Who are Willie Harvey Jr. and Gareon Conley, the UFL players signed by the Dallas Cowboys?

The Dallas Cowboys have had luck with players from the pro spring football well before, with special teams players KaVontae Turpin and Brandon Aubrey finding success on the team. Now they’re hoping to find that same success after signing two players from the United Football League to the defense: St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Will Harvey Jr. and the latest, D.C. Defenders cornerback Gareon Conley.

What is the UFL?

In case you’re unfamiliar, the United Football League is the result of the merger between the XFL and the USFL (two football minor leagues). The two leagues joined forces and began play in March 2024. It now consists of eight total teams which were previously a part of the two minor leagues.

The UFL is often where younger, less utilized players go, or even some who have yet to reach their full potential. Sometimes, though, veterans will go into the league looking for a comeback.

Who is Gareon Conley?

Cornerback Gareon Conley is one such veteran case. Conley played college football at Ohio State and was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, 24th overall. He was signed to a four-year deal, but his first season was marred by injury. In his second season with the Raiders, he struggled to find his place at first, but eventually proved himself as a valuable shutdown cornerback. Conley was traded in the middle of the 2019 season to the Houston Texans and played his first game for them in Week 8 against his former team, when he recorded four tackles in the Texans win over the Raiders.

Unfortunately, the rest of his NFL career was tainted by injuries. In 2020, he was placed on the active PUP list and eventually on injured reserve, and became a free agent in 2021.

In 2023, Conley signed with the DC Defenders of the UFL, where he played under the leadership of coach Reggie Barlow. He had an impressive season, playing in seven games and recording 25 tackles (20 solos), and tied as the leader in interceptions with two.

Who is Willie Harvey Jr.?

Linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. played college football at Iowa State and went on to sign as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns after the 2019 NFL Draft. He spent the next three years being shuffled between the active roster, practice squad, and free agency. He only played in two regular season games for the Browns in 2019 and two in 2021, with a total of just two tackles.

When the Browns finally waived Harvey for the last time in 2022, he was selected by the Battlehawks in the 2022 XFL Draft. There, he was able to start revitalizing his career.

After one season in the XFL, Harvey continued to play in the UFL in 2023. He led the league in tackles and led all linebackers in tackles for loss, passes defended, as well as forced fumbles. He earned All-UFL honors and now has a chance to redeem himself in the NFL.