The D.C. Defenders re-signed offensive linemen Jarrid Williams and John Yarbrough, defensive linemen Dennis Johnson, Derick Roberson, and Niles Scott, and linebacker Ferrod Gardner on Thursday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Jarrid Williams is six foot six and weighs 308 pounds. The 27-year-old from Cedar Hill, Texas, signed with the D.C. Defenders on April 3, 2024. In 2024, Williams started three games. D.C.’s offense ranked fifth in total yards (2,274), rushing yards (850), yards per game (272.4), fourth in passing yards (1,874), and tied fifth in touchdowns (24).
Williams signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent on May 6, 2022, and spent most of the season on the practice squad. Williams also had stints with the Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Minnesota Vikings. Then, Williams signed with the San Antonio Brahmas on January 19, 2024, but was released on March 22, 2024.
Collegiately, Williams played five seasons at Houston (2015-19) playing right tackle in 28 games for the Cougars. In 2018, Houston’s offense finished the season ranked fifth nationally in scoring offense (43.9 points per game), seventh in total offense (512.5 yards per game), 16th passing offense (295.5 yards per game) and 24th in rushing offense (217.1 yards per game).
Then, Williams transferred to Miami (FL) (2020-21) playing right tackle in 21 games for the Hurricanes. In the 2020 Cheez-It-Bowl, Miami’s offense had 512 yards against Oklahoma State.
John Yarbrough is six foot five and weighs 301 pounds. The 27-year-old from Homewood, Alabama, signed with the D.C. Defenders on May 15, 2024. He played three games for the Defenders in 2024. D.C.’s offense ranked fifth in total yards (2,274), rushing yards (850), yards per game (272.4), fourth in passing yards (1,874), and tied fifth in touchdowns (24).
Yarbrough signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent on July 28, 2019. He also spent time with the Carolina Panthers, played five games for the Tampa Bay Vipers (XFL) in 2020, 10 for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2021, 10 for the Houston Gamblers (USFL) in 2022, and six games for the Houston Roughnecks (XFL) in 2023.
The San Antonio Brahmas signed Yarbrough on January 23, 2024. He played one game for the Brahmas before he was released on May 13, 2024.
Collegiately, Yarbrough played four seasons at Richmond (2015-18) playing three different positions on the offensive line in 39 games for the Spiders. He was named Third Team All-CAA in 2017, and Second Team All-CAA in 2018.
Dennis Johnson is six foot two and weighs 292 pounds. The 26-year-old from Columbus, Ohio signed with the D.C. Defenders on August 9, 2023. In 2024, Johnson made 14 tackles (8 solo, 6 assists), two tackles for loss, and one pass breakup in nine games.
Collegiately, Johnson played four seasons at Grand Valley State (2017-19, 2021) making 42 tackles (12 solo, 30 assists), 11 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 38 games for the Lakers. He was named First Team All-GLIAC, and GVSU Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2021.
Derick Roberson is six foot three and weighs 247 pounds. The 28-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, signed with the D.C. Defenders on December 20, 2023. In 2024, Roberson made 31 tackles (14 solo, 17 assists), four tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in nine games.
Roberson signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2019. He played three seasons in Tennessee making 26 tackles (16 solo, 10 assists), six tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble in 16 games. The Houston Texans signed Roberson on September 8, 2022.
Collegiately, Roberson played one season at Texas in 2015 making one tackle (1 solo), one tackle for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble in four games for the Longhorns. Then, Roberson transferred to Sam Houston State (2016-18) making 123 tackles (67 solo, 56 assists), 32 tackles for loss, 23 sacks, one interception, nine pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, and two blocked kicks in 32 games for the Bearkats.
Niles Scott is six foot one and weighs 326 pounds. The 29-year-old from Elkton, Maryland, made 29 tackles (13 solo, 16 assists), and two tackles for loss in 10 games.
Scott signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2018. The 49ers released him on September 6, 2018. He played one season with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018 making four tackles (4 solo) in six games.
Scott also spent time with the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, and Miami Dolphins. The D.C. Defenders drafted Scott in the first round (5th pick) in Phase 3 of the 2023 XFL Draft. He did not play for the Defenders in 2023.
Collegiately, Scott played four seasons at Frostburg State University (2014-17) making 150 tackles (61 solo, 89 assists), 43 tackles for loss, 25.5 sacks, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick in 43 games for the Bobcats. He was named Second Team All-NJAC in 2016, and First Team All-NJAC in 2017.
Ferrod Gardner is six foot one and weighs 220 pounds. The 27-year-old from Dayton, Ohio, re-signed with the D.C. Defenders on January 22, 2024. In 2024, Gardner made 25 tackles (12 solo, 13 assists), and one fumble recovery in 10 games.
Gardner signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent on May 6, 2022. He made three tackles (3 solo) in three preseason games. He spent the 2022 season on Washington’s practice squad.
The D.C. Defenders signed him on January 16, 2023. In 2023, he made 10 tackles (6 solo, 4 assists) in 10 games. The Defenders released him on May 22, 2023, and he re-signed with the Commanders on May 23, 2023. Gardner made six tackles (4 solo, 2 assists) in three preseason games. The Commanders released him on August 28, 2023.
Collegiately, Gardner started at Missouri in 2015 but did not play for the Tigers. Next, he transferred to Coffeyville Community College in 2016 making 67 tackles (23 solo, 44 assists), 8 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception for 25 yards, three fumble recoveries, and two pass breakups in 10 games for the Red Ravens.
Then, Gardner transferred to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2017-21) making 238 tackles (127 solo, 111 assists), 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one interception, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 47 games for the Ragin’ Cajans. He was an All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention in 2021.
