MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE — The Delta Blues concluded their DFL Draft by selecting University of New Hampshire wide receiver Stellan Rhodes with the 22nd overall pick, adding a polished and dependable receiving option near the end of the final round of the draft.

Rhodes, a native of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, followed an unconventional path to professional football. Despite excelling in multiple sports as a young athlete, he received limited recruiting attention and elected to remain close to home at the University of New Hampshire in the Coastal Athletic Association.

There, Rhodes built his reputation through preparation, consistency and a willingness to fill whatever role his team required. Coaches praised his dependable hands, precise approach and professionalism, while teammates came to view him as one of the most trusted figures in the locker room.

“We had Stellan rated considerably higher than where we were able to select him,” team owner Madison Hillman said. “He may not have received the attention that some other receivers did, but every time we evaluated him, we saw a player who understood his assignment, caught the football and helped his team function better.”

The organization was particularly impressed by his route discipline, reliable hands and ability to remain composed in pressure situations.

Off the field, Rhodes is known as thoughtful, articulate and even-keeled. His leadership style is built around example rather than speeches, providing a calming presence during both success and adversity.

The selection gives the Blues another potential weapon as they reshape an offense that scored 223 points last season and finished the year on a winning streak although the team finished the year at large with a losing record. Rhodes joins third-overall pick Devin Chapa as part of a draft class designed to give the offense greater stability, discipline and versatility.