With the inaugural USFL Draft 2022 complete a lot of players will be joining a professional football league for the first time. However, for many of us spring football fans many we will be seeing several familiar faces in the USFL. Out of 279 players drafted 51 had XFL experience which comes to around 18% of the league. With the USFL looking to be its own separate entity. a good start to that is allowing more opportunities to players who can make their own name in the new league.
Tampa Bay Bandits– Nine players from XFL
2nd Overall-QB Jordan Ta’amu: St. Louis Battlehawks
Ta’amu was thought to be the 1st overall pick at one point but didn’t have to wait long before his name was called. Regarded as the 2nd best QB in the league Ta’amu will be given the keys to the Offense come fall after leading the Battlehawks to playoff contention in the XFL. Upon leaving the XFL Ta’amu has been with five NFL teams earning 172,400 dollars over parts of three NFL seasons.
58th Overall- OT Juwann Bushell: Houston Roughnecks
106th Overall-WR Eli Rogers: DC Defenders
159th Overall- C Bruno Reagan: St. Louis Battlehawks
183rd Overall- OG Fred Lauina: LA Wildcats
186th Overall-OG Damien Mama: New York Guardians
207th Overall- DT Reggie Howard: LA Wildcats
240th Overall-OLB Emmanuel Beal: Tampa Bay Vipers
273rd Overall- TE Da’quan Hampton: LA Wildcats
Pittsburgh Maulers- Five Players from XFL
50th Overall- OT Isaiah Battle: Seattle Dragons
58th Overall: CB Ajene Harris: Houston Roughnecks
202nd Overall- DT Boogie Roberts: LA Wildcats
225the Overall: RB Deveon Smith: Tampa Bay Vipers
233rd Overall- LB Tyson Graham: Seattle Dragons
Philadelphia Stars: Six Players from XFL
62nd Overall- CB Channing Stribling: Seattle Dragons
91st Overall- CB Bradley Sylve: LA Wildcats
141st Overall-S Jack Tocho: LA Wildcats
155th Overall- S Cody Brown: Houston Roughnecks
231st Overall- RB Matthew Colburn: New York Guardians
278th Overall-LS Ryan Navarro: LA Wildcats
New Orleans Breakers: Five Players from XFL
25th Overall- LB James Folston Jr: Dallas Renegades
54th Overall- OT Marquis Lucas: Tampa Bay Vipers
72nd Overall- CB Derrick Jones: Seattle Dragons
221st Overall- RB Larry Rose: LA Wildcats
258th Overall- K Austin MacGinnis: Dallas Renegades
MacGinnis is someone to keep an eye on in this league. He’s 19-21 on field goals in the AAF and XFL and was nearly the kicker for the champion LA Rams before getting beat out in 2021. MacGinnis enters the USFL as a more coveted and skilled kicker in the league. MacGinnis will be able to provide a strong leg and consistent special teams asset for the Breakers as they bring in an experience pro who is cool under pressure.
New Jersey Generals: Eight Players from XFL
56th Overall- OT Terry Poole: Houston Roughnecks
74th Overall- CB Trae Elston: Houston Roughnecks
79th Overall- CB David Rivers: St. Louis BattleHawks
154th Overall- S Dravon Askew-Henry: New York Guardians
205th Overall- DT Toby Johnson: New York Guardians
212nd Overall- DT Kalani Vakameilalo: DC Defenders
238th Overall- LB D’Juan Hines: New York Guardians
275th Overall- TE Nick Truesdell: Tampa Bay Vipers
Truesdell can be view as an alternate league legend. During his time in AFL Truesdell has caught over 100 passes including a 23 touchdown season with the Spokane Shock in 2015. Truesdell has had stints in the NFL, AAF, and XFL before now landing in the USFL.
Houston Gamblers: Ten Players from XFL
48th Overall- OT Avery Gennessy: Houston Roughnecks
53rd Overall- OT John Yarbrough: Tampa Bay Vipers
66th Overall- Jamar Summers: New York Guardians
147th Overall- S Andrew Soroh: New York Guardians
166th Overall- LB Beniquez Brown: Houston Roughnecks:
Viewed as a favorite in Houston, Brown was the leader in Tackles and Tackles for loss. The former Roughneck was voted to the XFL News Hub ALL-XFL by our very own Mike Mitchell. Brown has had stints in the AAF and NFL before joining the USFL. Though a bit older Brown is suspected to be a top tier player in the USFL.
174th Overall- LB Reggie Northrup: Tampa Bay Vipers
189 Overall- G Terronne Prescod: DC Defenders
262nd Overall- P Drew Galitz: Dallas Renegades
264th Overall TE Brandon Barnes: LA Wildcats
275th Overall TE Julian Allen: Dallas Renegades
Michigan Panthers: Five players from XFL
17th Overall- DE Cavon Walker: New York Guardians
123rd Overall-WR Jeff Badet: Dallas Renegades
128th Overall- WR Ray Bolden: Houston Roughnecks
176th Overall- LB Taiwan Jones: LA Wildcats
244th Overall- LB Frank Ginda: New York Guardians
Birmingham Stallions: Three Players from XFL
161st Overall: C Jordan McCray: Tampa Bay Vipers
234th Overall: LB DeMarquis Gates: Houston Roughnecks
168th Overall: LB Scooby Wright: DC Defenders :
A Former 7th round pick in 2016, Wright brings experience from multiple levels of pro football. Wright’s experience comes from the Browns and Cardinals in the NFL, Hotshots in the AAF, and Defenders in the XFL. After one season in the spring league Wright returns as prominent defensive figure in the league.
With the XFL set to take off in 2023, many wonder including myself how many players will stay. As Mike Mitchell has stated the USFL contracts are one-year deals with year two options that become guaranteed on April 30th, 2022. With these contracts issuing a non-compete with the XFL and CFL and only allowing players to leave the USFL for the NFL, does this mean that many of the former stars of the XFL that didn’t get drafted are set to return? At this point, no one knows however, with the supplement draft set for March 10th, it is possible that the number of former XFL players continue to fill in USFL rosters before the season kicks off April 16th.
| 6 | Tampa Bay Vipers |
| 5 | Dallas Renegades |
| 9 | New York Guardians |
| 3 | St. Louis Defenders |
| 5 | DC Defenders |
| 9 | Houston Roughneck |
| 10 | LA Wildcats |
| 4 | Seattle Dragons |
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