The Houston Roughnecks released wide receiver Steven Dunbar Jr. and placed defensive lineman Olive Sagapolu on the injured reserve list with a torn bicep on Monday according to the UFL Transactions page. Sagapolu will miss the rest of the 2024 season.
Steven Dunbar Jr. is six foot three and weighs 202 pounds. The 28-year-old from New Orleans, Louisiana, made one catch for 19 yards in one game against the Michigan Panthers in a 34-20 loss. The Roughnecks signed Dunbar Jr. as a free agent on January 22, 2024.
Before Houston, Dunbar Jr. signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and was placed on the practice squad. Later, he would spend time with the Denver Broncos and the Dallas Renegades (XFL).
Next, Dunbar Jr. took his talents to the CFL signing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on January 30, 2020. However, the season was canceled but Dunbar Jr. returned to Hamilton in 2021. Dunbar Jr. played two seasons in Hamilton with 116 catches for 1,630 yards, and ten touchdowns in 29 games for the Ticats. He was named a CFL East All-Star in 2022.
Then, Dunbar Jr. signed with the Edmonton Elks on February 7, 2023. He made 39 catches for 536 yards, and five touchdowns in 13 games for the Elks in 2023.
Collegiately, Dunbar Jr. played four seasons at Houston (2014-17) with 180 catches for 2,430 yards, 11 touchdowns, three kick returns for 51 yards, and two punt returns for six yards in 51 games for the Cougars. He was an AAC Honorable Mention in 2017.
Olive Sagapolu is six foot two and weighs 341 pounds. The 27-year-old from Pago Pago, American Samoa, made five tackles (5 solo), and one tackle for loss in three games for the Roughnecks in 2024. The Roughnecks drafted Sagapolu in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft.
Before Houston, Sagapolu signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2019. After Green Bay, Sagapolu signed with the Detroit Lions later in the season and was placed on the practice squad. After being released by the Lions, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons on May 17, 2021, but was released on August 24, 2021.
Next, Sagapolu was drafted by the Maulers drafted Sagapolu in the 24th round (199th pick) in the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2022, Sagapolu had 28 tackles (16 solo, 12 assists), six tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass breakup in ten games for the Maulers.
In 2023, Sagapolu made 22 tackles (13 solo, 9 assists), three tackles for loss, four sacks, and one forced fumble in ten games for the Pittsburgh Maulers. After the season, Sagapolu signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on August 14, 2023. He played two preseason games with one tackle.
Collegiately, Sagapolu played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2016-18) with 61 tackles (31 solo, 30 assists), ten tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception for four yards, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery in 44 games for the Badgers. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2017.
