@MMXFLWriter
This was originally a Mid-Season All-XFL team list. Released just days before the XFL season was suspended, and then officially canceled a week later.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK: PJ Walker, Houston Roughnecks
– The most dynamic player in the entire league. PJ Walker was on pace to throw for 30 touchdowns in ten games.
Honorable Mention: Josh Johnson, Los Angeles Wildcats
RUNNING BACKS: DeVeon Smith, Tampa Bay Vipers; Matt Jones, St. Louis BattleHawks
– Tampa and St. Louis had the league’s most run centric offenses. Smith and Jones produced at a high level, despite being in time share situations.
Honorable Mention: Cameron Artis-Payne, Dallas Renegades; Jacques Patrick, Tampa Bay Vipers
WIDE RECEIVERS: Cam Phillips, Houston Roughnecks; Tre McBride, Los Angeles Wildcats; Dan Williams, Tampa Bay Vipers
– Save for one game against the Renegades Josh Hawkins. Phillips was on a tear all season. He has nine touchdown receptions in five games. Tre McBride had been one of the league’s hottest receivers in recent weeks. Dan Williams had quietly been the league’s best possession receiver.
Honorable Mention: Nelson Spruce, Los Angeles Wildcats; Nick Holley, Houston Roughnecks; Jalen Tolliver, Tampa Bay Vipers
TIGHT END: Donald Parham, Dallas Renegades
– ‘Starham’ had the third most receptions in the league. Pound for Pound, Parham is arguably the most physically gifted player in the entire league.
Honorable Mention: Nick Truesdell, Tampa Bay Vipers; Brandon Barnes, L.A. Wildcats
TACKLES: Terry Poole, Houston Roughnecks; Martez Ivey, Tampa Bay Vipers
– Poole has protected PJ Walker’s blindside well all season long. Ivey is the most complete blocker at tackle in the league.
Honorable Mention: Storm Norton, Los Angeles Wildcats
GUARDS: Bruno Reagan, St. Louis BattleHawks; Avery Gennesy, Houston Roughnecks
– Two of the better run blockers in the league. Reagan and Gennesy have shown great athleticism up front for their respective teams.
Honorable Mention: Rishard Cook, D.C. Defenders; Jerald Foster, Tampa Bay Vipers, Anthony Coyle; New York Guardians
CENTER: Jordan McCray, Tampa Bay Vipers
– McCray was the highest graded offensive lineman in the AAF last year. Jordan McCray dominated opposing defensive linemen all season long.
Honorable Mention: Brian Folkerts, St. Louis BattleHawks, Marquice Shakir, Dallas Renegades
DEFENSE
ENDS: Andrew Ankrah, St. Louis BattleHawks; Cavon Walker, New York Guardians
– Ankrah and Walker are not traditional ends, despite starting at end for their defenses. Ankrah can be a stand-up rusher on the edge, and has held up well against the run. Walker has the ability to play DT and DE. Cavon Walker has been on an tear recently and leads the league in sacks (4.5)
Honorable Mention: Anthony Johnson, D.C. Defenders; Bunmi Rotimi, New York Guardians
TACKLES: Will Sutton, Seattle Dragons; Nikita Whitlock, Tampa Bay Vipers
– Sutton and Whitlock have been very productive and disruptive for their respective defenses. Two veterans with unique backgrounds.
Honorable Mention: Cedric Reed, Los Angeles Wildcats; Kony Ealy, Houston Roughnecks (Two interior players playing DE in the 3-4)
LINEBACKERS; Beniquez Brown, Houston Roughnecks; Steven Johnson, Seattle Dragons; Terrence Garvin, St. Louis BattleHawks
– Brown, Garvin and Johnson are great three down backers. All three have been excellent in space and against the run.
Honorable Mention: DeMarquis Gates, Houston Roughnecks
CORNERBACKS: Jamar Summers, New York Guardians; Josh Hawkins, Dallas Renegades; Elijah Campbell, DC Defenders
– Campbell went through a stretch where he didn’t give up a single first down in his first three games. Hawkins shut down the league’s best receiver in Cam Phillips and has been one of the Renegades best players. Jamar Summers hasn’t failed to live up to his billing. He was the second highest rated cover corner in the AAF last year, and he’s continued to play at that level in the XFL.
Honorable Mention: Deatrick Nichols, Houston Roughnecks, Dravon Askew-Henry, New York Guardians; Tarvarus McFadden, Tampa Bay Vipers, Ranthony Texada, New York Guardians
SAFETIES: Derron Smith, Dallas Renegades; Marcellis Branch, Tampa Bay Vipers; Kenny Robinson, St. Louis BattleHawks
– Derron Smith was the #1 graded player in the entire Alliance last season. He has been fantastic in coverage all season for Dallas. Branch is an extremely physical player. Rookie Kenny Robinson continues to develop and get better every single week. He has great range at safety and is showing why he is so highly regarded and will be drafted highly by NFL teams in late April.
Honorable Mention: Cody Brown, Houston Roughnecks; Ahmad Dixon, Los Angeles Wildcats; Will Hill, St. Louis BattleHawks
SPECIAL TEAMS
KICKER: Austin MacGinnis, Dallas Renegades
– The XFL was loaded with great specialists. MacGinnis was perfect on the year. (10-10) He also led the league in kickoff average and in touchbacks.
Honorable Mention: Taylor Russolino, St. Louis BattleHawks, Matthew McCrane, New York Guardians, Ty Rausa, DC Defenders
PUNTER: Drew Galitz, Dallas Renegades
– Toughest position to pick from. King, Niswander, Vogel and others were fantastic. Galitz was third in the league in punting average. (43.7) but more impressive than that was his hang time on punts. Opposing punt returners averaged only 4 yards per return. (Best in the XFL)
Honorable Mention: Marquette King, St. Louis BattleHawks, Hunter Niswander, DC Defenders, Justin Vogel, New York Guardians
KICK RETURNER: Austin Walter, Dallas Renegades
– Clean sweep for the Renegades special teams. Walter was just starting to scratch the surface to become a difference maker. Dallas was so good on special teams that Flynn Nagel led the league in punt return average. (16.1)
Honorable Mention: John Santiago, Seattle Dragons, Keith Mumphrey, St. Louis BattleHawks
Coach of The Year: June Jones- Houston Roughnecks
– 5-0 speaks for itself. It’s worth noting the job that Chris Miller did with Walker.
Honorable Mention: Jon Hayes- BattleHawks, Kevin Gilbride- New York Guardians
