The Houston Gamblers re-signed quarterbacks Montell Cozart and Kenji Bajar for the 2024 season on Saturday.
Montell Cozart is six foot two and weighs 205 pounds. The 28-year-old from Kansas City, Missouri, completed 7 of 16 passes (44%) for 49 yards, one interception, and two carries for 25 yards in four games for the Gamblers in 2023.
The Gamblers acquired Cozart from the Birmingham Stallions on December 31, 2022. Before Houston, Cozart played two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders completing one pass for 11 yards in 21 games. Then, he signed with the Birmingham Stallions on April 22, 2022, but never played for Birmingham.
Collegiately, Cozart played four seasons at Kansas (2013-16) completing 265 of 487 passes (54.4%) for 2,755 yards, 14 touchdowns, 20 interceptions, 191 carries for 481 yards, two touchdowns, and one catch for five yards in 27 games for the Jayhawks.
Then, Cozart transferred to Boise State in 2017 completing 61 of 97 passes (63%) for 754 yards, 10 touchdowns, one interception, 86 carries for 361 yards, four touchdowns, and three catches for 45 yards in 14 games for the Broncos.
Kenji Bajar is six foot three and weighs 200 pounds. The 26-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland, completed 157 of 253 passes (62.1%) for 1,709 yards, 8 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and 23 carries for 68 yards in nine games for the Gamblers in 2023.
The Gamblers drafted Bajar in the 12th round (97th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2022, Bajar completed 61 of 100 passes (61%) for 541 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and 20 carries for 87 yards in seven games, of which three were starts for the Gamblers. Before Houston, Bajar signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
Collegiately, Bajar played four seasons at Monmouth (2016-19) completing 798 of 1,290 passes (62%) for 9,642 yards, 70 touchdowns, 34 interceptions, 206 carries for 333 yards, 11 touchdowns, and one catch for 15 yards in 48 games for the Hawks.
He was named First Team All-Big South and Big South Player of the Year in 2019. He set all but one career passing record at Monmouth including, touchdowns, completions, yardage, 300-yard games, attempts, and efficiency.
