The Houston Gamblers selected quarterbacks Hunter Dekkers and Donovan Smith in the 2026 Quarterback Draft, and wide receiver Jontre Kirklin, defensive end Rashard Lawrence, and linebacker Anthony Hines III in the Regional College Allocation on Monday.
Hunter Dekkers is six foot three and weighs 215 pounds. The 24-year-old from Hawarden, Iowa, signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2025. He did not play in the preseason and spent time on and off the practice squad in 2025. The Saints released him on December 31, 2025.
Collegiately, Dekkers spent three seasons at Iowa State (2021-22), completing 327 of 500 passes (65%) for 3,355 yards, 22 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 96 carries for 146 yards, four rushing touchdowns, and two tackles (2 solos) in 19 games for the Cyclones. He was a Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2022.
Dekkers sat out in 2023 before transferring to Iowa Western in 2024, completing 287 of 448 passes (64.1%) for 3,800 yards, 32 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and 44 carries for -11 yards in 13 games for the Reivers, leading them to an 11-2 record and a spot in the national championship game.
Donovan Smith is six foot four and weighs 219 pounds. The 24-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada, attended the Dallas Cowboys rookie minicamp in 2025.
Collegiately, Smith spent three seasons at Texas Tech (2020-22), completing 231 of 359 passes (64.3%) for 2,686 yards, 19 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 133 carries for 270 yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, one catch for 15 yards, one touchdown, and one tackle (1 solo) in 23 games for the Red Raiders.
Then, he transferred to Houston (2023-24), completing 343 of 530 passes (65%) for 3,668 yards, 26 touchdowns, 21 interceptions, 203 carries for 575 yards, nine rushing touchdowns, one catch for 28 yards, and one touchdown in 21 games for the Cougars.
Jontre Kirklin is six foot and weighs 184 pounds. The 27-year-old from Lutcher, Louisiana, re-signed with the San Antonio Brahmas on September 16, 2024. In 2025, Kirklin made 35 catches for 284 yards, 14 kick returns for 327 yards in 10 games. The Dallas Renegades had signed Kirklin on October 10, 2025.
Kirklin signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022. He spent part of the season on the practice squad before the Cardinals released him on September 6, 2022.
The Houston Roughnecks (XFL) drafted Kirklin in the seventh round (56th pick) in Phase 1 of the 2023 XFL Draft. In 2023, 15 catches for 253 yards, four touchdowns, completed one pass for 49 yards, and one touchdown in five games.
The San Antonio Brahmas signed Kirklin on January 19, 2024. In 2024, Kirklin made 56 catches for 614 yards and three touchdowns, and completed 2 of 3 passes (66.7%) for 51 yards, one touchdown, and six tackles (6 solo) in 10 games.
In the playoffs, Kirklin made 10 catches for 85 yards, helping San Antonio reach the UFL Championship Game against the Birmingham Stallions. He finished the season as the UFL’s receptions leader. The Brahmas released him on August 6, 2024.
He signed with the San Francisco 49ers on August 7, 2024. He played in three preseason games but recorded no stats. The 49ers released him on August 26, 2024.
Collegiately, Kirklin played five seasons at LSU (2017-21) with 20 catches for 313 yards, two touchdowns, 11 carries for 61 yards, completing 7 of 11 passes (63.6%) for 138 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in 57 games for the Tigers.
Rashard Lawrence is six foot two and weighs 308 pounds. The 26-year-old from Monroe, Louisiana, signed with the San Antonio Brahmas on November 7, 2024. In 2025, he made 21 tackles (12 solos, 9 assists) and five tackles for loss in nine games.
The Arizona Cardinals drafted Lawrence in the fourth round (131st pick) of the 2020 NFL Draft. He played three seasons in Arizona with 30 tackles (21 solos, 9 assists), four tackles for loss, and one forced fumble in 25 games, of which 13 were starts.
In 2023, Lawrence made four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist) in three preseason games. The Cardinals released him on August 29, 2023. He also spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, and the Denver Broncos.
Collegiately, Lawrence played four seasons at LSU (2016-19) with 120 tackles (47 solos, 73 assists), 21 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, one forced fumble, and seven pass breakups in 44 games, of which 34 were starts for the Tigers. In 2019, Lawrence made 28 tackles (11 solos, 17 assists), 6 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three pass breakups in 12 games, helping LSU win the National Championship. He was named Second Team All-SEC.
Anthony Hines III is six foot three and weighs 226 pounds. The 26-year-old from Plano, Texas, re-signed with the Defenders on January 23, 2025. In 2025, he made 53 tackles (36 solos, 17 assists), five tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in eight games.
In the playoffs, he made 13 tackles (10 solos, 3 assists) and one fumble recovery, helping the Defenders win the UFL Championship over the Michigan Panthers. He was named to the All-UFL Team.
Hines III signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 14, 2021. He also spent time with the Washington Commanders and the Los Angeles Rams. The Defenders drafted Hines III in the fifth round (37th pick) in Phase 3 of the 2023 XFL Draft. In 2023, Hines III made 33 tackles (19 solos, 14 assists), three tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, and one sack in nine games.
In 2024, he made 65 tackles (40 solos, 25 assists) and five tackles for loss in 10 games. The Defenders released him on August 11, 2024, and signed with the New York Jets on August 12, 2024. Hines III made two tackles (2 solos) in two preseason games. He spent most of the season on the practice squad before the Jets released him on October 8, 2024.
Collegiately, Hines III played three seasons at Texas A&M (2017-19) with 106 tackles (58 solos, 48 assists), 16.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 27 games for the Aggies. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2017 after making 33 tackles (19 solos, 14 assists), six tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 13 games.
