Redskins sign third player out of AAF

Washington Redskins have signed three players out of the AAF.
Photo credit Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

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The Alliance of American Football did not make it a full season, but that hasn't stopped the Skins from raiding the talent pool.

The Washington Redskins nabbed their third former AAF player Thursday when they signed DeMarquis Gates.

Gates, a 23-year-old linebacker, tallied 72 total tackles, a sack, and five forced fumbles in eight games with the Memphis Express after going undated out of Ole Miss in 2018.

After the league folded, Gates told 247Sports he had received calls from some NFL teams and was waiting for an opportunity. He was a member of the Cleveland Browns' training camp roster last season but did not make the team.

"I think I've put enough out there to warrant the attention of somebody," Gates said. "I'm going to be praying for it, and hopefully everything works out in my favor."

Gates joins former Alliance players Andrew Ankrah and Salesi Uhatafe on the Redskins' 90-man roster after they were signed on Monday.
Ankrah, who played linebacker with the Orlando Apollos, is a local product out of Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg and James Madison University.

“I feel like I can be utilized in different ways to play the run and also get after the quarterback, so that’s one of the benefits I’ll bring to this team, just being able to plug different holes,” Ankrah said. “Playing outside linebacker, (defensive end) and then play special teams.”

Ankrah attended rookie minicamps in Tennessee and Seattle after going undrafted in 2018 but failed to catch on with an NFL team.

Uhatafe is a guard out of Utah where he made 38 starts over four seasons.

“It’s been kind of a quick transition going into this, but that was my goal starting in the league was to get back into the NFL,” Uhatafe told Redskins.com about his time in the AAF. “It went as planned, and I think it was good for me in the end -- collect some money and get some film out there.”

He joins the Skins after playing with the Salt Lake Stallions. Uhatafe spent part of 2018 on the Detroit Lions' and Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad after going through preseason with the Atlanta Falcons.

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