The D.C. Defenders acquired rights to 10 players in the 2024 UFL College Draft, adding depth across multiple positions. The draft picks span offense and defense, with notable selections of two quarterbacks.
Top Picks
- Gottlieb Ayedze (T, Maryland)
- Currently signed with the Philadelphia Eagles
- Started 10 games at right tackle for Maryland in 2023
- Blocked for Big Ten’s fourth-ranked offense (387.3 ypg) and top-ranked passing offense (278.9 ypg)
- Rated sixth-highest pass blocking tackle in Big Ten by Pro Football Focus (76.5 grade)
- Participated in 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl
- Spent 2019-2022 at Frostburg State
- Named All-MEC First Team three times (2020, 2021, 2022)
- AFCA 1st Team All-American in 2022
- Helped Frostburg State rank among top rushing offenses in conference
- Kedon Slovis (QB, BYU)
- Currently signed with the Indianapolis Colts
- Threw for 1,716 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions in 8 games at BYU (2023)
- Previously played at USC (2019-2021) and Pittsburgh (2022)
- USC career highlights:
- Set USC freshman record with 3,502 passing yards in 2019
- Named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2019
- Led USC to Pac-12 South title in 2020
- Pittsburgh (2022): Threw for 2,397 yards and 10 touchdowns
- Leonard Taylor III (DT, Miami)
- Currently signed with the New York Jets
- Played three seasons at Miami (2021-2023)
- Career stats: 65 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 interception
- 2022 season: 24 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interception
- Pro Football Focus grades: 87.3 defensive, 85.5 pressure
- Five-star recruit out of high school
- Played in 2021 Under Armour All-America Game and 2021 All-American Bowl
- Made immediate impact as freshman with 21 tackles and 2 sacks in 9 games
Offensive Additions
- Garret Greenfield (T, South Dakota State): Fourth-round pick Greenfield earned All-American honors and helped SDSU capture an FCS Championship. Currently signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
- Michael Wiley (RB, Arizona): Sixth-round selection Wiley rushed for 1,712 yards and 16 touchdowns over five seasons with the Wildcats. Currently signed with the Washington Commanders.
- Tanner Mordecai (QB, Wisconsin): Ninth-round pick Mordecai completed 65% of his passes for 9 touchdowns at Wisconsin in 2023. Currently signed with the San Francisco 49ers.
Defensive Reinforcements
- Braiden McGregor (DE, Michigan): Fifth-round choice McGregor started all 15 games for national champion Michigan in 2023, recording 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Currently signed with the New York Jets.
- Dallas Gant (LB, Toledo): Seventh-round pick Gant finished his college career with 286 total tackles and was named First-Team All-MAC in 2022. Currently signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
- Curtis Jacobs (LB, Penn State): Eighth-round selection Jacobs tallied 49 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 13 games for Penn State in 2023. Currently signed with Kansas City Chiefs.
- Omar Brown (S, Nebraska): Tenth-round pick Brown recorded 51 tackles and three pass breakups in his final season with the Cornhuskers. Currently signed with the Denver Broncos.
All of the selections have already signed with NFL teams, potentially impacting their availability for the upcoming UFL season. We will have to keep an eye out during the NFL pre-season if they get cut. Fans now have a reason to watch NFL pre-season games.
It looks like Defenders GM Von Hutchins focused on the line of scrimmage in this draft. Selecting two offensive tackles and two defensive line players. He also selected two quarterbacks. Current backups Deondre Francois (27) and Jalan McClendon (28) are getting up in age, the team might be looking towards the future. Starting QB Jordan Ta’Amu is still in his prime at age 26.
