Devere Levelston Bio
Devere Levelston (born April 5, 2001) is an American professional football defensive end. He played college football at SMU and entered the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Seahawks in 2024. Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and competing at 281 lb (127 kg), Levelston has built his career as a pass rusher, first in the National Football League and later in the United Football League (UFL).
Early Life and Background
Levelston was born on April 5, 2001, in DeSoto, Texas. He grew up in the same Dallas-area community where he would later become a high school standout, surrounded by one of the strongest football pipelines in the state of Texas. From an early age, he gravitated toward the defensive side of the ball, where his size and length made him a natural fit along the line of scrimmage.
He attended DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas, where he developed into a Division I prospect. The DeSoto program is widely recognized for producing collegiate and professional talent, and Levelston used that environment to refine the techniques that would later define his college career. His senior seasons positioned him as a recruitable college athlete, leading to his first collegiate opportunity at the junior college level.
Path to American Football
Following his graduation from DeSoto High School, Levelston began his college football journey at Tyler Junior College in 2019. The junior college route gave him the chance to gain meaningful playing time and showcase his skills on a broader stage. After one season at Tyler JC, he attracted attention from four-year programs and made the decision to transfer to Southern Methodist University (SMU).
At SMU, Levelston played from 2020 through 2023, appearing in 46 games across his four seasons with the Mustangs. His production grew steadily, and he finished his SMU career with 90 total tackles, 11 sacks for 66 yards, one fumble recovery, and two blocked kicks. That senior résumé earned him an invitation to the 2024 NFL process, even though he ultimately went undrafted.
Devere Levelston Career
Early Career (2024)
After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, Levelston signed a three-year, $2.833 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks on May 3, 2024. The deal reflected the Seahawks’ interest in adding depth along the defensive line, and Levelston entered a crowded room of pass rushers competing for roster spots.
His initial stint in Seattle was brief. He was waived on August 27, 2024, as the Seahawks trimmed their roster ahead of the regular season, but he was quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad. Levelston remained with the Seattle practice squad for most of the season before being released on December 17, 2024, closing out his first professional chapter.
Memphis Showboats Breakthrough (2025)
Following his release from the Seahawks, Levelston turned to spring football. On April 22, 2025, he signed with the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League, the spring league that merged the former USFL and XFL properties. The move gave him a chance to return to an active roster and resume his developmental arc as a pass rusher.
With the Showboats, Levelston stepped into a featured role on the defensive line, applying the technique and strength he had honed at SMU. His 2025 campaign in the UFL helped reestablish him as a prospect with starting potential at the professional level, setting the stage for the next phase of his career.
Louisville Kings Era (2026–Present)
On January 13, 2026, Levelston was selected by the Louisville Kings in the 2026 UFL Draft, marking his second UFL stop. He joined the Kings wearing jersey No. 96 and was listed as an active defensive end on the roster. The selection reflected a fresh start and a clear opportunity to compete for meaningful snaps in the UFL’s spring season.
Levelston’s early tenure with the Kings has already produced a team milestone. He is recognized as a UFL champion (2026), a credit to the Kings’ spring title run. The combination of a stable roster spot and a winning locker room has positioned him to continue building his professional profile.
Notable Events and Milestones
Levelston’s most notable professional milestone to date is his 2026 UFL championship won as a member of the Louisville Kings. He also reached the NFL ranks as an undrafted free agent in 2024, signed a three-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks, and logged practice-squad experience in Seattle. His 11 collegiate sacks at SMU remain a defining statistical benchmark of his developmental years.
Devere Levelston Career Stats and Contract
Levelston entered professional football in 2024 and has since spent time in both the NFL and the UFL. He signed a three-year, $2,833,000 contract with the Seattle Seahawks that runs through 2027, and he has also suited up for the Memphis Showboats (2025) and the Louisville Kings (2026–present), where he is listed as an active defensive end wearing No. 96.
Devere Levelston Personal Life
Levelston was born and raised in DeSoto, Texas, the same community where he attended high school and first gained local recognition as a football player. He is an American citizen and has spent the majority of his life and career in the state of Texas. Public details about his immediate family, marital status, or personal life outside of football are not widely documented, and he is primarily known for his work on the defensive line.
2025 Season Performance
Levelston’s 2025 season unfolded with the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League. After signing on April 22, 2025, he slotted into the Showboats’ defensive line rotation and provided an interior and edge pass-rushing presence built on the frame he had refined at SMU. The spring schedule gave him a full season of game action to translate his practice-squad experience in Seattle into live defensive reps.
Midway through 2025, the season was about reestablishing momentum and sharpening his craft at the professional level. Levelston leaned on his college résumé of 11 sacks and 90 tackles to earn trust within the Showboats’ defensive scheme. His performance throughout the UFL spring season positioned him as a candidate for the league’s draft process at year’s end.
Looking back on 2025, the year closed with a major step forward: on January 13, 2026, Levelston was selected by the Louisville Kings in the 2026 UFL Draft. That selection capped a 2025 campaign in which he returned to active game play, refined his professional approach, and laid the groundwork for the championship-level role he would assume with the Kings in the following spring.