The Memphis Showboats are set to sign defensive end Nasir Player and defensive back Eli Walker on Saturday according to Pro Football Newsroom writer James Larsen.
Nasir Player is six foot five and weighs 271 pounds. The 27-year-old from Columbia, South Carolina, was drafted by the Michigan Panthers in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft. The Panthers released him on March 23, 2024.
Nasir Player signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020, but was released during training camp. Then, he signed with the Alphas (TSL) in 2021.
The Pittsburgh Maulers drafted Player in the third round (23rd pick) in the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2022, Player made 14 sacks (9 solos, 5 assists), two tackles for loss, and one sack in nine games.
In 2023, Player made 28 tackles (17 solos, 11 assists), three tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup in ten games for the Maulers in 2023. In the 2023 USFL playoffs, Player made four tackles (2 solos, 2 assists), and one tackle for loss in two games helping Pittsburgh reach the USFL Championship Game against the Birmingham Stallions.
Collegiately, Player played four seasons at East Tennessee State (2016-19) making 182 tackles (97 solos, 85 assists), 40 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception, one touchdown, and three pass breakups in 43 games for the Buccaneers. He was named First Team All-SoCon in 2017.
Eli Walker is six foot two and weighs 202 pounds. The 26-year-old from Long Beach, California, was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions in the 2024 UFL Disposal Draft. The Stallions released him on February 14, 2024.
Walker signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He would later play for the Blues (TSL) that same year. The Pittsburgh Maulers signed Walker as a free agent on April 22, 2022. In 2022, he made 15 tackles (5 solos, 10 assists) in seven games.
In 2023, Walker made 37 tackles (25 solos, 12 assists), one sack, one interception, two fumble recoveries, two touchdowns, and three pass breakups in ten games for the Pittsburgh Maulers in 2023. In the 2023 USFL playoffs, Walker made seven tackles (6 solos, 1 assist) in two games helping Pittsburgh reach the USFL Championship Game against the Birmingham Stallions.
Collegiately, Walker played two seasons at Cerritos College (2015-16) making 117 tackles (67 solos, 50 assists), four tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, four interceptions for 65 yards, and six pass breakups in 20 games for the Falcons.
Then, he transferred to Kansas State (2017-18) making 89 tackles (69 solos, 20 assists), five tackles for loss, and one sack in 23 games for the Wildcats.
