USA TODAY International Edition
Revamped XFL kicks off another football season
Check out 10 players you might recognize, plus a preview of all eight teams.
Dallas Renegades
Head coach/ GM: Bob Stoops
Projected starting QB: Landry Jones ( Oklahoma)
Other notable names: DE Frank Alexander ( Oklahoma); RB Cameron Artis- Payne ( Auburn); WR Jeff Badet ( Oklahoma); RB Lance Dunbar ( North Texas); WR Jazz Ferguson ( Northwestern State)
The skinny: Dallas is the preseason favorite in Las Vegas, in large part because it has two of the league’s most well- known faces: Stoops and Jones. Stoops’ name has been thrown around for both college and NFL jobs for more than a year now, and Jones – his former quarterback at Oklahoma – was the first player to sign a contract with the XFL. ( It’s unclear, however, whether the former Steelers backup will be ready to start in the opener after he suffered a knee injury in practice early last month.) The Renegades should, at the very least, have one of the league’s most exciting offenses under offensive coordinator Hal Mumme, the architect of the Air Raid. And they’ve got a good mix of familiar faces from the NFL ( including Lance Dunbar) and potential hidden gems, such as Ferguson. On defense, keep an eye on safety Derron Smith, who bounced around a few practice squads in the NFL but could shine with consistent playing time.
D. C. Defenders
Head coach/ GM: Pep Hamilton
Projected starting QB: Cardale Jones ( Ohio State)
Other notable names: QB Tyree Jackson ( Buffalo); S Matt Elam ( Florida); RB Donnel Pumphrey ( San Diego State); WR Rashad Ross ( Arizona State); LB Scooby Wright ( Arizona)
The skinny: Hamilton is a renowned assistant, having worked closely with Andrew Luck both at Stanford and with the Colts, but he has never been a head coach in college or the NFL. Jones, meanwhile, has star potential but carries question marks. He really hasn’t received regular playing time since college. And Jackson could challenge him a bit as the year goes on. D. C. is loaded with recognizable names at the other skill positions too. Pumphrey, the Football Bowl Subdivision’s all- time leader in rushing yards, will share carries with New Mexico product Jhurell Pressley. Ross, ex- NFLers Simmie Cobbs and Eli Rogers, and Air Force graduate Jalen Rowell will be at receiver. And the defense will be led by Elam, who started 26 games for the Ravens in 2013 and 2014.
Houston Roughnecks
Head coach/ GM: June Jones
Starting QB: P. J. Walker ( Temple)
Other notable names: LB Carl Bradford ( Arizona State); WR Sammie Coates ( Auburn); QB Connor Cook ( Michigan State); CB Ajene Harris ( Southern California); RB Andre Williams ( Boston College)
The skinny: The Roughnecks had one of the XFL’s most interesting preseason quarterback competitions with Cook and Walker. And they announced this week the starter will be Walker, who was undrafted out of Temple and spent parts of two years on the Colts’ practice squad. He’s a bit more mobile than Cook and terrific when it comes to improvising outside the pocket, so don’t be surprised if he has some success – especially within Jones’ system. Coates figures to be Walker’s top target. He was marginally productive with a few NFL teams, including the Steelers, but has a lot of physical tools. And Houston’s secondary, though young, has potential with guys like Harris and Saivion Smith, who is just a little more than a year removed from his last game at Alabama.
Los Angeles Wildcats
Head coach/ GM: Winston Moss
Projected starting QB: Josh Johnson ( San Diego)
Other notable names: RB Elijah Hood ( North Carolina); LB Anthony Johnson ( LSU); WR Tre McBride ( William & Mary); K Nick Novak ( Maryland); WR Nelson Spruce ( Colorado)
The skinny: Expect the Wildcats to reflect the old school mentality of their head coach, a former linebacker and longtime Packers assistant. And expect Johnson, one of the league’s most highly coveted quarterbacks, to have a lot of success under the guidance of offensive coordinator Norm Chow, the former Hawaii coach who has a track record of directing prolific attacks. The receiving corps might be short on name recognition, but guys like McBride, Spruce and Saeed Blacknall all have the potential to be playmakers. And the team’s pass rush could wind up being a force. One defender to watch there will be Shawn Oakman, one of the players at the center of the Baylor sexual assault scandal. He went undrafted after being accused of rape. A Texas jury found him not guilty on that charge last year.
New York Guardians
Head coach/ GM: Kevin Gilbride
Projected starting QB: Matt McGloin ( Penn State)
Other notable names: DL TJ Barnes ( Georgia Tech); RB Tim Cook III ( Oregon State); WR Joe Horn Jr. ( Missouri Western); QB Luis Perez ( Texas A& M Commerce); CB Jamar Summers ( Connecticut)
The skinny: Gilbride has been a coach for more than 40 years, and he won two Super Bowls with the Giants. Though his background is on the offensive side, the strength of this team will likely be on defense – particularly in the secondary, where Summers, Demetrious Cox and A. J. Hendy are among those who got a proverbial cup of coffee in the NFL. New York seems to have three capable QB options – McGloin, Perez and North Carolina product Marquise Williams – but no clear standout. Having Cook in the backfield should help.
Seattle Dragons
Head coach/ GM: Jim Zorn
Starting QB: Brandon Silvers ( Troy)
Other notable names: RB Kenneth Farrow ( Houston); LB Steven Johnson ( Kansas); WR Keenan Reynolds ( Navy); DT Will Sutton ( Arizona State); RB Trey Williams ( Texas A& M)
The skinny: Zorn, 66, is back in coaching after about an eight- year hiatus, which came just a few years after his brief stint as head coach of the Redskins. Mike Riley, the former Nebraska coach, is his offensive coordinator. And there are plenty of recognizable names on the roster, too, including guys like Johnson ( the former NFL linebacker) and Reynolds ( who starred as a quarterback at Navy). It’ll be hard to get a real sense of the Dragons’ identity until they take the field, but this offense has the potential to do some interesting things in the ground game with Farrow and Williams.
St. Louis BattleHawks
Head coach/ GM: Jonathan Hayes
Starting QB: Jordan Ta’amu ( Mississippi)
Other notable names: RB Matt Jones ( Florida); P Marquette King ( Fort Valley State); RB Christine Michael ( Texas A& M); WR Keith Mumphrey ( Michigan State); S Kenny Robinson ( West Virginia)
The skinny: Hayes is probably the biggest unknown among the XFL’s coaches, as he’s spent most of his career as a position coach working with tight ends. If roster construction is any indication, he’ll be looking to pound the ball on the ground. The BattleHawks have a mammoth offensive line, with the nine linemen on their roster clocking in at an average size of 6- 5 and 311 pounds. Jones, a notably bruising back, will be among those running behind them. Safety Will Hill figures to be the leader on defense, though Robinson could end up being the most interesting story. The 21- year- old is the first player to join the XFL with college eligibility still remaining. He’s opted to use the league’s season as his predraft showcase.
Tampa Bay Vipers
Head coach/ GM: Marc Trestman
Starting QB: Aaron Murray ( Georgia)
Other notable names: QB/ RB Quinton Flowers ( South Florida); C Jordan McCray ( Central Florida); RB De’Veon Smith ( Michigan); WR Jalen Tolliver ( Arkansas- Monticello); TE Nick Truesdell ( Grand Rapids Community College)
The skinny: The challenge will be to maximize the potential of a roster filled with guys who have been overlooked for one reason or another. Truesdell was a small- school prospect who has since bounced around some fringe leagues and NFL practice squads. Smith was deemed to slow. Defensive tackle Nikita Whitlock ( 5- 10, 250) was thought to be too short. And so on. Murray, the former Georgia quarterback who was briefly a backup in the NFL, will need to be consistent for Tampa Bay to have the kind of success that oddsmakers have predicted. But with Trestman at the helm, and the potential for some gadget plays with guys like Flowers, this team will at the very least be fun to watch.