D.C. Defenders Release 15 Players In First Wave of UFL Roster Cuts
UFL teams have released a total of more than 130 players from their rosters to get down to 58. They will have another two weeks before all squads pare down to 50 for the regular season.
To get to 58, the D.C. Defenders have cut ties with 15 players. The players let go are all subject to waivers, but in a unique wrinkle, UFL teams are only allowed eight waiver claims throughout the entire season.
The following players have been placed on waivers:
- #22 Adam Sparks | CB | Louisiana Monroe
- #70 Adonis Boone | T | Louisville
- #87 Ben Bresnahan | TE | Vanderbilt
- #11 Boogie Roberts | DT | San Jose State
- #85 C.J. Johnson | WR | East Carolina
- #77 Chidi Okeke | T | Tennessee State
- #95 Donovan Jeter | NT | Michigan
- #28 Elijah Blades | CB | Buffalo
- #71 George Moore | T | Oregon
- #16 Isaiah Coulter | WR | Rhode Island
- #79 Jack Plumb | T | Iowa
- #83 John Hightower | WR | Boise State
- #82 Mike Harley Jr. | WR | Miami (FL)
- #35 Tabyus Taylor | RB | Virginia Union
- #84 Trea Shropshire | WR | UAB
D.C. has let go of another five wide receivers just days after releasing Preston Williams, including notable recent pickups like Coulter and Harley. The two pass catchers didn't last very long on the Defenders' roster, despite their recent NFL experience. Hightower, another player with an NFL pedigree, is also out of the mix.
The Defenders also released four offensive linemen after the team traded for Jahmir Johnson from Birmingham.
Sparks (DB) and the veteran Roberts (DT) are two more notable spring league players on the list. The Defenders' depth at those positions forced the team's hand.
D.C. will face more challenging decisions in the final wave of cuts. There's no doubt that the league scrimmages helped teams make final evaluations on the first crop of players let go.
Defenders General Manager Von Hutchins keeps adding pieces to Reggie Barlow's troops, even at this later stage of training camp, and it's likely he is not done. He already executed a player trade with Birmingham, and there could be more moves coming.
D.C. Defenders, Birmingham Stallions Execute Trade Days Before First Wave of Cuts
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Mike Mitchell is a pro football writer/insider with decades of experience covering and following multiple leagues. He covers the New York Jets for TheJetPress.com at FanSided. He has also written for XFL Board and at Hub Publishing covering the CFL, XFL and USFL.