The United Football Leagues announced on Friday that Michigan Panthers defensive end Breeland Speaks was named the 2024 UFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Breeland Speaks is six foot three and weighs 285 pounds. The 28-year-old from Jackson, Mississippi, made 32 tackles (24 solo, 8 assists), 13 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 10 games for the Panthers in 2024.
Before Michigan, the Kansas City Chiefs drafted Speaks in the second round (46th pick) of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons in Kansas City with 24 tackles (15 solo, 9 assists), three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 16 games, of which four were starts. In addition to Kansas City, Speaks had stints with the Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Buffalo Bills.
Then, Speaks signed with the Michigan Panthers on December 22, 2022. In 2023, Speaks made 53 tackles (25 solo, 28 assists), six tackles for loss, nine sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup in ten games for the Panthers in 2023. In the playoffs against the Pittsburgh Maulers, Beaks made four tackles (3 solo, 1 assist). He was named to the All-USFL Team in 2023.
After the season, Speaks signed with the San Francisco 49ers playing three preseason games with four tackles (2 solo, 2 assists). Speaks would re-sign with the Michigan Panthers on December 29, 2023.
Collegiately, Speaks played three seasons at Ole Miss (2015-17) with 121 tackles (50 solo, 71 assists), 15 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 32 games for the Rebels.
