As previously announced by WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon, The XFL will be making its return in early 2020. Ever since the announcement, fans and media alike have been wondering how the new league will look like especially from a player standpoint.
According to Vince McMahon, the professional football league aims to be more “family friendly” than when it first launched (and ended) in 2001. Details are scarce on how the league will operate, but the plan is to have teams in eight markets and to start the season following The Super Bowl. The XFL might not be the same violence-driven league it was, but McMahon thinks that it is viable enough to reboot in about a year and a half from now.
So which players would be a perfect fit for the new XFL? There is a list below of 10 former players from Big 12 programs who could make an immediate impact on the league and who could be the answer on what the league exactly needs to make it big this time around. So let’s get right into the list.
1. Brandon Carter, TCU:
At his peak, Brandon Carter was one of the most exciting receivers in The Big 12. He combined speed with acrobatic catches to put out highlights that defied explanation. Academic troubles derailed his collegiate career, but The XFL could be his chance to get back on the field.
2. Ahmad Dixon, Baylor:
The Bears weren’t known for defense during their Big 12 title runs, but Dixon brought the swagger during an All-American senior season. Dixon is known for his big-time hits and trash talk, which would be the perfect personality for a league that will market itself on excitement. He is a heck of a player too when locked in. He posted 272 tackles in his final three seasons at nickel and safety.
3. Roy Finch, Oklahoma:
The former Sooner running back is currently in The CFL, where he’s emerged as an All-Star player. Finch could easily be one of the best running backs in The XFL. He was inexplicably benched far too often for a player as quick and shifty as he is. He is listed at 5-foot-7, but he plays like he’s 6-foot-2.
4. Robert T. Griffin, Baylor:
When last seen, the former Baylor offensive tackle was playing for something called he Texas Revolution. That already sounds like he’s got The XFL in his blood. But with the marketing muscle of Vince McMahon, he’ll re-emerge as RG4 (Robert Griffin IV) and become as well known as any lineman in the league.
5. Collin Klein, Kansas State:
There are few quarterbacks who were as ruthlessly efficient as Collin Klein was in college. He ran for 50 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards in his final two collegiate seasons, including a Heisman finalist campaign in 2012. And while his game doesn’t translate to The NFL, he deserves a chance to show off that fullback-playing-quarterback style at the pro level. XFL defensive coordinators will soon know the frustration of trying to bottle Klein up in the box, then watching him throw that beautiful pop pass to the tight end for a touchdown. The XFL will need the classic, almost prehistoric, style of this Wildcat legend.
6. Todd Reesing, Kansas:
Any quarterback capable of leading Kansas football to a 12-1 record and Orange Bowl win should be properly rewarded with a spot on a pro football roster. What this 5-foot-11 quarterback did at Kansas is nothing short of a miracle.
7. Lache Seastrunk, Baylor:
Seastrunk was one of the most athletic and dynamic running backs in all of college football. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to translate to The NFL. However, The XFL could be a perfect opportunity for him. Seastrunk played for a Canadian team in 2017, so the desire to play football is still there. He’d make the league tons of fun with his dynamic runs.
8. Dwayne Slay, Texas Tech:
Dwayne Slay is a former hard-hitting defensive back from Texas Tech. At one point, Slay held The Big 12 record for forced fumbles in a single season, and was also Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year. He doesn’t have much wear and tear on his body from a short stint in professional football, and is exactly the kind of impact player that could be amazing in The XFL.
9. Pat White, West Virginia:
If The XFL is going to be a viable alternative to The NFL, it’s going to have to be different. Enter Pat White, one of the most prolific dual threat quarterbacks of all time in college football. Let’s give the fans what they really want: explosive hits, massive runs, knee-buckling jukes, and excitement. Even though Pat White played for The Big East-era West Virginia Mountaineers, he did beat Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl, which is more than a lot of Big 12 teams can say from that era.
10. Vince Young, Texas:
There is still no more exciting player to play in The Big 12 than Vince Young, who capped his final college game by hoisting the crystal trophy as he outplayed USC. He’ll be 37 when the league starts in 2020, but there’s still a lot of football left for him if he wants to play.
It will be interesting to see how these players would impact The XFL if they are considered and chosen to be part of the league. There are a lot of factors that can be contributed to the success of the league this time around and the right players could be one of the most important.
