Former NSU wide receiver Jazz Ferguson drafted by XFL’s D.C. Defenders

NATCHITOCHES – One of Northwestern State’s most productive players is headed back to the XFL.

Wide receiver Jazz Ferguson, who holds NSU single-season records for yardage and touchdown receptions, was selected by the D.C. Defenders in the fourth round of the offensive skill portion of the leaguewide draft Wednesday.

It will be the second stint in the XFL for Ferguson, a 6-foot-5 product of West Feliciana High School who rewrote the Demon record books in his lone season in Natchitoches.

Ferguson spent the 2020 season with the Dallas Renegades, catching nine passes for 54 yards before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the league after five games.

During the 2018 season, Ferguson earned Southland Conference and All-Louisiana Offensive Player of the Year honors, recording 66 catches and establishing school single-season records for receiving yards (1,117) and touchdowns (13).

Ferguson averaged 101.5 receiving yards per game that season.

Ferguson’s record-breaking marks landed him on four FCS All-American teams, earning second-team honors from STATS and third-team acclaim from the Associated Press.

Ferguson’s 13 touchdown receptions are tied for fifth in school history.

Ferguson began his professional football journey by signing as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Seahawks, catching a touchdown pass in his preseason debut with the team in 2019. He later spent time on the Seattle practice squad.

After the pandemic-shortened 2020 XFL season, Ferguson signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League but did not appear in a game.

Ferguson becomes the second former Demon with ties to the D.C. franchise as former Northwestern State offensive coordinator Cody Crill is the team’s tight ends coach.

The eight-team XFL will start play Feb. 18, 2023.