The AAF may have folded, but at the very least, it proved to be a solid springboard back to the NFL for former Ole Miss linebacker DeMarquis Gates.

Gates played for the Memphis Express in the AAF but following the sudden ending of the league, the former Rebel defender has been signed by the Washington Redskins. The NFL franchise announced the signing on Thursday.

This will be Gates second shot at an NFL career after he was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft.

Gates racked up 282 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, six sacks and forced three fumbles during his four seasons in Oxford from 2014-2017. Gates led Ole Miss in tackles for three consecutive seasons, spanning his sophomore to senior season, during his playing career.