Who are Delaware players in United Football League and how are they doing?
While the NFL draft was making headlines last week, those in the spring United Football League continued to earn a paycheck playing professionally while perhaps hoping it might later lead to NFL opportunity.
The UFL comprises eight teams after this year's merger of the USFL and XFL, two previous spring leagues.
Seven players with Delaware ties, including some with NFL experience, are on UFL rosters this week. Here are those players and how they’re doing:
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Tenny Adewusi, DB, Arlington Renegades
A key force on Delaware’s loaded defense for its 2018 NCAA playoff team, Adewusi earned time in the New York Giants camp before starting a lengthy spring league career. The Nigerian-born Adewusi has made 14 tackles with nine solos and a tackle for loss in three games for Arlington.
Brycen Alleyne, RB/returnman, San Antonio Brahmas
Six years after the Concord High graduate wrapped up his Delaware State career, Alleyne is still playing. He is the 4-1 Brahmas’ top kickoff returnman with 12 runbacks covering 270 yards, which ranks seventh in the UFL. Alleyne also has seven carries for 16 yards and has caught two passes.
Delaware thru and thru @kwhitehead @TheUFL pic.twitter.com/DRcQCgWSIr
— B.Alleyne (@_ockb6) April 29, 2024
Alex Ellis, TE, D.C. Defenders
The ex-Delmar and Tennessee standout played in 11 NFL games from 2016-19 with the Jaguars, Chiefs and Eagles and later spent time in other teams’ camps. Now 31, he’s still in the business of football and has eight catches for 89 yards in five games this spring.
Nolan Henderson, QB, Houston Roughnecks
The record-setting former Blue Hen passer and Smyrna state champion got a free-agent peek last year with the Baltimore Ravens. Henderson has appeared in three UFL games, completing 6 of 8 passes for 47 yards.
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Vinny Papale, WR, Memphis Showboats
Papale has carved out a successful spring league career as a playmaker since wrapping up his Delaware career in 2018. This year, the son and namesake of the Philadelphia Eagles’ legend has 14 catches for 140 yards and three touchdowns.
Brandon Rusnak, DB, Arlington Renegades
Rusnak played in 28 games for the NFL’s Jaguars from 2019-2021 after starring at Red Lion Christian and Eastern Christian Academy before going to Michigan (he was then Brandon Watson). He has appeared in two games and made one tackle for Arlington.
BLOCKED! 😤pic.twitter.com/JjkM3k2eZV
— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) April 14, 2024
Kedrick Whitehead, DB, Michigan Panthers
A two-way star at Middletown and one of the Blue Hens’ all-time best safeties, Whitehead got a long look in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ camp last summer. Now in the UFL, Whitehead has 17 tackles in five games and a blocked punt.
Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Seven from Delaware high schools, colleges in United Football League