The New Orleans Breakers re-signed linebackers Vontae Diggs and Jerod Fernandez for the 2024 season on Thursday.
Vontae Diggs is six foot two and weighs 229 pounds. The 27-year-old from Downers Grove, Illinois, made 69 tackles (41 solo, 28 assists), six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions for 43 yards, one touchdown, and six pass breakups in ten games for the Breakers in 2023. In the 2023 playoffs against Birmingham, Diggs made nine tackles (6 solo, 3 assists).
New Orleans drafted Diggs in the 30th round (245th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. Diggs made 75 tackles (51 solo, 24 assists), seven tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception for 37 yards, one touchdown, and two pass breakups in ten games.
Before New Orleans, Diggs attended rookie minicamp for the Washington Redskins in 2018. In 2019, he split the season with the Atlanta Legends (AAF) and Columbus Destroyers (AFL). After those seasons, Diggs signed with the Edmonton Eskimos with 74 tackles, two sacks, and one interception for 19 yards in 18 games, of which 16 were starts.
Collegiately, Diggs played four seasons at Connecticut (2014-17) with 183 tackles (100 solo, 83 assists), 11.5 tackles for loss, one sack, four pass breakups, and three forced fumbles in 46 games for the Huskies.
Jerod Fernandez is five foot eleven and weighs 227 pounds. The 29-year-old from Sanford, Florida, made 65 tackles (39 solo, 26 assists), three tackles for loss, half a sack, one interception, and five pass breakups in ten games for the Breakers in 2023. In the playoffs, Fernandez made 12 tackles (8 solo, 4 assists), two tackles for loss, and half a sack.
The Breakers drafted Fernandez in the 21st round (167th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. Fernandez made 86 tackles (48 solo, 38 assists), nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup in nine games for the Breakers in 2022.
Before New Orleans, Fernandez signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Then, he spent two seasons with the Ottawa Redblacks with 54 tackles in 12 games, of which 11 were starts.
Collegiately, Fernandez played four seasons at North Carolina State (2014-17) with 311 tackles (120 solo, 191 assists), 19 tackles for loss, two sacks, five interceptions for 69 yards, 12 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 50 games for the Wolfpack.
