school: First Coast, (Jacksonville, Florida)
- College: Clemson
- Undrafted: 2015
- New Orleans Saints (2015), Seattle Seahawks (2016), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2017)*, Washington Redskins (2017–2018)*, Atlanta Legends (2019), DC Defenders (2020), Calgary Stampeders (2021)*
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Total tackles: 5, Sacks: 0, Forced fumbles: 0, Fumble recoveries: 0
- Total tackles: 5
- Sacks: 0
- Forced fumbles: 0
- Fumble recoveries: 0
Barnes was undrafted in 2015 but signed with the New Orleans Saints. Barnes played in 13 games for the Saints, recording 26 tackles and one sack. In 2016, Barnes joined the Washington Redskins on a one-year contract.
Barnes appeared in all 16 games for Washington, making 46 tackles and two sacks. In 2017, Barnes signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and made eight appearances.
Before being released at the end of September 2018 After being released by Tampa Bay, Barnes re-signed with Washington until he was waived again on December 5th.
On January 12th , 2019, Barnes was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Falcons. He has since appeared in five games for Atlanta before having his season ended due to injury.
Barnes played college football at the University of Florida, where he started all 26 games over his three seasons. He was drafted in the third round by the Seattle Seahawks in 2016 and made an immediate impact on their defense as a rookie.
Barnes totaled 54 tackles and 2 sacks while helping to lead Seattle to their first Super Bowl appearance since 2013. In 2017, Barnes signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he again showed versatility as a defensive lineman playing both at defensive tackle and defensive end.
He tallied 53 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery en route to being named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his career.
In 2018, Barnes joined Washington Redskins where he ended up starting 14 games before being traded to Atlanta Legends midway through the season in order to make room for newly acquired Adrian Clayborn from New England Patriots.
After spending half of 2019 with Calgary Stampeders (where he registered 3 sacks), Barnes rejoined Washington Redskins for their final four games of the season.
Currently slated as an outside linebacker with DC Defenders during preseason action
Has stated that if things go well during preseason then he would like to re-sign with Washington Redskins this upcoming offseason.
37. Sam Montgomery
Career
- High school: Greenwood (SC)
- College: LSU
- NFL Draft: 2013 / Round: 3 / Pick: 95
- Houston Texans (2013), Oakland Raiders (2013)*, Cincinnati Bengals (2014–2015)*, Edmonton Eskimos (2015–2016)*, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2017)*, Massachusetts Pirates (2018), Memphis Express (2019), DC Defenders (2020)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- First-team All-American (2011), First-team All-SEC (2011, 2012)
Sam Montgomery was drafted by the Houston Texans in 2013, but only played for them for two seasons before moving on to Oakland. He made an impact there too, playing in all 16 games and recording 7 sacks.
In his three years with the Cincinnati Bengals he became a regular starter, racking up 93 tackles (40 solo) and 10 sacks over that time frame.
Now 32 years old and coming off of a season where he had 5½ sacks in 12 games with the Carolina Panthers, Montgomery is considered one of the top pass-rushers available this year in free agency.
At 6'2", 232 pounds, Montgomery is a physical presence at linebacker. He was named first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
Montgomery's impressive stats include 128 combined tackles (including 31 for loss), 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception over the course of his career with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
After going undrafted in 2013, Montgomery signed with the Atlanta Falcons but was released before making any appearances on their roster. Montgomery then signed with Kansas City.
Chiefs but lasted only two months before being waived due to injury concerns stemming from an ankle surgery he had undergone a few weeks earlier.
Finally landing with the Edmonton Eskimos in November 2013, Montgomery has been a mainstay on their defence ever since - amassing over 330 defensive plays during that time period.
38. Tanner Engstrand
Career
- High school: West Hills, (Santee, California)
- College: San Diego State
Tanner Engstrand was named the tight ends coach for the Detroit Lions in December of 2016. Previously, he served as a graduate assistant with the San Diego Chargers from 2007-2008.
Tanner is originally from San Diego and played college football at San Diego State before being drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2003.
He has also coached high school football in California since 2004, compiling a record of 127-47 over that time period including two state championships (2007 and 2009).
As an NFL player, Tanner appeared in nine games with the St Angeles Rams during his rookie season before being waived on September 2nd, 2004 due to injury concerns Tanner Engstrand joined the Michigan coaching staff as an offensive analyst in 2018.
He previously served as a running backs coach and assistant head coach at San Diego from 2013-2017, where he helped lead the team to back-to-back 10–6 seasons.
Tanner also spent two years with the Chargers as a quarterbacks coach (2011 & 2012), helping Philip Rivers earn NFL Comeback Player of Year honors both years. Prior to his stints in San Diego, Engstrand was on staff for three seasons at Pittsburgh (2009–2012).
Where he worked with current Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Tanner earned his first career coaching position by serving as QBs coach at Division II Beaver County Community College from 2003-2004 before beginning his collegiate coaching career at Ithaca College in Upstate New York.
39. Jalen Myrick
Career
- High school: Savannah Christian Preparatory (Savannah, Georgia)
- College: Minnesota
- NFL Draft: 2017 / Round: 7 / Pick: 222
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2017), Minnesota Vikings (2018–2019)*, Atlanta Falcons (2019)*, DC Defenders (2020)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Total tackles: 1, Sacks: 0.0, Forced fumbles: 0, Pass deflections: 0, Interceptions: 0
- Total tackles: 1
- Sacks: 0.0
- Forced fumbles: 0
- Pass deflections: 0
- Interceptions: 0
Jalen Myrick was a standout cornerback at Minnesota and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Myrick has played in 36 games over two seasons with the Saints, recording 26 tackles and one interception.
The Georgia native is looking to make an impact with his new team this season and hopefully develop into a long-term starter for them.
With Pro Bowlers Marshon Lattimore, Delvin Breaux, Patrick Robinson, Pernell McPhee all set to hit free agency next year, it will be interesting to see where Myrick ends up playing football next season.
Jalen Myrick was drafted in the 6th round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jalen played college football at Minnesota and had 38 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 0 interceptions over his 3 seasons there.
He is excited to play for a team with playoff aspirations this season and hopes to make an impact on defense as a rookie.
40. Eric Dungey
Career
- High school: Lakeridge High School (Lake Oswego, Oregon)
- College: Syracuse
- Undrafted: 2019
- New York Giants (2019)*, Cleveland Browns (2019)*, Dallas Renegades (2020), Cincinnati Bengals (2021)*, DC Defenders (2023–present)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Third-team All-ACC (2018)
Eric Dungey was born on June 12, 1996 in Tualatin, Oregon. He attended high school at Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego, Oregon and played football there before going to Syracuse University.
Eric was not drafted by any NFL teams after college but decided to try his luck with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021. He has made some starts for the team and is currently their backup quarterback behind Andy Dalton.
Eric Dungey was one of the most decorated quarterbacks in college football history, winning three ACC championships and making multiple All-America teams. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent but quickly impressed with his play for the Giants, leading them to a playoff appearance in his rookie season.
Injuries have slowed down Dungey over the past two seasons, but he is still looking to make an impact in the league.
41. Malachi Dupre
Career
- High school: John Curtis Christian, (River Ridge, Louisiana)
- College: LSU
- Position: Wide receiver
- NFL Draft: 2017 / Round: 7 / Pick: 247
- Green Bay Packers (2017)*, Buffalo Bills (2017–2018)*, Houston Texans (2018)*, Seattle Seahawks (2018)*, Arizona Cardinals (2018), Los Angeles Chargers (2019)*, DC Defenders (2020)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Malachi Dupre was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 2017 NFL Draft. He played college football at LSU and had a standout career there. Malachi Dupre is a wide receiver and has had success throughout his career thus far with the Packers, including two seasons of 90 catches or more.
Malachi Dupre had a strong rookie season with the Green Bay Packers in 2017. He finished the year with 48 receptions for 704 yards and five touchdowns.
Dupre is a versatile receiver who can play on both sides of the offense, which makes him valuable to any team. The 26-year-old will be looking to continue his success in 2018 with the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks or Arizona Cardinals.
42. Tyree Kinnel
Career
- High school: Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio)
- College: Michigan
- Undrafted: 2019
- Cincinnati Bengals (2019)*, DC Defenders (2020), Pittsburgh Steelers (2020)*
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Kinnel was a four-star recruit out of Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio. He originally committed to play at Notre Dame but later de-committed and chose Michigan over offers from other programs.
Kinnel played in all 13 games as a true freshman for the Wolverines in 2018, making eight starts at safety. He recorded 54 tackles, two interceptions, and one sack on the season.
As a sophomore in 2019, Kinnel started all thirteen games for Michigan once again and totaled 78 tackles (second on the team), three sacks (tied for fourth most in the Big Ten), an interception, and six pass breakups.
Kinnel is expected to be one of Michigan's key players going into 2020 as he looks to lead the Wolverines back to national prominence following their disappointing 5–7 finish last season Tyree Kinnel is a young defensive back who has shown great potential in the NFL.
He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, and he will be looking to make an impact with them this season. Kinnel is known for his speed and athleticism, which should help him thrive in the league.
He is also experienced playing at both cornerback and safety positions, so he can fill any role on defense needed.
43. Antwione Williams
Career
- High school: Lovejoy (Hampton, Georgia)
- College: Georgia Southern
- NFL Draft: 2016 / Round: 5 / Pick: 169
- Detroit Lions (2016), Minnesota Vikings (2017–2018)*, Seattle Seahawks (2018)*, Carolina Panthers (2018–2019)*, DC Defenders (2020)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Total tackles: 27, Sacks: 0.0, Forced fumbles: 0, Fumble recoveries: 1, Interceptions: 0
- Total tackles: 27
- Sacks: 0.0
- Forced fumbles: 0
- Fumble recoveries: 1
- Interceptions: 0
Antwione Williams was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Williams played linebacker for Georgia Southern and showed promise as a rookie with 47 tackles, 1 sack and 2 forced fumbles.
With injuries to DeAndre Levy and Stephen Tulloch this season, Williams has seen more playing time which has resulted in 7 starts at middle linebacker thus far in 2017. Antwione is known for his hard hitting style of play.
He's had several fines levied against him including one that cost him $10,000 earlier this year after striking an opponent late in a game vs Alabama State University His passion for basketball also shows through on the field.
He averaged 15 points per game during his college career at Georgia Southern Antwione Williams is a 2017 graduate of Minnesota State University Mankato and was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in May of 2018.
Antwione has played in 27 career NFL games, all with the Vikings over the past two seasons. He has notched zero sacks or forced fumbles but has recovered one fumble and intercepted no passes.
Williams will likely compete for a spot on the 53 man roster this season with fellow rookies Jalen Myrick and Jayron Kearse already on board at safety.
44. Donnie Ernsberger
Career
- High school: Lakeview High School, (Battle Creek, Michigan)
- College: Western Michigan
- Position: Tight end
- Undrafted: 2018
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2018), Jacksonville Jaguars (2019)*, DC Defenders (2020), TSL Jousters (2021), Tennessee Titans (2021)*
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
- Second-team All-MAC (2017)
Donnie Ernsberger was born on October 13, 1996 in Battle Creek, Michigan. He attended Lakeview High School and played football for the school's varsity team before transferring to Western Michigan University where he played tight end for the WMU Broncos.
Donnie was not drafted by any NFL teams in 2018 but signed with the DC Defenders as an undrafted free agent. In his first season with the Defenders, he caught 14 passes for 259 yards and one touchdown; also rushing 6 times for 21 yards and catching 1 pass for 10 yards during regular season play.
The Defender finished their inaugural season as a member of the Arena Football League (AFL) playoffs but lost to eventual champions Orlando Predators 71-70 after overtime in Game 4 of their semifinal matchup on April 28th 2019.
Ernsberger has spent the past four seasons with Jacksonville Jaguars, playing in 44 games and recording 49 receptions for 511 yards and three touchdowns.
The Ohio State product was drafted by Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Ernsberger is a versatile receiver who will provide depth for DC Defenders next season as they look to make a run at the playoffs.
45. Nick Brossette
Career
- High school: University High School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
- College: LSU
- Undrafted: 2019
- New England Patriots (2019)*, Detroit Lions (2019)*, DC Defenders (2020)
- * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Nick Brossette was born on March 2, 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He attended University High School where he played running back for the Tigers football team.
In college, Brossette played football at LSU and became a three-time All-American selection as well as a First Team All SEC performer during his final year with the Tigers in 2017.
After graduating from college, Nick signed with the Baltimore Ravens but was released before playing a single game for them due to injury concerns stemming from his collegiate career.
Since being released by the Ravens, Nick has been bouncing around between different NFL teams but has only managed to play in one game - which came against the Los Angeles Chargers - thus far in 2018 season.
In addition to playing professional American football, Nick also competes internationally in track & field events and represented America at both indoor and outdoor world championships last year.
Final Words
The DC Defenders are a professional American football team that have made their home in Washington, D.C., since 1986. Over the years, they have had many talented players who have helped lead them to success.
Some of the best DC Defenders players of all time include Brian Mitchell and Asante Samuel. Both Mitchell and Samuel were integral parts of the team’s success over the past few decades, and they will be missed by fans everywhere.
