The D.C. Defenders signed defensive end Khairi Manns on Tuesday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Khairi Manns is six foot three and weighs 240 pounds. A native of New Rochelle, New York, Manns attended the New York Giants rookie minicamp in 2025.
Collegiately, Manns spent three seasons at the University of Maine (2020-22) with 108 tackles (31 solos, 77 assists), 15.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 26 games for the Black Bears. In 2022, he made 43 tackles (8 solos, 35 assists), 6.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, and one forced fumble in 11 games.
Next, he transferred to Colorado in 2023 with nine tackles (6 solos, 3 assists), one tackle for loss, and one sack in 11 games for the Buffaloes. Then, he transferred to James Madison University in 2024 with a career-high 66 tackles (28 solos, 38 assists), 12.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 13 games for the Dukes. He was named Second Team All-Sun Belt, First Team All-ECAC, First Team VaSID All-State, Third Team All-American by HERO Sports, and JMU’s Defensive Lineman of the Year.
