Coach Reggie Barlow will lead the D.C. Defenders into an XFL showdown against the Houston Roughnecks on Monday.

The league’s division leaders will square off at 6 p.m. CDT at Audi Field in Washington. ESPN2 will televise the game.

Barlow has the Defenders at 5-0 – the XFL’s only undefeated team halfway through the regular season.

For Barlow, his coaching journey to the top spot in the XFL’s North Division started at Alabama State.

“I am who I am because of HBCU, because of Alabama State giving me an opportunity to come there to play college football,” Barlow said during an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” last week. “Also giving me the opportunity to come back and be the head coach. I learned so much from Alabama State, that experience, and then I was able to go on to Virginia State, which is a fine university that gave me an opportunity to continue to be a better coach, to continue to learn my craft.

“As I mentioned, I am who I am because of HBCUs. They’ve been outstanding to me, and I’m grateful for them.”

A prep standout at Sidney Lanier in Montgomery, Barlow was a 1,000-yard receiver as a senior at Alabama State.

A fourth-round draft choice of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1996, Barlow spent eight seasons as an NFL wide receiver. He remains the Jaguars’ career leader in punt-return yards and was a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl championship team for the 2002 season.

After starting his coaching career as Alabama State’s quarterbacks coach, Barlow became the Hornets’ head coach in 2007 and spent eight seasons in that position. He then coached at Virginia State for six seasons.

Barlow is one of the four Black head coaches on the XFL’s eight teams.

“I’m extremely humbled by the ownership and executives that gave us the opportunity to be in this situation,” Barlow said. “We don’t take it lightly. We do know that there are other people who deserve opportunities to be in a head-coaching role. …

“It’s important to me that we are in this position, and we know, hopefully, this will give other people, other African Americans, minorities an opportunity to get that chance to coach in the National Football League.”

Barlow said in “the league of opportunity,” the chances extend beyond the coaching staffs.

“There’s a lot of people getting opportunities to be in this position that don’t typically get that,” Barlow said.

RELATED: AJ MCCARRON COMPLETES 19 CONSECUTIVE PASSES IN BATTLEHAWKS’ VICTORY

Monday night’s game will be the first for the Defenders outside of the North Division. D.C. has defeated the Vegas Vipers and St. Louis Battlehawks twice apiece and the Seattle Sea Dragons once with the XFL’s best rushing attack and the clutch defensive play needed to win three one-score games.

“It starts with the people that we’ve populated our team with,” Barlow said. “We have really good coaches. Our director of player personnel did a good job of putting this group of guys together. Everybody’s just bought in.”

With former Gulf Shores High School and Troy standout Brandon Silvers at quarterback, Houston won its first four games before falling to the Sea Dragons 21-14 its last time out on March 16.

“We have a lot of respect for that team,” Barlow said. “Coach Wade (Phillips), obviously, we’re just so blessed we get a chance to go coach against a legend like that. They’re a really solid team. They’ve played well all season.

“Of course, our guys, we’re looking forward to it. You always want to know how you measure up against some of the better teams. It should be fun. It’ll be in Audi Stadium. Our fans will be there. The beer snake will be rolling.”

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.