Over the weekend, the New Orleans Breakers signed three new players, including former CFL running back Wes Hills, former UCF offensive tackle Marcus Tatum, and cornerback Bryce Watts.
RB – Wes Hills
College: Deleware (2013 – 2016), Slippery Rock (2018)
College Accolades: First-Team All-PSAC West (2018), Second-Team Associated Press Division II All-America (2018), Third-Team All-CAA (2016)
Pro Experience: Arizona Cardinals (2019), Detroit Lions (2019), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2021 – 2022)
Wes Hills played 4 seasons at Deleware before transferring to Slippery Rock for his final year of eligibility. Over his collegiate career, he appeared in 44 games (18 starts), totaling 532 rush attempts for 3,563 yards and 31 touchdowns between the FCS and NCAA II ranks.
By the time Hills finished his collegiate career, he’d set Slippery Rock’s single-season rushing record (1,714 yards). Additionally, he earned several honors, including First Team All-PSAC West (2018), Second-Team Associated Press Division II All-America (2018), and Third-Team All-CAA (2016).
Hills was also selected to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, which he’d be named the MVP of, and was chosen to play in the Senior Bowl.
After the 2019 NFL Draft, Hills signed a 3-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent. Unfortunately, he’d be waived at the team’s final roster cuts.
In October 2019, Hills signed with the Detroit Lions practice squad and was eventually promoted to the active roster on December 14th against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He scored two touchdowns on two 1-yard runs but was sent back to the practice squad after the game and remained there for the rest of the season. He was waived in September 2020.
In March 2021, Hills signed with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats but spent most of his two seasons on their practice squad. Over his CFL career, he’d appear in 7 games (6 starts), totaling 73 attempts for 404 yards and 1 touchdown. The Ti-Cats released Hills in February 2023. There were rumors he’d sign with the Ottawa Redblacks in free agency before deciding to head home to the US and joining the USFL.
OT – Marcus Tatum
College: Tennessee (2016 – 2019), UCF (2020 – 2021)
College Accolades: Earned AAC All-Academic Team honors (2020), Earned second-team All-AAC honors (2021), honorable mention All-AAC honors (2021)
Pro Experience: Jacksonville Jaguars (2022)
Marcus Tatum played 4 seasons at Tennessee before transferring to UCF for his final two years of eligibility. Over his college career, Tatum appeared in 53 games (29 starts), helping lead his teams to winning records in 4 of his 6 seasons.
By the time his collegiate career had ended, Tatum had earned AAC All-Academic Team honors (2020), Earned second-team All-AAC honors (2021), and honorable mention All-AAC honors (2021).
After the 2022 NFL Draft, Tatum signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. Unfortunately, he’d be waived before the start of the regular season.
CB – Bryce Watts
College: Virginia Tech (2017 – 2018), North Carolina (2019 – 2020), Massachusetts (2021)
College Accolades: N/A
Pro Experience: Pittsburgh Steelers (2022), St Louis Battlehawks (2022), Arlington Renegades (2022)
Bryce Watts spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Virginia Tech before transferring to North Carolina. He’d spent another two seasons with North Carolina before transferring again and spending his final year of college eligibility at Massachusetts. In 36 games (20 starts), Watts totaled 72 tackles (53 solo/ 19 assisted), 7 interceptions, and 11 pass deflections.
After the 2022 NFL Draft, Watts signed as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he’d be released before the season kicked off. Most recently, Watts signed with the XFL’s St Louis Battlehawks, who traded him to the XFL’s Arlington Renegades ahead of their season kicking off. He’d be released at the team’s final roster cuts at the beginning of February.
