Atascocita’s Winningham savoring shot
The last time LuJuan Winningham played a football game in Houston, he was leading Atascocita High School to an overtime upset of North Shore in a 2016 regional final at NRG Stadium.
Winningham returned with the Arlington Renegades on Sunday at TDECU Stadium, facing the host Roughnecks during the second week of the 2023 XFL season. Though the game ended 23-14 in favor of Houston, the former Eagles standout savored the setting.
“I had a nice number of people in the stands rooting for me, rooting against me,” Winningham said. “I just had to go out there and be able to play. It was nice to have people here supporting me and watch me to be able to play football still. I’m just blessed to have the opportunity to be out here playing football in Houston and playing football in general.”
Winningham started at receiver and made three momentum-altering plays in the second quarter as Arlington erased an 11-0 deficit.
He forced a fumble on the return following the Renegades’ third punt of the game, setting them up at the Houston 23. Six plays later, Winningham made his only catch of the game, a 4-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone from Drew Plitt to bring Arlington within 11-6.
Winningham forced a fumble on the next punt return as well, leading to another Arlington touchdown. The Renegades took a 14-11 lead into halftime.
“There’s not really much to say there, I just like to win,” Winningham said. “We were down, somebody needed to make a play and why not me?”
The Renegades went scoreless during the second half, limited to 125 yards while committing three turnovers. Their defense allowed 242 yards and forced three turnovers, following two defensive scores in a 22-20 season-opening victory against the Vegas Vipers.
“Defense played their (tails) off,” Winningham said. “We’ve just got to be better on offense to help support those guys, just be fluid and efficient. That’s really all we need to on offense is be consistent and persistent in what we do.”
Seven years ago, Winningham played a key part in what stands as Atascocita’s best playoff run. The Eagles finished 12-2, with their only defeats against defending state champion North Shore during the regular season and to eventual state champion Austin Lake Travis in the state semifinals.
Winningham was the Eagles’ top receiver as a senior, making 56 catches for 912 yards and 13 touchdowns. His most productive varsity game came in the regional final, with 164 yards and a touchdown in a 33-27 win against the Mustangs.
He signed with the University of Central Arkansas and spent five years with the Bears, including a redshirt season in 2017. His college career totals included 123 catches for 1,879 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Winningham contributed 510 yards and five scores to the Bears’ 9-4 season in 2019, highlighted by a Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth. He followed with 522 yards and a careerhigh 12 touchdowns in 2020.
After a final season of 42 receptions, 700 yards and five touchdowns, Winningham signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent last April. He was with the team through three weeks of the preseason, making a catch against the Oakland Raiders, before being waived by the Jaguars in late August.
Winningham was selected by Arlington during the XFL draft in November, joining a team competing in the South division with Houston, San Antonio and Orlando.
All eight XFL teams have eight games remaining, with hundreds of players like Winningham working their way back to, or to, the NFL.
“That’s always the goal,” Winningham said. “I’d like to make it back to the NFL, and I’d like to get them big checks and be out there, but it’s one step at a time at the end of the day. I know the only thing I can do is build my house, build it brick my brick, start where I’m at. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to be out here playing football, running around healthy.”