XFL 2.0 — the football league that launches in 2020, 19 years after the original Vince McMahon version — will hold its draft on October 15 and 16, with 71 players joining each of the eight teams in the inaugural season.
The league has also released the names going into the player pool, and that’s where we come in with some names you’ll recognize — a few stars of the now-defunct AAF, a couple of college studs and some former NFL notables who either had a significant role on the field with the league or who didn’t quite end up making it, although maybe exploding in the XFL could mean a second chance is in their future.
Here they are, in no particular order:
RB Trent Richardson
The former third overall pick in 2012 was an NFL bust, but he scored 11 touchdowns in the AAF. So maybe he’ll carry over that success here.
QB Landry Jones
The former Steeler was the first player to sign a contract with the league. He started five games in his NFL career and compiled eight touchdowns to seven interceptions in 19 total contests.
QB Matt McGloin
A journeyman in the NFL, he’s mainly known for his work at Penn State before he ended up with a 1-6 record in seven NFL starts, all for the Oakland Raiders.
WR Sammie Coates
He was a possible first-round pick coming out of Auburn, but dropped to the third to the Steelers in 2015. After not quite living up to that pick, he was dealt to the Browns and struggled to find a spot in the league after he joined two more teams.
RB Matt Jones
Remember when he was starring for the Redskins for a hot minute? Seems like an eternity ago, but it was 2016 and he was pretty good!
QB Tyree Jackson
The Buffalo QB was a 2019 NFL draft sleeper who joined the Bills as an undrafted free agent before he was cut. Maybe this is where he makes an impact.
K Roberto Aguayo
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers inexplicably drafted him in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. After his struggles, he joined the Bears, Panthers and Chargers but he never matched his solid college career at Florida State.
RB Christine Michael
Fantasy football owners everywhere will remember how they drooled over his talent year after year when he was with the Cowboys and Seahawks (and he put together a couple of pretty good seasons!). Hey, if there’s fantasy XFL, maybe he’ll be a first-rounder.
WR Ryan Broyles
He caught a couple of touchdowns in his rookie year after the Lions drafted him in the second round of the 2012 draft … and that was about it.
QB Zach Mettinberger
From the NFL to the Spring League to the AAF to the XFL! That’s quite a journey.
S Matt Elam
The former first-rounder played 41 games for the Baltimore Ravens before off-the-field woes and health ended his brief NFL career.
DE Kony Ealy
He had the Super Bowl of a lifetime for the Panthers (three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble), but it didn’t turn into stardom.
