Preseason All-XFL team: Predicting which players will shine in league’s inaugural season
When the XFL begins its inaugural season Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on ABC with the D.C. Defenders hosting the Seattle Dragons, there will understandably be some confusion among viewers.
Who are these guys? Oh yeah, I remember him!
Many of the figures will be unfamiliar. Some of the players are recognizable, whether they began their professional career on NFL teams or were college standouts. But there are not many household names. Perhaps by season’s end, some players’ performances will lead to increased popularity due to their on-field success.
With that in mind, it’s time to unveil our preseason All-XFL squad.
XFL PREVIEW:Coaches, key players and everything else you need to know about the league’s eight teams
KEEP YOUR EYE ON:10 players to watch in the XFL, from former NFL starters to hidden gems
RANKING THE COACHES:Is Bob Stoops the best of the bunch?
QB: Landry Jones (Dallas Renegades)
Teaming up with his college coach Bob Stoops, Jones will have an added level of familiarity compared to the other signal callers. He also has NFL experience, having spent nearly five years with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a backup with limited action.
Defensive line: Shawn Oakman (LA), Jay Bromley (DC), Hau’oli Kikaha (DAL), Kony Ealy (HOU)
Oakman is best-remembered as a physically imposing player at Baylor who was a considered an NFL prospect until he was accused of sexual assault, though he was later found not guilty. Ealy was a second-round pick and tied a record with three sacks in Super Bowl 50 for the Carolina Panthers, but he hasn’t played in the NFL since 2017. Bromley is also a NFL veteran, playing in 39 games over four seasons with the New York Giants. Kikaha is another former second-rounder who experienced tough injury luck both in college at Washington and during his three years with the New Orleans Saints.
Linebacker: Scooby Wright (DC), Ben Heeney (NY), Tre’ Williams (LA)
Wright was an All-American and was the highest defensive Heisman finisher in 2014. He bounced around practice squads in the NFL, including some time with the Patriots. After his college career at Kansas, Heeney recorded 39 total tackles and 2 1/2 sacks with the Oakland Raiders in 2015.
Cornerback: Steve Williams (SEA), Jamar Summers (NY)
Williams ran a 4.42 40 in at the NFL cscouting ombine in 2013, and he mostly played slot cornerback across four NFL seasons spent between the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams. Summers was not drafted out of UConn but impressed in the AAF last year with three interceptions.
Safety: Will Hill (St. Louis), Matt Elam (DC)
Elam was a first-round pick out of Florida in 2013 by the Baltimore Ravens and started 15 of 16 games as a rookie. But he was arrested on Feb. 26, 2017, for drug possession (the charges were eventually dropped), and the Ravens to move on from him. He played with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League in 2018, and the Defenders picked him in the open phase of the draft.
Punter: Marquette King (STL)
The entertaining punter with a big leg didn’t get much of a chance after Jon Gruden took over the Oakland Raiders.
Kicker: Nick Novak (LA)
The 38-year-old kicked in the NFL for parts of 12 years, mostly with the then-San Diego Chargers and Houston Texans. He made 82% of his field goals during his NFL career and most recently kicked in the AAF.
