The Arlington Renegades have two players who signed letters of intent with the team on Tuesday including the team’s sack leader Willie Taylor.
It was announced on Tuesday via the social media of the XFL that linebacker Willie Taylor and defensive back Delonte Hood.
Taylor played a critical role on the defensive side for the Renegades in 2023 playing in every game for the team as part of the rotation of linebackers. He was tied for the team lead in sacks with four along with Will Clarke. During the regular season, Taylor had 16 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and one interception in those ten games. He was just as special in the two playoff games, recording four tackles and 1.5 sacks helping the team win the XFL Championship over the DC Defenders.
After the XFL season, Taylor was the first Renegades player to sign with the NFL when the Jacksonville Jaguars brought him in. During the preseason, Taylor made one tackle against the Detroit Lions. He was eventually part of the round of cuts at the end of training camp for Jacksonville.
Hood was drafted by Arlington in the XFL Draft last November as he was the 54th overall pick of the Renegades. He would not appear for the Renegades as the Denver Broncos signed him to their practice squad and eventually signed a future contract with the team after the season.
Many were impressed with Hood during training camp and played well during the preseason for the Broncos. He finished with 7 tackles and one pass deflection in three games played. Denver decided to let Hood go after the third preseason game.
Getting Taylor back helps the Renegades’ pass rush as he showed great potential for what he can do if he gets more playing time. Essentially being a rookie coming out of Eastern Kentucky, Taylor showed a lot of upside, speed, and athleticism that makes him a great fit in co-defensive coordinators Tim Lewis and Jay Hayes’s scheme. This is one of the biggest off-season moves for Arlington going into the 2024 season.
Arlington has made it a point to add depth to their secondary after the number of injuries they had to go through. The good news is they should get top defensive backs Josh Hawkins and Will Hill back for the 2024 season which should help give them depth. Hood will have his work cut out for him, but from the high praise he received in Broncos camp, he might be able to earn a roster spot on the Renegades.
