Kevin Sumlin and the Houston Gamblers are almost ready to go all in during this upcoming UFL season. Before preparing for kickoff against the Dallas Renegades, though, the Gamblers needed to cut down their roster.
Houston saw quite a bit of roster turnover, with Sumlin protecting several former Roughnecks – but for the most part, re-making this team. Let’s take a look at who was let go at the deadline this Thursday, according to the FOX Sports roster page.
Offensive Cuts
WR Julian Hicks
WR Kobe Hudson
TE Caeleb Bass
OT Cam Carter
OG Dom Boyd
OG/C Dohnovan West
We knew that Houston would have to cut talent from this WR room. It helped that they traded away Braylon Sanders, but unfortunately Julian Hicks finds himself on the outside looking in. It’s a weird move from Houston, given his upside across the board. Also, the Gamblers have kept three tight ends on the roster – cutting Caeleb Bass. During Houston’s single practice we attended, Bass did notch a couple of drops.
Up front, Houston let three linemen go. Cam Carter took some snaps at guard in camp, returning to Houston where he played in 2024. Dohnovan West is a versatile guard/center, but hasn’t seen the field much over the last two seasons in St. Louis. Dom Boyd is a young prospect, signed late last year to Memphis. With the recent addition of Gottlieb Ayedze, the Gamblers feel comfortable with that O-Line unit as is.
Defensive Cuts
DL Ikenna Enechukwu
DE Lonnie Phelps
DE Matt Harmon
DE Gilber Edmond
LB Solomon Deshields
CB Keenan Isaac
CB Zy Alexander
CB Clarence Lewis
S Avery Young
Houston cleared house defensively, with a couple of surprising releases. Lonnie Phelps was trending upwards in camp. He spent time last year with the Brahmas and Roughnecks, and Coach Sumlin had high praise for him a couple weeks back.
DB Keenan Isaac seeing his name on the waiver wire is…odd. He was a full-time starter for the Roughnecks a year ago, with two picks and nine PBU’s to his name. Keenan spent time with the Browns this past preseason. Expect him to land on another roster soon.
The majority of these athletes who were let go are interchangeable with other pieces on the roster. They’re all good players, but the Gamblers aren’t missing out on anything major. Clarence Lewis was a young corner we were hoping to see in action, though. Also, this marks the second time Avery Young was cut from a UFL camp (2025, St. Louis).
Final Thoughts
It’s a brand new era for Houston Gamblers football. They’ve got the classic USFL branding back, but with a new spin under the leadership of Mike Repole. Additionally, Kevin Sumlin is back in the saddle. This is a rather unpredictable group right now, and it will be intriguing to see what they’re capable of come March 28th.
Are you excited for the Gamblers this season? Which players should be brought back? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
