On Wednesday, we saw a few transactions go down in the UFL. Those included the Michigan Panthers signing DE Ron Stone Jr., and the Arlington Renegades bringing in WR Devion Clayton.
DE Ron Stone Jr. | Michigan Panthers
Breaking: The Michigan Panthers have signed DE Ron Stone Jr.@Rj___Stone played his college ball at Washington State, racking up an outstanding 202 tackles & 16 sacks.
Recently spent time with the #Raiders. Another solid pickup for the @USFLPanthers. #UFL pic.twitter.com/rBLcb0A4G6
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) February 6, 2025
The Michigan Panthers have a loaded EDGE room, especially with the recent return of Breeland Speaks. This is a group that features Speaks, Levi Bell, Ron’Dell Carter, Kenny Willekes, and Mika Tafua already. Now, they add a young prospect in Ron Stone Jr. – who brings quite a bit of potential to the table.
Stone played his college football at Washington State, and immediately made an impact as a freshman totaling 31 tackles and 2.5 sacks. After a shortened 2020 season, Ron earned All-Pac-12 Conference First Team honors in 2021 after totaling 63 tackles, 11.5 TFL’s, and five sacks. He was the first Cougar to be named to a First Team since Hercules Mata’afa – the former New Jersey General.
Ron Stone Jr of @WSUCougarFB with a great rush angle off the edge. @Rj___Stone engages the OL with power/out-leverages him
Stone Jr separates, swipes the hands away & gets the strip sack, which leads to a TD! #NFLDraft
If you beat the hands, you beat the man!
📸 @NFLDraftStudy pic.twitter.com/KkqiQ7aQmQ
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) April 9, 2024
Ron finished his college career with 202 tackles, 31.5 TFL’s, 16 tackles, and five forced fumbles. This earned Stone an NFL opportunity with the Raiders this past preseason, where he posted two tackles in three games.
Now, Ron Stone Jr. will look to get his pro career off the ground in the UFL, with the Panthers. Michigan boasts some of the top defensive coaches in the league in Collin Bauer and Christian Runza – so his development will certainly be in good hands.
WR Devion Clayton | Arlington Renegades
News: The Arlington Renegades have signed WR Devion Clayton.
Clayton is a fascinating story – not playing a single down of college ball, but instead was a track star.
Clayton was in #XFL camp with the Vipers in '23; and had signed a LOI with Arlington pre-merger. #UFL
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) February 6, 2025
Now this signing is a bit strange. Devion Clayton has been picked up by the Arlington Renegades, after previously signing a LOI with the team before the merger killed his opportunity. Clayton is no stranger to spring football, having spent time with the Vegas Vipers in XFL camp in 2023.
What makes Clayton’s story so odd: he never played college football. His last true football played was in high school, where he had 741 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a senior at Silverado. Devion ran track in college for a while, but an injury kept him off the track field for a while.
While he continued to train – and even had the help of former NFL great Randall Cunningham – Devion couldn’t find a home. That all changed when Rod Woodson gave him an opportunity with Vegas, after watching how quickly he ran.
I am being told a kid named Devion Clayton showed up to a combine in Arizona and ran a 4.21 with times in the 4.1's.
He has never played college football and is a pro track guy.
6’5
2155 stop watches: 4.19, 4.15, 4.21, 4.17, 4.21.
— Draft Diamonds ™️ (@DraftDiamonds) July 24, 2023
Clearly, GM Rick Mueller sees something in Clayton that he likes. This is the second time that Arlington has signed him to a contract – and this time, he’ll look to actually make it to Training Camp.
What are your thoughts on Ron Stone Jr. signing with Michigan? Will Devion Clayton surprise us in camp? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
