The Memphis Showboats signed wide receiver Joe Scates and defensive backs Ja’Quan Sheppard and Keaton Ellis on Friday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Joe Scates is six foot two and weighs 210 pounds. The 24-year-old from Dayton, Ohio, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. In 2024, he made one catch for 14 yards in three preseason games. The Jaguars released him on August 25, 2024.
Collegiately, Scates played three seasons at Iowa State (2019-21) making 16 catches for 304 yards, four touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in 32 games for the Cyclones. Then, he transferred to Memphis (2022-23) making 51 catches for 826 yards, 10 touchdowns, and one carry for four yards in 23 games for the Tigers.
Ja’Quan Sheppard is six foot two and weighs 199 pounds. The 24-year-old from Zephyrhills, Florida, signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. In 2024, Sheppard made 10 tackles (8 solos, 2 assists) in three preseason games.
The Raiders released him on August 27, 2024. The Memphis Showboats drafted Sheppard in the eighth round (57th pick) of the 2024 UFL College Draft.
Collegiately, Sheppard played four seasons at Cincinnati (2019-22) making 64 tackles (43 solos, 21 assists), 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and 10 pass breakups in 37 games for the Bearcats. Then, he transferred to Maryland in 2023 making 31 tackles (28 solos, 3 assists), three tackles for loss, one sack, and eight pass breakups in 13 games for the Terrapins. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
Keaton Ellis is five foot eleven and weighs 190 pounds. The 23-year-old from State College, Pennsylvania, signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. In 2024, Ellis played three preseason games making six tackles (3 solo, 3 assists).
The Titans released him on August 27, 2024. The Calgary Stampeders signed Ellis on October 1, 2024, and spent four weeks on the practice squad. The Stampeders released him on October 27, 2024.
Collegiately, Ellis played five seasons at Penn State (2019-23) making 86 tackles (58 solo, 31 assists), three tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, 14 pass breakups, and two interceptions in 56 games for the Nittany Lions.
