The Michigan Panthers re-signed defensive end Breeland Speaks and signed offensive lineman Duro Ajayi on Monday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Breeland Speaks is six foot three and weighs 285 pounds. The 29-year-old from Jackson, Mississippi, made 32 tackles (24 solo, 8 assists), 13 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 10 games for the Panthers in 2024. He was named the UFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.
The Panthers released him on August 8, 2024, and he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on the same. Speaks made two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist), and 1.5 sacks in two preseason games. The Jaguars released him on August 25, 2024.
The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Speaks in the second round (46th pick) of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons in Kansas City with 24 tackles (15 solos, 9 assists), three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 16 games, of which four were starts. In addition to Kansas City, Speaks had stints with the Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Buffalo Bills.
Then, Speaks signed with the Michigan Panthers on December 22, 2022. In 2023, Speaks made 53 tackles (25 solos, 28 assists), six tackles for loss, nine sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup in ten games for the Panthers in 2023. In the playoffs against the Pittsburgh Maulers, Beaks made four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist). He was named to the All-USFL Team in 2023.
The Panthers released Speaks on August 10, 2023, and he signed with the San Francisco 49ers on August 11, 2023. He played three preseason games with four tackles (2 solos, 2 assists). The 49ers released him on August 27, 2023, and he re-signed with the Panthers on December 29, 2023.
Collegiately, Speaks played three seasons at Ole Miss (2015-17) making 121 tackles (50 solos, 71 assists), 15 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 32 games for the Rebels.
Duro Ajayi is six foot six and weighs 307 pounds. A native of Washington, New Jersey, Ajayi went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Collegiately, Ajayi played five seasons at The College of New Jersey (2019-23) playing left tackle in 34 games for the Lions. In 2023, TCNJ averaged 21.90 points per game, 120.4 rushing yards per game, 241.60 passing yards per game, 362.0 total yards per game, 28 touchdowns, and allowed nine sacks finishing 5-5 for the season. Ajayi was named Second Team All-NJAC and a two-time First Team All-NJAC (2022-23).
