The D.C. Defenders announced the signing of linebacker Macklin Ayers and the release of defensive end Phil Hoskins on Thursday, according to official UFL transaction records. This roster adjustment marks a shift in the team’s defensive lineup ahead of the upcoming season.
Background and College Career of Macklin Ayers
Macklin Ayers stands six feet three inches tall and weighs 230 pounds. A 24-year-old native of Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, Ayers participated in the Cleveland Browns rookie minicamp in 2025. He played four seasons at Dartmouth College from 2020 to 2023, where he accumulated 165 tackles—68 solos and 97 assists—along with 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, an interception for seven yards, and five pass breakups over 28 games.
In 2022, Ayers set his personal best with 80 tackles, including 30 solo stops and 50 assists, plus 1.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup across eight games. His academic and athletic achievements earned him several honors, including Academic All-Ivy League, CSC Academic All-District I, and FCS ADA Academic All-Star recognition.
For the 2024 season, Ayers transferred to the University of Massachusetts, where he recorded 38 tackles, including eight solo and 30 assists, with two tackles for loss, appearing in 12 games for the Minutemen.
Phil Hoskins’ Professional Journey and Release Details
Phil Hoskins, a 28-year-old defensive end from Toledo, Ohio, measuring six feet five inches and weighing 280 pounds, was initially drafted by the D.C. Defenders in the 2026 UFL Draft. Prior to joining the Defenders, Hoskins was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft with the 232nd overall pick.
Hoskins spent two seasons with the Panthers, playing in eight games where he logged six tackles, one tackle for loss, and one sack. He was released by Carolina in January 2023, soon picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs in the same month. After participating in three preseason games in 2023, he was released by the Chiefs in late August.
Following his release, Hoskins signed with the Arizona Cardinals in October 2023. He contributed eight tackles over five games and made six tackles with one sack in three preseason matchups in 2024. The Cardinals released him at the end of August 2024. Subsequently, he joined the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad later that month but was released in mid-October.
Hoskins then signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks in January 2025. During that season, he made 15 tackles, including eight solo stops and seven assists, plus two pass breakups over nine games. He also recorded one solo tackle in the UFL playoffs.
During his college career at the University of Kentucky from 2017 to 2020, Hoskins appeared in 31 games and amassed 52 tackles, including 25 solo and 28 assisted stops, 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble, one interception, and one pass breakup for the Wildcats.
Implications of the Roster Change for the Defenders
The release of Phil Hoskins, a player with extensive experience across multiple NFL and UFL teams, and the addition of Macklin Ayers, a promising young linebacker with solid collegiate credentials, signals a strategic move by the D.C. Defenders to refresh their defensive roster. Ayers’ academic accolades and on-field performance indicate potential for growth within the team’s defense. Meanwhile, the departure of Hoskins ends a tenure marked by various professional opportunities but limited extended engagement.
This change may affect team dynamics and defensive strategies as the Defenders prepare for their upcoming season matchups. Observers will watch to see how Ayers acclimates to the professional level and how the team compensates for Hoskins’ absence on the defensive line.
REMOVED FROM ROSTER:
DALLAS
RB, Isaiah SpillerDC
DE, Phil HoskinsHOUSTON
CB, Clarence Lewis
T, Jordan WilliamsLOUISVILLE
RB, Kalen Ballage
G, Logan Bruss
C, Matthew Cindric
C, Doug KramerST. LOUIS
WR, Gary Jennings Jr.
G, Addison West— UFL Communications Department (@UFL_PR) February 20, 2026
