The Houston Roughnecks re-signed offensive linemen Noah Atagi and Samuel Jackson, defensive end T.J. Franklin, defensive tackle Israel Antwine, linebacker Xavier Benson, defensive back Leon O’Neal Jr., and punter Mike Rivers on Monday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Noah Atagi is six foot six and weighs 325 pounds. The 27-year-old from South Ogden, Utah, attended the Chicago Bears rookie minicamp in 2024. The Houston Roughnecks signed Atagi on October 4, 2024. In 2025, Atagi played nine games, of which eight were starts. Houston averaged 18.3 points per game, four rushing yards per game, 185.4 passing yards per game, 274.4 total yards per game, 17 touchdowns, and allowed 15 sacks finishing 5-5 for the season.
Collegiately, Atagi played six seasons at Weber State (2018-23) playing left tackle in 56 games for the Wildcats making one catch for 5 yards, one touchdown, and one tackle (1 solo). He was named a two-time All-American and a four-time First Team All-Big Sky Conference. He is one of four players to be named First Team four times in Weber State history.
Samuel Jackson is six foot five and weighs 330 pounds. The 26-year-old from Bradenton, Florida, signed with the Houston Roughnecks on October 4, 2024. In 2025, he played 10 games, of which nine were starts. Houston averaged 18.3 points per game, four rushing yards per game, 185.4 passing yards per game, 274.4 total yards per game, 17 touchdowns, and allowed 15 sacks finishing 5-5 for the season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Jackson as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. He played three preseason games before the Jaguars released him on August 29, 2023.
Next, he signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on February 1, 2024. He played two preseason games for the Redblacks. Ottawa released him on June 1, 2024.
Collegiately, Jackson played six seasons at the University of Central Florida (2017-22) playing 63 games for the Knights. In 2022, the Knights’ offense had 6,331 total yards, 3,364 yards in passing, 2,967 yards in rushing, and 53 touchdowns. Jackson was named First Team All-AAC by Pro Football Focus and Second Team All-AAC by a vote of league coaches in 2022.
T.J. Franklin is six foot five and weighs 257 pounds. The 23-year-old from Temple, Texas, signed with the Houston Roughnecks on December 12, 2024. In 2025, he made 22 tackles (13 solos, 9 assists), four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, two touchdowns, and one pass breakup in nine games.
The Las Vegas Raiders signed Franklin as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. In 2024, he played three preseason games recording no stats. The Raiders released him on August 27, 2024.
Collegiately, Franklin played five seasons at Baylor (2019-23) making 126 tackles (65 solos, 61 assists), 22.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, five pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one blocked kick in 57 games for the Bears. In 2023, Franklin made 31 tackles (19 solos, 12 assists), 9 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one pass breakup in 12 games. He was named a two-time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Israel Antwine is six foot three and weighs 309 pounds. The 25-year-old from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, signed with the Houston Roughnecks on March 11, 2025. In 2025, he made 16 tackles (10 solos, 6 assists), two tackles for loss, and one sack in ten games.
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Antwine as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2022. In 2022, he made five tackles (4 solos, 1 assist) and one sack in four preseason games. The Jaguars released him on October 11, 2022.
The Montreal Alouettes signed Antwine on March 24, 2023. In 2023, he made four tackles and two sacks in two preseason games. He made two tackles in seven regular season games. The Alouettes released him on January 24, 2024.
The Massachusetts Pirates (IFL) signed Antwine on May 23, 2024. In 2024, he made 19 tackles (12 solos, 7 assists), four tackles for loss, two sacks, and one fumble recovery in nine games helping the Pirates reach the IFL National Championship against the Arizona Rattlers.
Collegiately, Antwine played one season at Colorado in 2018 making 15 tackles (5 solos, 10 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss, and a half a sack in 12 games for the Buffalos. Then, Antwine transferred to Oklahoma State (2019-21) making 65 tackles (29 solos, 36 assists), 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 34 games for the Cowboys.
In his final season, Antwine made 20 tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks in 13 games. He was an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 (Coaches) in 2019, named First Team Academic All-Big 12 in 2020, and Second Team Academic All-Big 12 in 2021.
Xavier Benson is six foot three and weighs 220 pounds. The 25-year-old from Texarkana, Texas, went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Houston Roughnecks drafted Benson in the seventh round (50th pick) of the 2024 UFL College Draft. In 2025, he made 29 tackles (18 solos, 11 assists), two tackles for loss, and one sack in nine games.
Collegiately, Benson played two seasons at Texas Tech (2018-19) making 57 tackles (36 solo, 21 assists), four tackles for loss, and one sack in 13 games for the Red Raiders.
Next, Benson transferred to Tyler Community College in 2021 making 120 tackles (69 solo, 51 assists), 15.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two interceptions for 46 yards, and seven pass breakups in 12 games for the Apaches. His 120 total tackles ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA.
Then, Benson transferred to Oklahoma State (2022-23) making 141 tackles (73 solo, 68 assists), 11.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 27 games for the Cowboys.
Leon O’Neal Jr. is six foot one and weighs 204 pounds. The 26-year-old from Cypress, Texas, signed with the Houston Roughnecks on January 28, 2025. In 2025, he made 46 tackles (31 solos, 15 assists), four tackles for loss, one sack, one interception for 30 yards, one touchdown, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and three pass breakups in 10 games. He was named to the All-UFL Team.
The San Francisco 49ers signed O’Neal Jr. as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022. The 49ers released him on August 12, 2022.
Next, O’Neal Jr. signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on February 13, 2023. In 2023, O’Neal Jr. played two preseason games making three tackles, one tackle for loss, and one tackle on special teams. The Roughriders released him on June 4, 2023.
Then, the Edmonton Elks signed O’Neal Jr. on January 17, 2024. In 2024, O’Neal Jr. made 35 tackles and seven tackles on special teams in 11 games. The Elks released him on September 23, 2024.
Collegiately, O’Neal Jr. played four seasons at Texas A&M (2018-21) making 161 tackles (108 solos, 53 assists), ten tackles for loss, one sack, six interceptions for 162 yards, one touchdown, 18 pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 48 games for the Aggies. He earned the Aggie Heart Award, Defensive Attitude Award, and the Defensive Aggie Award for strength & conditioning at the annual team banquet.
Mike Rivers is six foot and weighs 187 pounds. The 25-year-old from Wilmington, North Carolina, went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Houston Roughnecks signed Rivers on July 24, 2024. In 2025, he punted the ball 42 times for 2,019 yards (48.1 AVG), with a long of 59 yards, 10 from inside the 20-yard line, and eight touchbacks in 10 games.
Collegiately, Rivers played three seasons at North Carolina A&T (2018-19, 2021) punting the ball 214 times for 8,636 yards (40.4 AVG), 14 touchbacks, 43 fair catches, 55 punts from inside the 20-yard line, and 17 from 50-plus yards in 34 games for the Aggies.
Then, he transferred to Troy in 2022 punting the ball 62 times for 2,610 yards (42.1 AVG), four touchbacks, 20 fair catches, 24 from inside the 20-yard line, seven from 50-plus yards, and one kickoff for 55 yards in 14 games for the Trojans.
