The San Antonio Brahmas had an open spot on their 70-man roster after their two releases on Thursday. On Friday, they filled the open spot with a familiar face.
The Brahmas have resigned defensive back Sean Williams Jr to fill that last spot. Williams was drafted by the Brahmas in the XFL’s Supplemental Draft but needed approval from the United States Navy in order to sign.
However, it is worth noting that Williams isn’t fully cleared as of yet. While he is signed and at training camp, the approval he received to sign is temporary.
Williams played collegiately for Navy. Graduates of military academies are required to fulfill two years of active military duty immediately following their graduation.
However, for athletes such as Williams, there is a path to pursue pro sports. Athletes can petition the United States military to defer their two years of service in order to play professionally.
The future of athletes from military schools in professional sports has been a debated for years. It kicked back up in recent times when Congress attempted to block athletes from participating in pro sports.
However, President Joe Biden signed a revised omnibus deal that ensured athletes can continue to petition for a deferment. This had a significant impact on the 2023 NFL Draft, as Army edge rusher Andre Carter II is likely to be an early-round pick.
Williams was a team captain on the Midshipmen defense and was regarded as one of their best pure athletes. He was a two-year starter for the team, but played in all four of his collegiate seasons.
Williams played pro football last season for the Michigan Panthers in the USFL. He recorded 49 tackles and one interception for the Panthers in 2022.
Williams is a talented ballplayer and a true leader on the field. If the Brahmas can get full permission to have him play, the former Navy football captain could play a huge role for the team in 2023.
Featured Photo Credit: Kyle Ross/Getty Images
