The Houston Roughnecks signed defensive back Mister Harriel and released running back Tiyon Evans and offensive lineman Na’Ty Rodgers on Monday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Mister Harriel is six foot one and weighs 200 pounds. The 27-year-old from Sacramento, California, signed with the B.C. Lions on November 9, 2019, but the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic and he became a free agent. Next, Harriel was drafted by the Vegas Vipers in the fourth round (25th pick) of the 2022 XFL Draft.
In 2023, he made 12 tackles (9 solo, 3 assists), and made one catch for 19 yards in three games, of which one was a start for the Vipers. After the Vipers released him, Harriel was claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Battlehawks and appeared in one game against the Orlando Guardians making one tackle (1 solo). After the season, Harriel went unprotected when the XFL and USFL merged to form the United Football League (UFL) and became a free agent.
Collegiately, Harriel played four seasons at Sacramento State (2015-18) making 153 tackles (101 solo, 52 assists), 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, five interceptions for 28 yards, 11 pass breakups, one fumble recovery, and 23 carries for 55 yards in 36 games for the Hornets. He was named First Team All-Big Sky Conference in 2017.
Tiyon Evans is five foot eleven and weighs 210 pounds. The 22-year-old from Hartsville, South Carolina, signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He would later have a brief stint with the Carolina Panthers.
The Houston Gamblers signed Evans as a free agent on December 23, 2023, before they were rebranded as the Roughnecks. In 2024, Evans had five carries for five yards, and two catches for 34 yards in four games for the Roughnecks.
Collegiately, Evans played one season at Hutchinson Community College in 2019 with 61 carries for 538 yards, 44.8 average yards per game, nine touchdowns, four catches for 43 yards, 18 kick returns for 608 yards, and two touchdowns in 12 games for the Blue Dragons.
Next, he transferred to Tennessee in 2021 with 81 carries for 525 yards, 75.0 average yards per game, six touchdowns, four catches for 74 yards, and one touchdown in seven games, of which two were starts for the Volunteers.
Then, he transferred to Louisville in 2022 with 83 carries for 525 yards, 65.6 average yards per game, six touchdowns, and six catches for 13 yards in eight games for the Cardinals.
Na’Ty Rodgers is six foot four and weighs 305 pounds. The 29-year-old from Pomfret, Maryland, started seven games for the Houston Roughnecks in 2024. In 2024, Houston’s offense is ranked seventh in total offense (1,948), seventh in rushing yards (557), sixth in passing yards (1,391), seventh in yards per game (243.5), and eighth in total points (124).
Before Houston, Rodgers played ten games for the Montreal Alouettes in 2018. In 2020, Rodgers played three games for the Tampa Bay Vipers (XFL) and later signed with the Ottawa Redblacks. He played four games for the Redblacks in 2021. Then, Rodgers signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2022 playing nine games.
The Houston Gamblers signed Rodgers as a free agent in 2023. Rodgers played 10 games, of which nine were starts for the Houston Gamblers in 2023. The Gamblers’ offense finished fifth in passing yards per game (174.0), seventh in passing touchdowns (9), tied second in interceptions allowed (10), fourth in sacks allowed (22), second in rushing yards per game (116.5), and first in rushing touchdowns (17).
Collegiately, Rodgers started at South Carolina in 2013 as a redshirt freshman and did not see any playing time for the Gamecocks. Next, he transferred to Iowa Western Community College in 2015 playing two games for the Reivers when they won the ICCAC Conference Championship in back-to-back seasons.
Then, Rodgers transferred to Houston (2016-17) playing right tackle in 20 games, of which 19 were starts for the Cougars. In 2016, Houston’s offense had 29 rushing touchdowns and 1,912 yards on the ground.
