The Houston Roughnecks signed defensive tackle Jeffrey Johnson and placed running back Kirk Merritt on the injured reserve list on Wednesday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Jeffrey Johnson is six foot two and weighs 312 pounds. The 23-year-old from Brookhaven, Mississippi, signed with the Houston Gamblers (USFL) on May 4, 2023. He made four tackles (3 solo, 1 assist) in four games for the Gamblers in 2023. After the Gamblers were rebranded as the Roughnecks, Johnson was released on March 21, 2024.
Collegiately, Johnson played four seasons at Tulane (2018-21) with 136 tackles (63 solo, 73 assists), 14 tackles for loss, eight sacks, one pass breakup, and three fumble recoveries in 49 games for the Green Wave. Then, Johnson transferred to Oklahoma in 2022 with 23 tackles (9 solo, 14 assists), and four tackles for loss in 13 games for the Sooners.
Kirk Merritt is six foot one and weighs 214 pounds. The 27-year-old from New Orleans, Louisiana, had three carries for four yards, and nine catches for 113 yards in two games for the Roughnecks in 2024. The Roughnecks signed Merritt as a free agent on January 27, 2024.
Before New Orleans, Merritt signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He played three regular season games for the Dolphins making one catch for 13 yards.
The New Orleans Saints signed Merritt as a free agent in 2022 and appeared in five regular season games recording no stats. In 2023, Merritt made one catch for eight yards in one preseason game for the New Orleans Saints against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Collegiately, Merritt started at Oregon in 2015 making five catches for 61 yards, three carries for 13 yards, and one kick return for 28 yards in 11 games for the Ducks. Next, he transferred to Texas A&M in 2016 but did not play for the Aggies.
Then, Merritt transferred to East Mississippi Community College in 2017 making 52 catches for 628 yards, four touchdowns, six carries for zero yards, two touchdowns, six kick returns for 197 yards, 15 punt returns for 224 yards, and one touchdown in 12 games for the Lions. He helped the Lions win the 2017 NJCAA national championship and was named First Team All-MACJC.
Finally, Merritt transferred to Arkansas State (2018-19) making 89 catches for 1,048 yards, eight touchdowns, five carries for 31 yards, and 14 kick returns for 300 yards in 14 games for the Red Wolves. He was a two-time First Team All-Sun Belt Conference.
