The Columbus Aviators selected quarterbacks Jalan McClendon, Jalen Morton, and Clayton Tune in the 2026 Quarterback Draft, and tight end Alize Mack, offensive lineman Juwann Bushell-Beatty, and linebacker Jailin Walker in the Regional College Allocation on Monday.
Jalan McClendon is six foot four and weighs 222 pounds. The 29-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, was acquired by the Houston Roughnecks from the D.C. Defenders for defensive back Kiondre Thomas on November 6, 2024.
In 2025, he completed 147 of 225 passes (65.3%) for 1,464 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions, six carries for 43 yards, and one rushing touchdown in seven games. The Roughnecks had re-signed him on July 10, 2025.
McClendon signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2019, but was released on May 17, 2019. Next, he signed with the Washington Redskins on August 11, 2019. In 2019, McClendon completed 4 of 10 passes (40%) for 16 yards and one interception in two preseason games. The Redskins released him on August 31, 2019.
Then, McClendon was drafted by the Los Angeles Wildcats (XFL) in Phase 5 of the 2020 XFL Draft. In 2020, he completed 1 of 4 passes (25%) for no yards and one interception in one game before the league shutdown due to the pandemic.
McClendon was drafted by the Vegas Vipers (XFL) in Phase 0 of the 2023 XFL Draft. In 2023, McClendon completed 67 of 112 passes (59.8%) for 873 yards, 5 touchdowns, 1 interception, and 30 carries for 137 yards in four games. McClendon became a free agent when the Vipers were not included in the XFL and USFL merger that formed the United Football League (UFL).
The D.C. Defenders signed McClendon on January 22, 2024. In 2024, McClendon completed 13 of 21 passes (61.9%) for 129 yards, seven carries for 27 yards, and one touchdown in five games. The Defenders re-signed McClendon on November 4, 2024.
Collegiately, McClendon played three seasons at North Carolina State (2015-17), completing 26 of 47 passes (55%) for 262 yards, one touchdown, four interceptions, 46 carries for 223 yards, two touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in 21 games for the Wolfpack.
Then, he transferred to Baylor in 2018, completing 55 of 91 passes (60%) for 715 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions, 34 carries for 102 yards, and two touchdowns in nine games for the Bears.
Jalen Morton is six foot four and weighs 225 pounds. The 28-year-old from Arlington, Texas, signed with the Birmingham Stallions on May 7, 2025. He spent a week in Birmingham before they released him on May 13, 2025.
Shortly after his release, he re-signed with the Southwest Kansas Storm. He played an additional five games for the Storm, completing 87 of 137 passes (63.5%) for 1,255 yards, 24 touchdowns, three interceptions, 26 carries for 230 yards, and six rushing touchdowns.
He finished the season completing 170 of 343 passes (50%) for 2,314 yards, 40 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 12 carries for 86 yards, one rushing touchdown, and one tackle (1 solo) in 12 games. In the playoffs, he completed 20 of 37 passes (54.1%) for 296 yards, six touchdowns, and three carries for 27 yards against the Nashville Kats. The Houston Roughnecks had signed Morton on August 29, 2025.
The Green Bay Packers signed Morton as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2020. The Packers released him on August 3, 2020, and he signed with the Indianapolis Colts on February 1, 2021. The Colts released him on August 6, 2021.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed Morton on September 16, 2021. He spent the season on the practice squad and re-signed with the Ticats on December 30, 2021. In 2022, Morton completed 2 of 6 passes (33%) for 13 yards, one interception, and five carries for 14 yards in four games. The Ticats released him on November 7, 2022.
Morton signed with the Birmingham Stallions on December 13, 2022. In 2023, Morton had one carry for five yards in one game. He was the backup quarterback in the USFL Championship game when the Stallions beat the Pittsburgh Maulers. The Stallions released him on March 10, 2024.
The Southwest Kansas Storm (AF1) signed Morton on March 21, 2025. In 2025, Morton completed 108 of 243 passes (44%) for 22 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, eight carries for 63 yards, five touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in eight games.
Collegiately, Morton played five seasons at Prairie View A&M (2015-19) completing 372 of 695 (54%) for 5,237 yards, 42 touchdowns, 29 interceptions, 270 carries for 1,579 yards, 22 touchdowns, four catches for 29 yards, one receiving touchdown, punting the ball three times for 48 yards (16 AVG), one from inside the 20-yard line, and two tackles (2 solos) in 35 games for the Panthers. He was named SWAC Newcomer of the Week in 2016.
Clayton Tune is six foot three and weighs 220 pounds. The 26-year-old from Plano, Texas, was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round (139th pick) of the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons in Arizona, completing 14 of 23 passes (60.9%) for 70 yards, two interceptions, 15 carries for 26 yards, and one rushing touchdown in 13 games. The Cardinals released him on August 25, 2025. The Green Bay Packers signed Tune on August 28, 2025. In 2025, he completed 7 of 15 passes (46.7%) for 42 yards, one interception, and five carries for 23 yards in two games. The Packers released him on January 6, 2026.
Collegiately, Tune spent five seasons at the University of Houston (2018-22), completing 956 of 1,499 passes (64%) for 11,996 yards, 104 touchdowns, 41 interceptions, 412 carries for 1,253 yards, five rushing touchdowns, one catch for 21 yards, and seven tackles (5 solos, 2 assists) in 47 games. He was named First Team All-AAC and First Team All-AAC by Pro Football Focus in 2022.
Alize Mack is six foot four and weighs 247 pounds. The 28-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada, re-signed with the Brahmas on November 6, 2024. In 2025, he made four catches for 28 yards and one touchdown in eight games.
The New Orleans Saints drafted Mack in the seventh round (231st pick) of the 2019 NFL Draft. IN 2019, he played two preseason games targeted two times, and made the practice squad. The Saints released him on September 20, 2024. Mack also spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers.
The San Antonio Brahmas drafted Mack in the seventh round (51st pick) in Phase 1 of the 2023 XFL Draft. In 2023, Mack made 28 catches for 230 yards and one touchdown in 10 games.
The Brahmas released him on May 17, 2023, and he signed with the Tennessee Titans on May 18, 2023. Mack played two preseason games with one catch for one yard. The Titans released him on September 4, 2023.
The Brahmas re-signed Mack on January 19, 2024. In 2024, Mack made eight catches for 57 yards, two touchdowns, and nine tackles (8 solo, 1 assist) in 10 games. In the 2024 UFL playoffs, Mack made two catches for no yards in two games.
Collegiately, Mack played three seasons at Notre Dame (2015, 2017-18) with 68 catches for 716 yards (10.5 AVG) and four touchdowns in 35 games for the Fighting Irish.
Juwann Bushell-Beatty is six foot five and weighs 328 pounds. The 29-year-old from Paramus, New Jersey, re-signed with the Battlehawks on August 27, 2024. In 2025, he played nine games, of which eight were starts. St. Louis averaged 23.1 points per game, 289.8 yards per game, 145.6 passing yards per game, 144.2 rushing yards per game, 23 touchdowns, and allowed 22 sacks, finishing 8-2 for the season.
Juwann Bushell-Beatty signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2019. He was released on May 28, 2019. Next, Bushell-Beatty signed with the Dallas Cowboys on August 7, 2019, and was released on August 31, 2019.
The St. Louis Battlehawks drafted Bushell-Beatty in the ninth round (67th pick) in Phase 2 of the 2020 XFL Draft. However, the Battlehawks traded him to the Houston Roughnecks. He played three games before the season shutdown due to COVID-19.
After the XFL, Bushell-Beatty signed with the Carolina Panthers on May 1, 2020. He was released on July 31, 2020. Then, he signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on March 3, 2021. He played one game for the Redblacks. After Ottawa, Bushell-Beatty was drafted by the Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL) in the 7th round (58th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. He played 10 games and became a free agent after the season.
The St. Louis Battlehawks (XFL) drafted Bushell-Beatty in the first round (1st pick) of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft. He played 10 games for the Battlehawks in 2023. In 2023, St. Louis finished second in points (249), third in passing (2,262), fourth in total yards (3,097), and sixth in rushing (835).
In 2024, Bushell-Beatty started 9 games. St. Louis’s offense ranked sixth in total offense yards (2,721), third in rushing yards (977), seventh in passing yards (1,744), sixth in yards per game (272.1), and second in touchdowns (30).
Collegiately, Bushell-Beatty played five seasons at Michigan (2014-18), playing left tackle and right tackle in 33 games for the Wolverines. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2018 and played in the East-West Shrine Game.
Jailin Walker is six foot and weighs 219 pounds. The 22-year-old from Richmond, Virginia, signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2025. Walker attended training camp before he was released on July 22, 2025.
Collegiately, Walker spent three seasons at James Madison University (2021-23) with 142 tackles (70 solos, 72 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions for 73 yards, two touchdowns, 13 pass breakups, and four forced fumbles in 31 games for the Dukes. He was named a two-time Sun Belt Honorable Mention.
Then, he went to Indiana in 2024 with 82 tackles (39 solos, 43 assists), 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and three forced fumbles in 13 games for the Hoosiers. He was named a Big Ten Honorable Mention.
