XFL sets rosters for return season’s kickoff in 1 week
The XFL will return in one week with 26 players from Alabama high schools and colleges on the active rosters of its eight teams.
The XFL rosters have six players apiece from Alabama and Auburn, three each from South Alabama and Troy and one apiece from Jacksonville State and Samford.
Eleven of the XFL players are former Alabama high school standouts.
The new XFL is a relaunch under different ownership of the 2020 football league that made it halfway through its schedule before failing in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. That league had used the same name and shared an owner with the XFL of 2001, an NFL alternative that lasted one season.
The 10-week regular season kick offs at 2 p.m. CST Feb. 18, when the Vegas Vipers visit the Arlington Renegades. ABC will televise the game. In the second game on opening day, the Orlando Guardians visit the Houston Roughnecks at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
On Feb.19, former Alabama All-American AJ McCarron will lead St. Louis against the San Antonio Brahmas as the Battlehawks’ quarterback at 2 p.m., with ABC televising the game. In the second Sunday game, the Seattle Sea Dragons visit the D.C. Defenders at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
The XFL teams train and practice in Arlington, Texas, during the week, then travel for games in the home team’s host city.
XFL teams reduced their training-camp rosters to 51 players this week. The players from Alabama high schools and colleges on XFL active rosters include:
Arlington Renegades
· Defensive lineman T.J. Barnes (Enterprise)
· Tight end Sal Cannella (Auburn)
· Offensive lineman Mike Horton (Auburn)
· Defensive lineman Davonte Lambert (Auburn)
D.C. Defenders
· Tight end Trae Barry (Spanish Fort, Jacksonville State)
· Linebacker Jamal Brooks (Bessemer City, South Alabama)
· Defensive tackle Gabe Wright (Auburn)
Former Alabama State standout and coach Reggie Barlow is the head coach of the Defenders.
Houston Roughnecks
· Quarterback Brandon Silvers (Gulf Shores, Troy)
· Offensive tackle John Yarbrough (Homewood)
Orlando Guardians
· Offensive lineman Ja’Chai Baker (South Alabama)
· Defensive lineman Nick Coe (Auburn)
· Defensive back Javaris Davis (Auburn)
· Defensive tackle Trevon Sanders (Tuscaloosa Academy)
· Linebacker Erroll Thompson (Florence)
Defensive backs Maurice Smitherman (Minor) and Dee Virgin (West Alabama) are on the Guardians’ injured list.
San Antonio Brahmas
· Linebacker Ben Davis (Gordo, Alabama)
Seattle Sea Dragons
· Long snapper Thomas Fletcher (Alabama)
· Offensive lineman Chris Owens (Alabama)
· Wide receiver Kelvin McKnight (Samford)
· Wide receiver Jordan Veasy (Gadsden City)
· Wide receiver Damion Willis (Troy)
St. Louis Battlehawks
· Quarterback AJ McCarron (St. Paul’s Episcopal, Alabama)
· Running back Kareem Walker (South Alabama)
· Offensive lineman Dallas Warmack (Alabama)
Vegas Vipers
· Offensive lineman Quinterrius Eatmon (Vigor)
· Offensive lineman Antonio Garcia (Troy)
· Defensive back Maurice Smith (Alabama)
Thirteen players from Alabama high schools and colleges who were on XFL rosters for training camp didn’t reach the regular season:
· Wide receiver Dieuly Aristilde (Alabama State)
· Defensive lineman Mike Boykin (North Alabama)
· Offensive lineman Cam Carter (Minor)
· Offensive lineman Joshua Frazier (Alabama)
· Defensive back T.J. Green (Sylacauga)
· Defensive lineman Rod Henderson (Carver-Montgomery, Alabama State)
· Offensive lineman Darius James (Auburn)
· Wide receiver Josh Lanier (Tuscaloosa Academy, North Alabama/Alabama)
· Linebacker Cassanova McKinzy (Woodlawn, Auburn)
· Wide receiver Octayvius Miles (Alabama A&M)
· Offensive lineman Brandon Murphy (Carver-Montgomery)
· Defensive back Stephen Roberts (Opelika, Auburn)
· Offensive lineman Avery Young (Auburn)
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.