The Houston Roughnecks re-signed running back Kirk Merritt and released wide receivers Anthony Ratliff-Williams and Bailey Gaither, defensive linemen Ethan Westbrooks, Keonte Schad, and Toby Johnson, and linebacker Reuben Foster on Monday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Kirk Merritt is six foot one and weighs 214 pounds. The 27-year-old from New Orleans, Louisiana, had 9 carries for 27 yards, one touchdown, and 14 catches for 190 yards in three games for the Roughnecks in 2024 before he was placed on the injured reserve list. The Roughnecks signed Merritt as a free agent on January 27, 2024.
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.
Anthony Ratliff-Williams is six foot one and weighs 200 pounds. The 26-year-old from Matthews, North Carolina, made 16 catches for 119 yards in 9 games for the Houston Roughnecks in 2024.
Ratliff-Williams signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He also had stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders.
The Houston Gamblers drafted Ratliff-Williams in the 15th round (119th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. Ratliff-Williams made 28 catches for 243 yards, one touchdown, and one kick return for 15 yards in ten games for the Gamblers in 2022.
In 2023, Ratliff-Williams made 13 catches for 224 yards, three touchdowns, and 16 kick returns for 410 yards in seven games. The Roughnecks (then Gamblers) re-signed Ratliff-Williams on September 29, 2023.
Collegiately, Ratliff-Williams played three seasons at North Carolina (2016-18) with 80 catches for 1,338 yards, 8 touchdowns, 14 carries for 74 yards, one touchdown, 69 kick returns for 1,631 yards, and two touchdowns in 36 games, of which 18 were starts for the Tar Heels. He was named First Team All-ACC as a specialist and Third Team All-ACC in All-Purpose yards in 2017.
Bailey Gaither is six foot and weighs 188 pounds. The 27-year-old from Paso Robles, California, was drafted by the Houston Roughnecks in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft. He did not play for the Roughnecks in 2024.
Gaither signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent on May 14, 2021. Gaither was released by the Packers on August 20, 2021. He also had stints with the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants.
The Pittsburgh Maulers drafted Gaither in the 14th round (114th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. He played two seasons in Pittsburgh making 59 catches for 698 yards, 5 touchdowns, 8 carries for 39 yards, and one touchdown in 16 games.
Collegiately, Gaither played five seasons at San Jose State (2016-20) making 135 catches for 2,227 yards, 18 touchdowns, four carries for 30 yards, 23 kick returns for 434 yards, 8 punt returns for 56 yards, and two tackles (2 solo) in 44 games for the Spartans. He was named First Team All-MWC in 2020 and an All-MWC Honorable Mention in 2019.
Ethan Westbrooks is six foot four and weighs 287 pounds. The 33-year-old from Oakland, California, was drafted by the Houston Roughnecks in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft. In 2024, Westbrooks made 23 tackles (16 solo, 7 assists), six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery in 10 games.
Westbrooks signed with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He played five seasons for the Rams with 79 tackles (53 solo, 26 assists), 20 tackles for loss, nine sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and three pass breakups in 67 games. Westbrooks would later spend time with the New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders, and San Francisco 49ers.
The Pittsburgh Maulers drafted Westbrooks in the first round (282nd pick) of the 2022 USFL Supplemental Draft. However, the Maulers released him and Westbrooks signed with the Panthers. Westbrooks made six tackles (3 solo, 3 assists), one tackle for loss, two sacks, and one pass breakup in three games for the Panthers in 2022.
In 2023, Westbrooks made 13 tackles (9 solo, 4 assists), two tackles for loss, and two sacks in nine games for Michigan Panthers in 2023. He was named USFL Sportsman of the Year. He signed with the New Jersey Generals on October 3, 2023, but the Generals were not included in the USFL and XFL merger forming the United Football League.
Collegiately, Westbrooks played one season at San Joaquin Delta College in 2010 with 12 sacks. Next, he transferred to Sacramento City College (2011-12). He earned All-league honors All-conference accolades, and All-State in 2011.
Then, Westbrooks transferred to West Texas A&M in 2013 with 36 tackles (20 solo, 16 assists), 14 tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 11 games for the Buffaloes.
Keonte Schad is six foot two and weighs 284 pounds. The 25-year-old from Madison, Wisconsin, was drafted by the Houston Roughnecks in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft. In 2024, Schad made 19 tackles (7 solo, 12 assists), one tackle for loss, half a sack, and one forced fumble in 10 games.
The Orlando Guardians drafted Schad in the fourth round (25th pick) in Phase 3 of the 2023 XFL Draft. He played for the Orlando Guardians (XFL) in 2023 making two tackles (2 assists) in four games. Next, the New Orleans Breakers signed Schad on March 23, 2023. In 2023, he made 26 tackles (15 solo, 11 assists), nine tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks in ten games for the New Orleans Breakers in 2023.
Collegiately, Schad played two seasons at Ellsworth Community College (2017-18) with 71 tackles (43 solo, 28 assists), 19.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 18 games for the Panthers. Next, he transferred to Minnesota (2019-20) with 29 tackles (12 solo, 17 assists) in 17 games for the Golden Gophers.
Then, Schad transferred to Oregon State in 2021 with 46 tackles (14 solo, 32 assists), six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 13 games for the Beavers. He was named Phil Steele Fourth Team All-Pac 12 in 2021.
Toby Johnson is six foot four and weighs 240 pounds. The 32-year-old from Moorehead, Mississippi, was drafted by the Houston Roughnecks in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft. In 2024, Johnson made 7 tackles (7 solo), two tackles for loss, and one sack in three games.
Johnson signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He also had stints with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and Detroit Lions. He played two regular season games for the Vikings in 2016 with two tackles (2 solo) and one quarterback hit.
In 2019, Johnson played for the Massachusetts Pirates (IFL) making 13.5 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two interceptions, and two pass breakups in nine games.
In 2021, Johnson made 40 tackles (23 solo, 34 assists), 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one pass breakup, and three forced fumbles in 16 games for the Pirates helping them win the 2021 IFL United Bowl. He was named First-Team All-Indoor Football League defensive selection.
The New Jersey Generals drafted Johnson in the 25th round (205th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. Johnson made 35 tackles (22 solo, 13 assists), six tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, and two pass breakups in ten games for the Generals in 2022. In the 2022 USFL North Division Semifinals against the Philadelphia Stars, Johnson made four tackles (1 solo, 3 assists), and half a sack.
In 2023, Johnson made 42 tackles (16 solo, 26 assists), four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one pass breakup in ten games for the New Jersey Generals. He was named to his second All-USFL Team in 2023. He re-signed with the Generals on October 13, 2023, but they were not included in the USFL and XFL merger forming the United Football League.
Collegiately, Johnson played two seasons at Hutchison Community College (2011-12) with 87 tackles (49 solo, 38 assists), 17 tackles for loss, five sacks, nine pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two blocked kicks in 21 games for the Blue Dragons. He led the Blue Dragons to win the Salt City Bowl in 2012 and earned All-American honors.
Then, Johnson transferred to Georgia (2013-14) with 34 tackles (16 solo, 18 assists), 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and two pass breakups in 23 games for the Bulldogs.
Reuben Foster is six foot one and weighs 228 pounds. The 30-year-old from Roanoke, Alabama, was drafted by the Houston Roughnecks in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft.
In 2024, he made 30 tackles (18 solo, 12 assists), three tackles for loss, half a sack, one interception for eight yards, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in eight games before he was placed on the injured reserve list.
The San Francisco 49ers drafted Foster in the first round (31st pick) of the 2017 NFL Draft. Foster played two seasons in San Francisco with 101 tackles (84 solo, 17 assists), ten tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, and two pass breakups in 16 games. After the 49ers, Foster was with the Washington Football Team.
Then, the Pittsburgh Maulers signed Foster as a free agent on January 31, 2023. In 2023, Foster made 53 tackles (28 solo, 25 assists), three tackles for loss, half a sack, one interception, one forced fumble, and five pass breakups in eight games for the Pittsburgh Maulers in 2023.
In the playoffs, Foster made 11 tackles (6 solo, 5 assists), two tackles for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble in two games.
Collegiately, Foster played seasons at Alabama (2013-16) with 223 tackles (124 solo, 99 assists), 24 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and nine pass breakups in 45 games for the Crimson Tide. He was named First Team All-SEC in 2016, a winner of the Butkus Award in 2016, Unanimous All-American in 2016, and a CFP national champion in 2015.
