The D.C. Defenders signed linebacker Macklin Ayers and released defensive end Phil Hoskins on Thursday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Macklin Ayers is six foot three and weighs 230 pounds. The 24-year-old from Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, attended the Cleveland Browns rookie minicamp in 2025.
Collegiately, Ayers spent four seasons at Dartmouth (2020-23) with 165 tackles (68 solos, 97 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception for seven yards, and five pass breakups in 28 games for the Big Green.
In 2022, he had a career-high 80 tackles (30 solos, 50 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup in eight games. He was named Academic All-Ivy League, CSC Academic All-District I, and the FCS ADA Academic All-Star.
Then, he transferred to the University of Massachusetts in 2024 with 38 tackles (8 solos, 30 assists) and two tackles for loss in 12 games for the Minutemen.
Phil Hoskins is six foot five and weighs 280 pounds. The 28-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, was drafted by the D.C. Defenders in the 2026 UFL Draft.
The Carolina Panthers drafted Hoskins in the seventh round (232nd pick) of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played two seasons in Carolina with six tackles (4 solos, 2 assists), one tackle for loss, and one sack in eight games. The Panthers released him on January 10, 2023.
Next, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Hoskins on January 12, 2023. In 2023, he played three preseason games. The Chiefs released him on August 29, 2023. The Arizona Cardinals signed Hoskins on October 3, 2023. He made eight tackles (2 solos, 6 assists) in five games. In 2024, he made six tackles (4 solos, 2 assists) and one sack in three preseason games.
The Cardinals released him on August 27, 2024. Then, the Dallas Cowboys signed Hoskins on August 29, 2024. He spent over a month on the practice squad. The Cowboys released him on October 15, 2024.
The St. Louis Battlehawks signed Hoskins on January 14, 2025. In 2025, he made 15 tackles (8 solos, 7 assists) and two pass breakups in nine games. In the UFL playoffs, he made one tackle (1 solo).
Collegiately, Hoskins played three seasons at Kentucky (2017-20) with 52 tackles (25 solos, 28 assists), 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble, one interception, and one pass breakup in 31 games for the Wildcats.
