Turnover is a part of football, especially during training camp. As the new-look Houston Roughnecks preparing for the UFL's inaugural season, old familiar faces are moving on from the team.
On Sunday, 17 players were released from the Roughnecks roster as part of the first round of cuts:
- K Luis Aguilar
- C Nick Buchanan
- DE Isaiah Chambers
- WR Gene Coleman II
- RB Ezra Gray
- DE Jake Hlava
- DT Reggie Howard Jr.
- TE Ryan Izzo
- CB Jeremiah Johnson
- RB Shermari Jones
- CB Dayan Lake
- RB Ryan Nall
- WR Whop Philyor
- WR Teo Redding
- C Jakari Robinson
- LB Khalan Tolson
- OLB Bryson Young
Aguilar's release comes as a surprise, as he was one of the most accurate kickers in the USFL the past two seasons. Aguilar is coming off a 2023 campaign with the Philadelphia Stars that includes hitting 86 percent of his kicks and a pro football-record eight field goals in their 24-21 win over the New Jersey Generals, as well as a selection to the All-USFL team. Former Green Bay Packers kicker J.J. Molson appears to be in line to start at kicker.
The Roughnecks defense will look a lot different from the one the Gamblers had in the USFL last season. Gamblers leading tackler Tolson was part of the cuts after making 76 tackles in 2023. Houston also released defensive starters Johnson, Lake and Chambers.
Howard was another defensive starter cut after playing for the New Orleans Breakers the past two years. His five sacks with the Breakers and Tampa Bay Bandits in 2022 resulted in him being selected as an All-USFL team member.
Buchanan was released after starting at center for every game last season. Other key offensive players from last year’s Gamblers team gone include Redding (WR) and Jones (RB). Gray, who played running back for the Memphis Showboats in 2023, was also part of the cuts.
The Roughnecks will have to make more roster cuts by March 23 to finalize their regular-season roster.
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