It was a reunion when Sean Fresch Jr. stepped on the practice field with Jahdae Barron at the Broncos’ mandatory minicamp earlier this week.

Fresch grew up in Austin, Texas, knowing Barron well. And when Denver signed Fresch last Monday from the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League, he became teammates with Barron, a fellow cornerback who is entering his second Broncos season.

“I’ve known Jahdae since we were little kids,” Fresch, 24, told The Denver Gazette. “We went to the same private school, East Austin Prep. And before that, he was with the Cougars and I was with the Steelers (in the same youth football league).”

And there’s more.

“We’ve got the same trainer in Bernard Blake,” Fresch said of Blake, who runs BAM Performance in Austin after being a Colorado State cornerback from 2011 to 2014.

One big difference, though, is Barron was a first-round pick by the Broncos in 2025 out of Texas while Fresch went undrafted that year out of Rice. The 5-foot-9, 181-pound Fresch had been trying valiantly since then to get an NFL job.

Fresch finished the 2025 season by playing in two games with the San Antonio Brahmas, then a team in the spring UFL. He had a workout with the Philadelphia Eagles last summer but wasn’t signed.

It was back to the UFL this season for Fresch. He was a stalwart as a nickel back but, more important for the Broncos, was an All-UFL punt returner. He averaged 10.4 yards on his 32 returns.

“I feel amazing,” Fresch said about signing with Denver. “It’s my first NFL contract. I’m on top of the world right now. It’s a great team to be a part of.”

Fresch had a workout with the Broncos on June 11 and felt good after it about being signed. Now he’s hopeful of not having to look for a job later this year.

Last fall, with the UFL season over, Fresch did what he could to earn some money.

“I didn’t play at all last fall and during that time, I had to find work,” said Fresch, who earned a sports management degree at Rice. “So I found a job at Illuminate Sweat (in Houston). I was a fitness coach there for about five months.”

Fresch taught 10 CrossFit classes a week with class sizes ranging from 10 to 24. He also worked in sales, looking to sign up members at Illuminate Sweat.

Then it was back to football.

With the Battlehawks, Fresch was an effective defensive back, having 33 tackles, with two being sacks and four pass breakups in 2026. He said he plays an “aggressive” style of defense he believes will fit in well with the Broncos.

But Fresch did much of his damage on special teams. He also had three kickoff returns for 85 yards.

“I think I’m quick,” Fresch said of being the All-UFL punt returner. “I’ve had some good success catching the ball. No muffs this season. … I didn’t have a lot of fair catches. I was trying to make a play every time.”

Denver special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi is looking for returners to provide support for Marvin Mims Jr., who handles punt and kickoff duties. Mims, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, is entering the final year of his contract, so the Broncos also are looking around in the event he isn’t back in 2027.

The Broncos last month signed undrafted free-agent wide receivers Kolbe Katsis from Northern Arizona and Cam Ross from Virginia while being intrigued by their return abilities. Now they have Fresch.

“He’s a returner, got quick change of direction,” said Broncos coach Sean Payton.

Denver last Monday also signed wide receiver Hakeem Butler, Fresch’s teammate last season with the Battlehawks and the UFL Offensive Player of the Year for them in 2024 and 2026. The Broncos have in recent years looked closely at players in the UFL, and in 2024 they came up big in signing outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman away from the Birmingham Stallions.

“I asked the question of the scouts the other day like, ‘UFL or (Canadian Football League)? Where are we getting the better (players)?'” Payton said. “I think the (UFL is) kind of becoming that, ‘OK, where’s the next market?’ They’re getting developed somewhere. Where are they if they’re not in our league? I think to their league’s credit, it’s helping us.”

If all goes well for Fresch, he won’t need to be back at Illuminate Sweat this fall.