The D.C. Defenders are set to re-sign defensive lineman Fadol Brown and released defensive back Anthoula Kelly Jr. on Wednesday according to Pro Football Newsroom writer James Larsen.
Fadol Brown is six foot four and weighs 282 pounds. The 31-year-old from Charleston, South Carolina, attended the D.C. Defenders training camp in 2024 but was released on March 2, 2024.
The Oakland Raiders signed Brown as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2017. In 2017, he made three tackles (2 solos, 1 assist) in three preseason games and spent the season on the practice squad. In 2018, Brown played eight games making three tackles (3 assists), one tackle for loss, two quarterback hits, and one pass breakup. The Raiders released him on December 4, 2018.
Next, Brown was claimed off waivers by the Green Bay Packers on December 5, 2018. He played eight games in a season and a half making one tackle (1 assist), and two quarterback hits. Then, the Chicago Bears signed him on October 15, 2019, and spent a week on the practice squad. The Bears released him on October 29, 2019.
The D.C. Defenders drafted Brown in the fourth round (28th pick) in Phase 3 of the 2022 XFL Draft. In 2023, Brown made 19 tackles (10 solos, 9 assists), five tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks in six games for the D.C. Defenders in 2023.
In the playoffs, Brown made seven tackles (2 solos, 5 assists), and one sack helping the Defenders reach the XFL Championship Game against the Arlington Renegades.
Collegiately, Brown played one season at Florida International in 2012 making eight tackles (5 solos, 3 assists), two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one pass breakup in 10 games for the Panthers. Then, Brown transferred to Ole Miss (2014-16) with 109 tackles (43 solos, 66 assists), 15.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks in 30 games for the Rebels.
Anthoula Kelly Jr. is five foot nine and weighs 182 pounds. The 28-year-old from Galena Park, Texas, made 32 tackles (29 solos, 3 assists), four tackles for loss, one interception for 22 yards, and five pass breakups in 10 games for the D.C. Defenders in 2024.
Kelly Jr. went undrafted in 2019. In 2020, he played for the Tampa Bay Vipers (XFL) making 23 tackles (20 solos, 3 assists) in five games before the league canceled the rest of the season due to the pandemic. Next, he signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 29, 2021. In 2021, he dressed for three games. The Ticats released him on October 27, 2021. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Kelly Jr. on January 14, 2022. The Redblacks released him on May 29, 2022.
The D.C. Defenders drafted Kelly Jr. in the third round (20th pick) in Phase 2 of the 2023 XFL Draft. In 2023, he made 33 tackles (23 solos, 10 assists), two tackles for loss, one pass breakup, one quarterback hit, and one interception in eight games helping the Defenders reach the XFL Championship Game against the Arlington Renegades.
Collegiately, Kelly Jr. played four seasons at Fresno State (2015-18) making 122 tackles (95 solos, 27 assists), three tackles for loss, five interceptions for 153 yards, two touchdowns, 32 pass breakups, one forced fumble, one blocked kick, and one kick return for 13 yards in 38 games for the Bulldogs. He was named First Team All-Mountain West in 2018.
