The New Jersey Generals have re-signed five players with expiring USFL contracts for the 2024 season. The team has announced these transactions as free-agent signings because, technically, the five players signed had their initial two-year league contracts run out once the USFL 2023 season ended.
It’s unknown and unconfirmed as of press time, however the early word through sourcing is that the new USFL contracts are for two seasons with the usual NFL offseason out baked within the contract.
Free Agent Signing:
• RB Kingston Davis • S Dravon Askew-Henry • OT Calvin Ashley
New Jersey Generals Bring Back Core Players From The Last Two Seasons
The Generals are bringing back RB Kingston Davis, S Dravon Askew-Henry, OT Calvin Ashley, TE Wes Saxton, and OT Isaiah Battle. All five players have been a part of a New Jersey team that relaunched in 2022 alongside the revived United States Football League.
Expect more re-signings by all USFL teams as the offseason progresses. The Generals are fast at work, retaining their core.
Kingston Davis joined the Generals during the 2022 season. The former Miles College standout has served as mostly a backup to league standouts Darius Victor and Trey Williams. He has had 21 carries for 89 yards and 51 yards receiving in a reserve role. However, Davis, the 6’2, 225lb bruiser, could be in line for an increased role next season. Especially considering the fallout that took place at seasons’s end between New Jersey’s coaching staff and veteran Trey Williams.
Defensive Back Dravon Askew-Henry has been one of the better players in spring pro football since 2020. The WVU standout, and cousin of legendary Hall Of Fame cornerback Darrelle Revis, has been a jack of all trades in the secondary. The safety/nickel cornerback has had 65 tackles and two interceptions for New Jersey since 2022.
Offensive Linemen Calvin Ashley is one of the more unique redemption stories in the USFL. The former five-star recruit out of Florida has developed nicely in the pros as a swing guard/tackle with New Jersey. In 2023, Calvin Ashley was once again a part of the USFL’s top rushing attack, earning first-team All-USFL honors at guard.
Tight End Wes Saxton is a veteran of the alternative pro football league universe. The soon-to-be 30-year-old Alabama product has played in the AAF, XFL, and now the USFL for the last two seasons. Prior to that, Saxton spent time with seven different NFL teams. With the Generals, he has mostly been in a reserve role as a veteran mentor on offense and special teams. He has recorded 8 receptions for 80 yards in two seasons.
Brooklyn-born Offensive Tackle Isaiah Battle, a former fifth-round supplemental draft pick by the then St. Louis Rams in 2015, after years of toling around on the fringe of rosters, has found a playing home outside the NFL. The 6’7 310lb veteran was acquired by the Generals from the Pittsburgh Maulers in October of 2022. Pittsburgh drafted Battle in the sixth-round of the revived USFL Draft but didn’t report to the team. However, he reunited with Mike Riley after his rights to the Maulers were transferred to the Generals.
Saxton whose been in pro football since 2015 returns to the @USFLGenerals for his 5th season in Alt Football.
Battle stays with Mike Riley where the two have been together since 2020 in the XFL https://t.co/9VeSqFDhnt
The existence of the USFL has afforded so many players the opportunity to start, continue and advance their professional careers. These latest signings are a great sign of progress and highlight the success of the USFL returning for a year three. Players who may have otherwise not continued their playing journeys in the United States have found permanent homes. For the third year in a row. Considering that the average NFL career is only four years. That’s a big deal.
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I am happy to see the Generals putting some of their pieces together. I hope this is a sign Mike Riley will still look to be coaching the Gens next year. I am looking for the biggest change to be at quarterback and maybe wide receiver. I think the major stepping stone here is gwtting the Generals actually in New Jersey. There are a LOT of New Jersey families that would love to take advantage of the USFL family pricing model and wpild be happy to take the whole family out. Things are expensive in New Jetsey, they would jump at a fair priced opportunity. Then the Gens can sign a top tier QB. I am not saying to get rid of DJ altogether, because I like him in packages. He puts a lot of pressure on the defense as they don’t know if Darius Victor or he is going to run, then once he keeps it they don’t know if he is gong to keep or pass it. DJ puta a lot of pressure on opposing defenses and once those defenders. ite he can beat them with the long pass. All great traits, but he doesn’t keep the offense on the field near often enough. If DJ wants to go somewhere else to start maybe we can trade him for a good receiver that feels he is not being used correctly, say Bailey Gaither. We need a home so people want to be a General. They would be so happy to have a REAL authentic fan base, that they can see and hear.
Ken Granito
July 12, 2023 at 11:50 am
I am happy to see the Generals putting some of their pieces together. I hope this is a sign Mike Riley will still look to be coaching the Gens next year. I am looking for the biggest change to be at quarterback and maybe wide receiver. I think the major stepping stone here is gwtting the Generals actually in New Jersey. There are a LOT of New Jersey families that would love to take advantage of the USFL family pricing model and wpild be happy to take the whole family out. Things are expensive in New Jetsey, they would jump at a fair priced opportunity. Then the Gens can sign a top tier QB. I am not saying to get rid of DJ altogether, because I like him in packages. He puts a lot of pressure on the defense as they don’t know if Darius Victor or he is going to run, then once he keeps it they don’t know if he is gong to keep or pass it. DJ puta a lot of pressure on opposing defenses and once those defenders. ite he can beat them with the long pass. All great traits, but he doesn’t keep the offense on the field near often enough. If DJ wants to go somewhere else to start maybe we can trade him for a good receiver that feels he is not being used correctly, say Bailey Gaither. We need a home so people want to be a General. They would be so happy to have a REAL authentic fan base, that they can see and hear.