Arlington Renegades XFL Draft Day One Recap

After a quick introduction to the quarterbacks yesterday, the Arlington Renegades selected 42 players to join the team on day two of the XFL Draft. The team selected seventh and second during the offensive skill positions while also going sixth and third in the defensive backs phase. They did receive top three selections in the first rounds of the defensive front seven and offensive line phases.

The stage is set. Let’s build this team 🙌 #XFLDraft pic.twitter.com/HcBZB8FoPj

— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) November 16, 2022

Phase One: Offensive Skill

Round 1, Pick 7: Sal Cannella, Tight End

The Renegades start the draft with one of the top pass catchers in the USFL. Sal Cannella was 11^th in the league in receiving yards with 368 yards on 34 catches for two touchdowns during his time with the New Orleans Breakers. Cannella reunites with former USFL quarterbacks Kyle Sloter. He can do it all at the tight end position, whether catching or blocking.

Round 2, Pick 2: De’Montre Tuggle, Running Back

Versatile back who can make an impact in the running game, passing game, and on special teams. De’Montre Tuggle ran for 804 yards and seven touchdowns last season in 12 games during his time at Ohio. Tuggle also returned a kickoff for a touchdown as well. He was with the Chicago Bears in training camp before being cut in late August. Expect Tuggle to be used on third down for passing situations. A great runner who can make big plays.

Round 3, Pick 7: Lujuan Winningham, Wide Receiver

An accomplished receiver at Central Arkansas, Lujuan Winningham recorded 123 catches for 1,879 yards and 23 touchdowns in five seasons at the school. Winningham was recently with the Jacksonville Jaguars back in August, where he received praise for his hands and run-blocking skills. His 6-3 frame will make him a good target in the red zone for the Renegades.

Round 4, Pick 2: Brandon Arconado, Wide Receiver

Brandon Arconado exploded onto the scene for Washington State back in 2019, where he recorded 78 catches for 1,109 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games. Arconado would bounce around between the Spring League and CFL over the last few years. While he won’t blow anyone away with his speed, he has reliable hands and someone a quarterback can trust to throw it to.

Round 5, Pick 7: Keith Ford, Running Back

A reunion between former St. Louis BattleHawks running back Keith Ford and Arlington Renegades offensive coordinator and former BattleHawks head coach Jonathan Hayes. Back in college at Texas A&M, Ford ran for 1,743 yards and 24 touchdowns in his career with the Aggies. In three games he was active, Ford had ten carries for 52 yards and two touchdowns, including one against his current team. He’s a tough runner who can make plays in the passing game when needed.

Round 6, Pick 2: Shaun Beyer, Tight End

The Renegades found their second tight end with Shaun Beyer being selected. While playing college football at Iowa, Beyer recorded 18 catches for 275 yards and one touchdown in four seasons. He was in the NFL with the Vikings and Packers this season. For a tight end, he’s athletic and has good speed to him. Expect him to flex out at the receiver position at times, as he can compete with many receivers.

Round 7, Pick 7: JaCorey Sullivan, Wide Receiver

JaCorey Sullivan was an All-Mac team participant twice in his college career at Central Michigan. Sullivan recorded 140 catches for 1,824 yards and 15 touchdowns, with ten coming in his senior season last year. While going undrafted to the NFL, he was a member of the Alabama Airborne of the short-lived Major League Football. He’s got quick feet, and while he doesn’t have blazing speed, he will be hard to catch once he separates from the defender.

Round 8, Pick 2: Alex Ellis, Tight End

Coming in as one of the veterans on the roster, Alex Ellis knows what it takes to play on the professional level. During his time at Tennessee, Ellis recorded 14 catches for 232 yards and one touchdown in two seasons. After college, he bounced around in the NFL with eight different teams recording three catches for 11 yards between 2016 and 2022.

Round 9, Pick 7: Jackson Anthrop, Wide Receiver

During his four seasons at Purdue, Jackson Anthrop recorded 148 catches for 1,420 yards and 11 touchdowns. Anthrop spent a short time with the Indianapolis Colts earlier before the season. He will be seen as a reliable slot receiver for the Renegades.

Round 10, Pick 2: Dexter Williams, Running Back

Dexter Williams will compete for Arlington’s starting running back position, especially after the way he played in the USFL. Williams stepped up for the Philadelphia Stars, recording 103 yards of offense in the USFL title game. Before the USFL, he played for the Green Bay Packers for two seasons, recording seven carries for 19 yards. He will be able to do it all in the rushing and passing games.

Round 11, Pick 7: Jordan Smallwood, Wide Receiver

Jordan Smallwood is another former XFL player joining the league again. Smallwood succeeded with the LA Wildcats in 2020, recording 18 catches for 236 yards and one touchdown. He was with the Chiefs and Chargers in the NFL before the XFL. Since the XFL, he played in the CFL for Ottawa recording three catches for 32 yards. Being a former Bob Stoops player, Smallwood should fit into what the Renegades need.

Phase Two: Defensive Backs

Round 1, Pick 6: Da’Vante Bausby, Cornerback

Da’Vante Bausby is a veteran of the NFL as well as spring football. Bausby played for the Chiefs, Bears, and Eagles between 2015 through 2018. He made his first stop in spring football with the AAF for the San Antonio Commanders leading the league in pass deflections and interceptions for the 2019 season. Bausby would play for the Broncos, Cardinals, Raiders, and Patriots after the AAF folded. This year, he played for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL and the Washington Commanders in the NFL.

Round 2, Pick 3: Josh Hawkins, Cornerback

The former Renegades have returned to Arlington for a second trip in the XFL. Before joining the XFL, Josh Hawkins played in the NFL for the Packers, Panthers, Chiefs, and Eagles, recording 42 tackles, seven pass deflections, and one forced fumble in three seasons. In five games with the Renegades, Hawkins recorded 11 tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions, and four pass deflections. After the XFL, he played for the Falcons, Panthers, and Lions for the 2020 season.

Round 3, Pick 6: Will Hill, Safety

Another Hayes brother XFL reunion with a player from 2020. Will Hill was a member of the St. Louis BattleHawks back in 2020 with defensive coordinator Jay Hayes. Hill played in the NFL for the Giants and Ravens from 2012 and 2015, where he recorded 221 tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and three touchdowns. From 2017 on, he has played in the CFL, AAF, and XFL.

Round 4, Pick 3: Robert Nelson, Defensive Back

A second reunion for Jay Hayes as he brings back Robert Nelson to his defense. Nelson recorded 24 tackles, one fumble recovery, two pass deflections, and one interception in his five NFL seasons with seven different teams. He played for the AAF in 2019 and was with the Houston Roughnecks and St. Louis BattleHawks in 2020. His last team was the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL last year.

Round 5, Pick 6: Shakur Brown, Defensive Back

Shakur Brown played well in his junior season with Michigan State, recording five interceptions and four pass breakups. After going undrafted in 2021, Brown played for the Steelers, Chiefs, and Lions last year. He spends time in the USFL this spring/summer with the Pittsburgh Maulers. His last experience was with the Titans back in August.

Round 6, Pick 3: Cameron Lewis, Defensive Back

Cameron Lewis found success in six seasons at LSU as he capped his career last season. Lewis recorded 88 tackles, three tackles for a loss, and one and a half sacks in 40 games. While he didn’t get on an NFL team to start the season, he’s proven to be a sure tackler who can potentially develop into a starter for the Renegades this season.

Round 7, Pick 6: Delonte Hood, Defensive Back

Delonte Hood played at a small school Peru State College, but his play on the field has impressed many. Hood recorded 21 tackles, seven pass breakups, one interception, and one blocked kick in ten games last season. He went undrafted in the NFL draft but got signed by the Bengals after a strong pro day at Nebraska, thanks to his 4.38 40-yard dash. Hood didn’t make the Bengals roster, but he showed off enough to have Stoops draft him.

Round 8, Pick 3: Rahim Moore, Defensive Back

The former second-round pick of the 2011 NFL Draft played well in his seven years in the NFL, recording 212 tackles, 22 pass deflections, nine interceptions, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and one sack. Rahim Moore played for the Arizona Hotshots of the AAF, recording 19 tackles and three pass deflections in eight games in 2019. During his time with the DC Defenders in 2020, Moore got 15 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in five games.

Round 9, Pick 6: Abu Daramy-Swaray, Defensive Back

Abu Daramy-Swaray proved his worth at Colgate, where he recorded 155 tackles, 25 pass breakups, five interceptions, and one sack during his career. After college, he played in the German Football League last year. He got a shot at the NFL this summer with the Cincinnati Bengals before getting cut. Proved to be a playmaker in college, the Renegades will look for the same this year.

Round 10, Pick 3: TJ Green, Defensive Back

Another former second-round pick of the NFL joins the secondary with him being taken by the Colts in 2016. TJ Green played in the NFL from 2016 until 2022, recording 103 tackles and four pass deflections with six different teams. He spent a short stint in the CFL this year for the Saskatchewan Roughriders before being drafted to the XFL.

Round 11, Pick 6: Donatello Brown, Defensive Back

A second former Renegade reunites with Stoops in the secondary. After a successful college career at Valdosta State, Donatello Brown went undrafted in the NFL Draft as he signed with the Green Bay Packers in 2017. Brown appeared in four games in the NFL before being waived by the Packers in 2018. He found his way to the Atlanta Legends of the AAF roster in 2019. His first run in the XFL was with the Renegades, where he recorded 16 tackles and one pass deflection in five games back in 2020.

Phase Three: Defensive Front Seven

Round 1, Pick 3: Otaro Alaka, Linebacker

Not only was Otaro Alaka great at stopping the run, but he could get to the quarterback. Back at Texas A&M, Alaka recorded 147 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, seven pass deflections, five forced fumbles, and one interception in five seasons. He went undrafted but signed with the Baltimore Ravens, where he was with the team from 2019 to 2021. Alaka recorded just one tackle as he suffered multiple lower leg injuries in his time with Baltimore.

Round 2, Pick 6: Josiah Coatney, Defensive Line

Josiah Coatney was a disrupter of running games when plugging the middle of the defensive line in college. Coatney recorded 174 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, six and a half sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass deflection in three seasons at Ole Miss. After going undrafted in the NFL Draft in 2020, he played for the Steelers and 49ers, appearing in just one game that season.

Round 3, Pick 3: Will Clarke, Defensive Line

Mark Will Clarke, the third former BattleHawk from 2020, will join Jay Hayes’ defense for a reunion. Clarke was a Second Team All-Big-12 selection in 2013 with 50 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and six sacks during the season. He was drafted in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Bengals. His NFL career went from 2014 until 2018, during which he had 37 tackles, seven sacks, and two fumble recoveries with the Bengals and Buccaneers. He played for the BattleHawks in 2020, recording eight tackles, three QB hits, one tackle for loss, and one sack in three games.

Round 4, Pick 6: Davonte Lambert, Defensive Line

Jay Hayes once again brings in another former BattleHawk to plug up the middle of the line. Davonte Lambert played in the NFL with the Buccaneers in 2016 and 2017, recording 14 tackles and one forced fumble during that time. Lambert joined the BattleHawks in 2020, recording seven tackles in the five games he played. His last time on the field was with the Panthers in 2020 during training camp.

Round 5, Pick 3: Jessie Lemonier, Linebacker

The former Liberty linebacker joins the XFL after playing in the NFL for three teams from 2020 to this year. Jessie Lemonier played on the defensive line for the school, recording 55 tackles and ten sacks in his senior season in 2019. Lemonier recorded 17 tackles and one-and-a-half sacks with the Chargers, Lions, and Cardinals. He should be able to be moved around as a hybrid pass rusher off the end of the line.

Round 6, Pick 6: Bruce Hector, Defensive Line

While playing at South Florida in college, Bruce Hector was a Second-Team All-AAC selection in 2017. Hector went undrafted and played for five different NFL teams from 2018 until this year. He has recorded seven tackles and a half-sack during his NFL career. His experience and run-stopping ability should make him a good asset to the team.

Round 7, Pick 3: Ryan Mueller, Linebacker

Ryan Mueller’s play at Kansas State earned him a Big-12 Defensive Lineman of the Year award in 2013 after recording 11.5 sacks in his junior year. After a stellar college run, Mueller transitioned to the NFL as a defensive end, linebacker, and fullback. He played in the NFL in 2015 and 2016 with the Chargers and Eagles. Mueller also had a run in the CFL in 2017 before the last playing for the New York Guardians in 2020. He found success in the XFL, recording 13 tackles, a half sack, and a 33-yard interception returned for a touchdown in five games.

Round 8, Pick 6: Doug Costin, Defensive Line

Doug Costin was considered one of the best defensive tackles in the MAC conference after earning All-MAC selections in 2018 and 2019. Costin played for two NFL teams in 2020 and 2021, recording 32 tackles, two pass deflections, and one fumble recovery. He was a part of the Birmingham Stallions championship team in the USFL this year, recording nine tackles and a half sack. Recently, he was on the Steelers’ roster during training camp.

Round 9, Pick 3: Nick Temple, Linebacker

A well-known name in the spring football space, Nick Temple has been a consistent performer since his time with the Cincinnati Bearcats in college. Temple finished his college career with 282 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, ten pass deflections, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. His alternative football career includes two seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a run as a starting linebacker for the San Antonio Commanders of the AAF, and playing for the Seattle Dragons in 2020.

Round 10, Pick 6: Josh Watson, Linebacker

Josh Watson was named Second-Team All-Mountain West in 2018 with Colorado State after recording 131 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss during the season. Watson found a career in the NFL, playing for four different teams from 2019 to this year. He has recorded six tackles during his NFL career.

Round 11, Pick 3: Isaiah Graham-Mobley, Linebacker

Isaiah Graham-Mobley played for two different colleges, Temple and Boston College. Last year with Boston College, Graham-Mobley recorded 52 tackles and two and a half tackles for loss in nine games played. He was recent with the Carolina Panthers, where he was released from the team before the season started.

Phase Four: Offensive Line

Round 1, Pick 2: Cameron Hunt, Offensive Guard

The Renegades drafted one of the top offensive linemen in the draft and solidified one of the guard positions. Cameron Hunt played for three different NFL teams from 2017 until 2019 the Broncos, the 49ers, and the Raiders. Hunt played in the USFL with the Birmingham Stallions, earning All-USFL honors and winning the team’s title. His most recent stop was with the Chargers during training camp this year.

Round 2, Pick 7: Garrett McGhin, Offensive Guard

Another top offensive lineman from the USFL heads to Arlington to play guard. Garrett McGhin played in two NFL games after spending time with four different teams from 2017 until 2021. McGhin played for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL and earned All-USFL honors for his play. He was on the Giants’ roster during training camp this past August.

Round 3, Pick 2: Mike Horton, Offensive Guard

Mike Horton was a two-year starter at Auburn, playing the guard position on both sides of the line. Horton does have NFL experience, as he has played in three games in his career for the Carolina Panthers.

Round 4, Pick 7: Darta Lee, Offensive Line

Darta Lee had a college career that included playing for Illinois his freshman season, stopping at Kilgore College, and spending from 2018 to 2020 with UTEP at left tackle. Lee was part of the line at UTEP that had one of the best rushing attacks in the conference. This year, he got invited to a rookie minicamp with the Houston Texans.

Round 5, Pick 2: Cam Carter, Offensive Line

During his college career, Cam Carter was a consistent, reliable offensive lineman for Murray State. Carter was a full-time starter on the offensive line in 2017 and 2018.

Round 6, Pick 7: Boe Wilson, Offensive Line

One of the top offensive linemen for Conference USA when playing at Western Kentucky, Boe Wilson was another consistent and reliable lineman. Wilson was named Second-Team All-Conference USA in 2021 for the Hilltoppers playing right guard. He recently went undrafted to the NFL in the draft this year, but a major strength to his game is his pass blocking which will be needed for the Renegades.

Round 7, Pick 2: Jake Stetz, Offensive Line

Jake Stetz got it done on and off the field at Boise State after being named a three-time Academic All-Mountain West from 2018 to 2020. Stetz also was a two-time Second-Team All-Mountain West selection in 2020 and 2021. He has a rookie minicamp tryout with the Denver Broncos this year.

Round 8, Pick 7: Brian Folkerts, Offensive Line

The Renegades are bringing in a veteran offensive lineman to help this young unit and reunite with his BattleHawks coach Jonathan Hayes. Brian Folkerts played on and off for the NFL from 2012 until 2017 for four different teams. He had a short run in the Arena Football League for the San Jose SaberCats, where he recorded 12 yards rushing and two touchdowns in 2013. Folkerts played in the AAF for the San Antonio Commanders and most recently was with the BattleHawks in 2020.

Round 9, Pick 2: Keene Forbes, Offensive Line

Keene Forbes played college football at Washington State and Florida A&M. Forbes was a two-time All-American during his time at Florida A&M. He was invited to the Seattle Seahawks rookie minicamp this year after going undrafted in the NFL Draft.

Round 10, Pick 7: Pass

Round 11, Pick 2: Pass