The Memphis Showboats signed defensive end DaMarcus Mitchell, linebacker Chris Russell Jr., and punter Matt Mengel on Thursday according to Fox Sports.
DeMarcus Mitchell is six foot three and weighs 260 pounds. The 26-year-old from Thibodaux, Louisiana, signed with the Birmingham Stallions on December 23, 2023. In 2024, Mitchell made 8 tackles (5 solo, 3 assists), two tackles for loss, and one sack in 5 games.
He did not play in the playoffs when the Stallions won the UFL Championship 25-0 over the San Antonio Brahmas. The Stallions re-signed Mitchell on August 27, 2024. Birmingham released him on January 27, 2025.
The New England Patriots signed Mitchell as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and spent the season on their practice squad. He made one tackle (1 solo) in one preseason game for the New England Patriots in 2023. Mitchell also had a brief stint with the Seattle Seahawks.
Collegiately, Mitchell played two seasons at Southwest Mississippi Community College (2018-19) making 71 tackles (30 solos, 71 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions for 51 yards, one forced fumble, one pass breakup, one blocked punt, 12 carries for 57 yards, seven catches for 73 yards, one touchdown, and two punt returns for 25 yards in 18 games for the Bears.
Then, he transferred to Purdue (2020-21) making 59 tackles (38 solos, 21 assists), 13 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and three forced fumbles in 18 games for the Boilermakers.
Chris Russell Jr. is six foot one and weighs 235 pounds. The 23-year-old from Dyersburg, Tennessee, signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent on August 14, 2024. In 2024, he made eight tackles (6 solos, 2 assists) in two preseason games. The Packers released him on October 29, 2024.
Collegiately, Russell Jr. played five seasons at Texas A&M (2019-23) making 112 tackles (59 solos, 53 assists), 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one interception for 16 yards, one touchdown, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one blocked kick, one punt return for 16 yards, and one touchdown in 58 games for the Aggies.
Matt Mengel is six foot two and weighs 225 pounds. The 31-year-old from Harbor City, California, played for the Generals (TSL) in 2020 making a 55-yard field goal in the championship game. In 2021, he signed with the Montreal Alouettes on July 30, 2021, and was released on July 30, 2021.
Next, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Stars in the 32nd round (249th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2022, he made 6 of 11 field goals (55%) with a long of 44 yards, made 8 of 9 extra points, punted the ball 11 times for 414 yards (37.6 AVG) with a long of 55 yards, two touchbacks, and five fair catches in four games. The Stars released him on May 12, 2022.
Then, he re-signed with the Montreal Alouettes on November 29, 2022. Montreal released him on June 5, 2022. The Edmonton Elks signed Mengel on June 7, 2022. In 2022, he punted the ball 24 times for 879 yards (47.2 AVG) with a long of 63 yards in six games. The Elks released him on July 29, 2022.
The Pittsburgh Maulers signed Mengel on October 5, 2022. In 2023, Mengel punted the ball 39 times for 1,673 yards (42.9 AVG), with a long of 83 yards, and six touchbacks in 10 games as the Maulers appeared in the USFL Championship Game against the Birmingham Stallions.
Collegiately, Mengel played one season at Los Angeles Harbor College in 2012 making 10 of 14 field goals (71.4%), with a long of 43 yards, making 35 of 41 extra points, punting the ball 42 times for 1,627 yards (38.7 AVG), with a long of 59 yards, three touchbacks, and 11 from inside the 20-yard line in 11 games for the Seahawks.
Next, he transferred to Long Beach Community College in 2013 making 5 of 9 field goals (55.6 AVG), made 42 of 44 field goals, punting the ball 45 times for 1,592 yards (35.4 AVG), with a long of 55 yards, 16 inside the 20-yard line, 12 fair catches, and four touchbacks in 10 games for the Vikings.
Then, he transferred to UCLA (2014-15) punting the ball 113 times for 4,535 yards (40.1 AVG), with a long of 64 yards, five touchbacks, 35 from inside the 20-yard line, and 49 fair catches in 25 games for the Bruins.
