The D.C. Defenders re-signed wide receiver Chris Rowland on Monday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Chris Rowland is five foot eight and weighs 179 pounds. The 26-year-old from Nolensville, Tennessee, was drafted by the D.C. Defenders in the 2024 UFL Supplemental Draft. In 2024, Rowland made 20 catches for 262 yards, three touchdowns, four carries for 29 yards, 45 kick returns for 1,224 yards, one touchdown, and 12 punt returns for 142 yards in 10 games. He was named to the All-UFL Team as a special team player.
Rowland signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020. He played two games with two kick returns for 53 yards in 2020. The Falcons released him on August 31, 2021. Then, he signed with the Tennessee Titans on November 10, 2021. He spent a couple of weeks on the practice squad before the Titans released him on November 23, 2021.
The Philadelphia Stars drafted Rowland in the sixth round (48th pick) of the 2022 USFL Supplemental Draft. In 2022, Rowland played ten games with 22 catches for 258 yards, one touchdown, five carries for 31 yards, and four kick returns for 114 yards.
In 2023, Rowland made nine catches for 82 yards, one touchdown, four carries for 20 yards, and 13 kick returns for 323 yards in three games before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Rowland played 41 games in four seasons at Tennessee State (2016-19) with 194 catches for 2,578 yards, 14 touchdowns, 55 carries for 319 yards, one touchdown 74 kick returns for 1,716 yards, one touchdown, and 19 punt returns for 971 yards in 40 games for the Tigers.
In his senior year in 2019, Rowland broke Jerry Rice’s record (103 catches) with 104 catches for 1,437 yards and eight touchdowns. Rowland was named Deacon Jones Black College Hall of Fame Football Player of the Year and Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
