Philadelphia, PA - The Philadelphia Stars added explosiveness and experience to their defense over the off-season, adding former Villanova defensive back Denzel Williams and University of Buffalo linebacker Kadofi Wright. The signings add much-needed versatility to the Stars defensive unit, with the USFL runner-ups finishing seventh in both rushing and passing yards allowed last season.
Denzel Williams joins Philadelphia after a successful two-year stint with the Wildcats and practice squad stints with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, playing both Cornerback and Safety for the 2021 Wildcats team that won the Colonial Athletic Association Championship. Williams stifled opposing offenses in a multitude of ways in his redshirt senior season, finishing with 16 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 11 games. Though he played a majority of his snaps at the cornerback position in his final collegiate season, Williams proved to be one of the most versatile defensive backs in the FCS, with strong technique and lateral quickness that makes him capable of matching up with wideouts and running backs in man coverage. Listed at 5-10 and 190 pounds, Williams immediately becomes one of the most explosive defensive players in all of the USFL, running 4.47 in the 40 and posting a 37 inch vertical at his collegiate pro day. On top of all of his measurables, Williams' intangibles will excite Stars fans as well, as he has contributed to winning at every level of his football life so far. He won multiple state titles as a three-sport athlete at Newfield High School, a Northeast Conference title at Sacred Heart and finally a CAA title during his final season with Villanova.
Kadofi Wright joins Philadelphia after an extremely successful collegiate career at Buffalo, becoming a three-time all-MAC linebacker and even being put on the Lombardi Award watch list ahead of the 2021 NCAA football season. Standing at an imposing 6’3 inches and weighing in at 230 pounds, Wright adds truly elite athleticism to the Stars locker room. Wright presents a matchup nightmare at Outside Linebacker for the rest of the USFL, with his rare combination of size, speed (4.52 40 yard dash), and awareness making him an asset both in coverage and as a run stopper. In his final season at Buffalo, Wright made an impact in all facets of the game; recording 49 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 17 passes deflected, 3 forced fumbles, and 4 fumble recoveries in 11 games for the Bulls. With the ability to use his physical gifts to stifle the offense at the line of scrimmage and the soft hands and awareness needed to cover skill position players in coverage, Wright figures to make an immediate impact in Philadelphia.
Wright and Williams join a Philadelphia Stars team that went 6-4 last season and narrowly lost to the Birmingham Stallions for the USFL title, but gave up over 345 all-purpose yards per game - last in the USFL by over 20 yards. Both players figure to provide immediate upgrades for defensive coordinator Brad Miller and bolster the teams chances to make back-to-back trips to the championship game.
What do you think of the additions of Denzel Wright and Kadofi Wright to the Stars? Join the discussion and let us know in the official USFL Discord!
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