The Houston Roughnecks signed defensive end Byron Vaughns and released linebacker Vaughn Taylor Jr. on Friday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Byron Vaughns is six foot four and weighs 238 pounds. The 24-year-old from Fort Worth, Texas, signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. The Cowboys released him on August 7, 2024.
Collegiately, Vaughns played two seasons at Texas (2019-20) making 14 tackles (10 solos, 4 assists), one forced fumble, and one punt return for -6 yards in 12 games for the Longhorns. Next, he transferred to Utah State (2021-22) making 99 tackles (43 solos, 56 assists), 19 tackles for loss, six sacks, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 25 games for the Aggies. He was named Mountain West Championship Game Defensive MVP in 2021.
Then, he transferred to Baylor in 2023 making 32 tackles (21 solos, 11 assists), eight tackles for loss, three sacks, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown in 11 games for the Bears.
Vaughn Taylor Jr. is six foot three and weighs 252 pounds. The 26-year-old from Washington, D.C., signed with the Houston Roughnecks on July 24, 2024.
Taylor Jr. went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Albany Empire signed Taylor Jr. on November 30, 2022. Next, the Pittsburgh Maulers signed him on January 5, 2023.
In 2023, he made 17 tackles (11 solos, 6 assists), five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery in 10 games. In the 2024 USFL Playoffs, he made two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist), one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup in two games helping the Maulers reach the USFL Championship Game.
Collegiately, Taylor Jr. played two seasons at Kansas in 2017 playing for games for the Jayhawks recording no stats. Then, he transferred to Morehead State University (2018-21) making 188 tackles (84 solos, 104 assists), 56 tackles for loss, 21.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks, and three catches for 14 yards in 39 games for the Eagles. He was named a two-time First Team All-PFL, and PFL Defensive Player of the Year.
