ESPN’s Kevin Seifert posted a lengthy article today detailing the XFL draft and QB selections. Like our XFL Insider, Mike Mitchell did in September, Seifert added some new names to the list of potential QBs in the XFL.
“Its initial quarterback pool includes only one player — Ben DiNucci — who has appeared in an NFL game. The pool is likely to expand after the NFL season, when quarterbacks on practice squads become available, but name recognition and proven records are not top priorities. A supplemental draft will take place in January.”
XFL’s senior vice president Doug Whaley told Seifert that most QBs are four or five years out of college. We also learned a little more about Tuesday’s QB assignment event.
“The XFL will assign the current 13-member quarterback pool to its eight teams on Tuesday during a livestream event starting at 2 p.m. ET from Las Vegas. “
There are eight teams, and each team will have at least two quarterbacks. That means three of those slots might be former USFL players or players on NFL practice squads.
Here are the names Seifert listed could be assigned on Tuesday.
Quinten Dormady (Tennessee, Central Michigan)
Eric Dungey (Syracuse)
Kaleb Eleby (Western Michigan)
Deondre Francois (Florida State, Hampton)
D’Eriq King (Houston, Miami)
Jalan McClendon (NC State, Baylor)
Steven Montez (Colorado)
Jawon Pass (Louisville)
Drew Plitt (Ball State)
Anthony Russo (Temple, Michigan State)
Brandon Silvers (Troy)
Ryan Willis (Kansas, Virginia Tech)
Ben DiNucci, Quinten Dormady, Eric Dungey, Kaleb Eleby, and Anthony Russo are some new names based on Mike Mitchell’s post in September.
He also says some notable NFL names could be part of this year’s XFL draft.
“There are a handful of notable NFL veterans in the pool, including wide receivers Martavis Bryant and Mohamed Sanu. It’s not yet clear if either will be drafted.”
Don’t expect to see any former USFL players yet as part of this XFL draft. In last week’s ITL zoom call, Whaley noted that those player contacts don’t expire until Dec 31st. In January, expect to see some of those names called in the XFL Supplemental draft. The situation is fluid right now. Will former USFL players jump ship or stay? This will be the question heading into January.
