Yesterday, the Houston Roughnecks announced their first wave of cuts in an attempt to trim down the training camp roster. Most of those who were released had been selected during the supplemental draft from January 1st, or had signed as free agents after the draft.
It can be assumed they were automatically towards the end of the depth chart, or simply weren’t having the best camp. While several players were let go, there were also four new additions which will be covered in this piece (one of which may be familiar to some). There will likely be several more roster transactions leading up to kickoff on February 18th, so stay tuned for updates as they continue to be revealed.
The following players are no longer listed as part of the Houston Roughnecks team:
TE Kyle Fourtenbary
LB Koby Quansah
S Antwon Kincade
DB Devin Hafford
WR Brandon Lewis
WR Antonio Nunn
DE/DT Ulric Jones
LB Tevin Floyd
CB Kenneth George
The most surprising cut was DB Devin Hafford (Tarleton State), who had previously spent time with the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Maulers (USFL). He was selected during the initial draft back in November, and will likely land in another XFL camp within the coming days. Another notable loss would be WR Brandon Lewis (Air Force), who flashed great potential during his final year in college.
The four new additions to the team include OL Sage Doxtater, OL James Moore, LB Nate Wieland, and WR Nick Holley. Doxtater, a Canadian native, played college football at New Mexico State and was selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2021 CFL Draft (did not sign). He later joined the New Orleans Saints as a UDFA in 2022. Moore played college football at Division II Central Washington, where he was primarily used as a left tackle. He later signed with the BC Lions (CFL) in 2022. Wieland played at Grand View University in Iowa (NAIA), and landed with the New England Patriots this past offseason. He will be reunited with former Grand View teammate David Tolentino.
Holley is perhaps the most exciting addition of them all, thanks to his history. The former hybrid QB/RB at Kent State recorded 21 catches for 267 yards and 2 touchdowns as part of the original Houston Roughnecks team in 2020. He quickly became a fan favorite, and would later have a stint with the Calgary Stampeders (CFL) in 2021.
