The XFL is about to sign players, and the Spring League is holding they’re final showcase of the year. We we’re lucky enough to receive rosters for all of the XFL Summer Showcases, and this event is no different. Thanks to the official Twitter account of The Dream Bowl, we have the full list.

Congrats 2 @TheDreamBowl+@HBCUSPIRITBOWL alums P. Settles, L. Brihm, J. Kelly, M. Harris, B. Alleyne, S. Smith, R. Potokov, R. Chase, C. Gomez, H. Tafah, M. Kweyir-Attah, J. Bowser, J. Istache, M. Brown, B. Brice & C. Jacquemin on competeing in @TheSpringLeague! #XFL #DreamBig pic.twitter.com/idROpwCf02

— The Dream Bowl (@TheDreamBowl) July 30, 2019

Offense

Jonathan Banks – QB – Kansas State/Tulane
David Cornwell – QB – Alabama
Vincent Jeffries – QB – Florida A&M
Andrea Nunez – QB – University of Louisiana Lafayette
PJ Settles – QB – Rhodes College
Larry Brihm Jr – QB – Bethune Cookman University
Boom Williams – RB – Kentucky
Jaymar Anderson – RB – East Stroudsburg University
Jason Sterling Scott – RB – Louisville/Eastern Kentucky
Jestin Kelly St – RB – Grambling State University
Dwight Hayes – RB – Arkansas Baptist University
Moses Harris – RB – Castleton University
David Bryant – RB – Florida Institute of Technology
Hjavier Pitts – RB – Thomas More University
Brycen Alleyne – RB – Deleware State
Charles Westbrook – RB – Western Illinois.West Liberty
Patrick Blackwood – RB – Marshall
Ovie Urevbu – RB – Texas A&M Commerce
Dwayne Carter – RB – Harding University
James Graham – RB – Illinois State
Brayden El-Bakri – FB – Brigham Young University
Keith Lewis – WR – Kearney Nebraska
Joel Blumenthal – WR – Southwestern Oklahoma State
Richard Turner – WR – University of Texas San Antonio
Marwuis Wells – WR – Central State University
Jamal Chevis – WR – Arkansas Monticello
Damaar Aultman – WR – University of Maine
Christian Booker – WR – Arkansas State University
Jeff George – WR – University Tennessee
Rodell Cruell – WR – Mcneese State/Tulsculum College
Erik Brundidge – WR – West Chester University
Chad Rex – WR – Ohio Northern University
Keavon Mitchell – WR – Bethune Cookman
Zach Drew Toles – WR – New Mexico Highlands University
Dontez Byrd – WR – Louisville/Tennessee Tech
Shannon Smith – WR – University of West Georgia
Gabriel Alexander – WR – Peru State
Andrew Verboys – WR – University of Deleware
Jarredd Radebaugh – WR – Colorado State University Pueblo
Daniel Walsh – WR – Texas Christian
Brenden KellyEastern Oregon University
Jayln Judkins – TE – Texas A&M/Angelo State
Blake Vandenberg – TE – Missouri Western State
Jake Sutherland – TE – Morehead State University
Michael Lasker – OT – Syracuse University
Josiah Tonu – OT – Souther Oregon University
Rustam Potokov – OG – Urbana University/Nassau CC
Jeremy Schonbrunner – OG – Temple University
Jonte Berry – OG – Kilgore Junior College
Lawrence Omolayo – OG – Pace University
Kirkland Zuniga – OG – Langston University
Joseph Park – OG – University of South Carolina
Raymond Chase Jr – OG – Monroe College/Limestone
Cole Conrad – OC – Nebraska
Chad Moore – OC – Chilliwack
Justin Brown – OC – Benedict College
Chris Gomez – OC – Central Missouri
Byron Glass – OC – Austin Peay State University

Defense

Skye King – DT – York University
Steven Leggett – DT – Florida Atlantic University
Keyso Moss – DT – Antelope College/Missouri S&T
Jason Smith – DT – Marshall/Delaware State
Lord Hyeamang – DT – Columbia University
Harris Tafah – DE – Mcneese State
Whitney Richardson – DE – Lane College
Brandon Jones – DE – Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Edward Mosley – DE – Alabama State
Okezie Adim-Madumere – DE – Northwestern State University
Jordon Harold – DE – Missouri
Tigi Hill – LB – Mesa CC
Osband Thompson – LB – Tuskegee University
Kain Daub – LB – Florida State/Florida Atlantic
Kieren Wilson – LB – Missouri Valley College
Jibrell Hazly – LB – Florida A&M/Feather River
Michael Kewgyir Attah – LB – Monroe College/Norfolk State
Derek Ibkwe – LB – New Mexico State
Kendal Adams – LB – Kansas State
Dewayne Beckford – LB – Purdue University
Ryan Arnold – LB – Dubuque University
Homer Causey – CB – Texas Southern University
Jalen Holloman – CB – Reinhardt
Mike Daniels – CB – West Virginia
Clyde Lee – CB – Houston/Texas Southern
Adonis Phillips – CB – University of Hawaii
Travis McMillan – CB – McKendree University
Dereck Allen Jr – CB – Mcneese State
Malcom Williams – CB – Wayne State University
Osman Toure – CB – Bloomsburg University
Demarcus Owens – CB – New Mexico State
Odie Harris – CB – Shaw University
Ja’Quez Bowser – CB – Alabama State/Faulkner
Rodney Mosley Jr – CB – Union College
Michael Shelton – CB – Bringham Young University
DeWayne Finny Jr – CB – East Central University
Devin Raynod Hines – CB – Seton Hill University
Lorye Broom – CB – Oregon
Morloshawn Franklin Jr – CB – Cal Berkeley
Jonathan Istache – CB – Duquesne University
Jesse Gibson – SAF – Belhaven University
Derick Bernard Hobson II – CB – Alabama
Cody Savage – SAF – Kansas State/Emporia State
Justin Wyatt – SAF – Limestone College/Troy
JJ Nunes – SAF – Valparaiso University
Malik Keshon Brown – SAF – Henderson State
Joshua Hayden – SAF – University of La Verne
DeAndre Williams – SAF – Central State/Missouri State
Brandon Brice – SAF – Harding University
Hassan Ibrahim – SAF – California Berkeley
Christian Jacquemin – K – Jackson State
Phillip Nwosu – K – Amherst College
Nick Dorka Jr – K – William & Mary
Matt Mengel – P – UCLA
Zack Esau – LS – University of Manitoba
Alonso Vera – LS – Cal Berkeley

We’re seven months out from kickoff, team identities are right around the corner and an integral part of the XFL’s re-birth has just concluded. July 13 the XFL held it’s final Summer Showcase in St. Louis, where previously an event was held in each of the other home cities. A lot of fans, like myself, were lucky enough to attend, but a lot missed out.

Luckily for you, today The official YouTube Channel of the XFL posted a video today recapping all eight Summer Showcase events. It’s a great highlight package all XFL fans will enjoy. There are snippets of each events showcasing the athletes and the coaches.

This week we’re talking the last two Summer Showcases. First we look at some of the standouts that attended the event in Tampa, then we move to look at some of the folks that worked out in St. Louis.

We’re right around the corner from the NFL season and players are starting to report to training camp. According to NFL Insider Adam Caplan, the Panthers worked out former Birmingham Iron quarterback Luis Perez this past Monday. During his time with the Iron, he had seven starts with 135 of 258 passes completed for 1,460 yards; resulting in five touchdowns and six interceptions.

Perez just recently attended the XFL Summer Showcase in St. Louis, could this be the first of many Showcase members being poached by the NFL? The Panthers in particular seemed to have a fondness for former Alliance alumni. If signed, Perez would be the sixth former AAF player on the Panthers. So far the Panthers have signed former AAF stars Rashad Ross (AZ Hotshots), Brandon Greene (Birmingham Iron), Kitt O’Brien (Birmingham Iron), Parker Collins (Atlanta Legends), Cole Hunt (San Antonio Commanders) and Marcus Baugh (San Diego Fleet).

Playing for the Iron served as Perez’s most-notable professional football experience to date. A First-Team All-American and NCAA Division II National Champion at Texas A&M-Commerce, Perez went undrafted in 2018 before earning an opportunity to try and make the Los Angeles Rams’ roster. He briefly spent time on the practice squad after failing to make the full roster, but was released early in the season. After the AAF dissolved, Perez spent about a month with the Philadelphia Eagles.

We’re just a little under 7 months until the XFL kicks off on Feb 8th, 2020 and the league has just wrapped up the inaugural Summer Showcase. If you don’t know, the Showcase is the XFL’s version of the NFL combine, with a twist. The league held a showcase at each of the franchise locations to scout potential players for a chance to eligible for the draft come October.

The Summer Showcase kicked off in Dallas on June 7th, with the last event taking place July 13th in St. Louis. For the most part there two Showcase events each weekend, the last two took place individually with a holiday break in between. Each event had a minimum of 100 players showcasing their talents, with half being offense and the other defense.

Now that this chapter has concluded, we thought this was a good time to look and see what is next for the XFL between now and kickoff.

Team Identities (Names/Logos)

The biggest thing on every ones mind is the team identities. People have been asking about the names and logos since before Bob Stoops was announced as head coach of XFL Dallas. The good news, they’re coming; we just don’t know when specifically. Commissioner Luck has touched on this subject a few times in the past; with a lot of fans angry that the timeline has changed a few time. We initially hear April, then May, June and now July. There are a lot of possibilities for the delay, so I’ll give the league a pass on this one.

We are definitely getting closer, as XFL Seattle has already trademarks 5 potential team names for their franchise. The league also seems more confident when telling fans that the names are coming this month. We expect to hear an official announcement from the XFL very soon on what the identities will be. It could be as soon as tomorrow or as late as the 31st, but we fully expect to hear the names this month.

Signing Players

Now that the league has had a change to scout players via The Spring League, Your Call Football as well as their very own Summer Showcase, it’s time to start signing players. League officials have stated that the Showcase wasn’t a tryout, it was a place for scouts and coaches to get a first hand look at players that the league was already interested in. In the Summer Showcase alone there was roughly 1000 players that participated throughout all of the events.

We also know that the XFL is looking to pick up players cut by the NFL prior to the season start. They have also stated that they are keeping an eye on Quarterback battles in the NFL, in hopes that they may be able to intrigue one of the backups to join the league as a starter. Players aren’t going to be signed to any particular teams. Once signed, they will be entered into the XFL draft pool. The XFL Draft is to take place in early October, but we’ll touch on that more later.

Official Rule book

We know a lot of the rules the XFL has been testing, but noting is final yet. Commissioner Luck has stated that he expects the finalized rule book to come in late August or early September. Regardless, we should have them by end of summer; and that’s right around the corner.

Kickoffs

Unlike the AAF, the XFL will have kickoffs. From the looks of it, it seems to be similar to the CFL where there will be a 5 yard halo-rule, with no fair catch. The ball will be booted from a team’s 15- or 20-yard line, in order to prevent touchbacks; to cut down on the trauma of high-speed collisions, the rest of the kicking team will line up on the opponent’s 35, five yards from the return team’s blockers.

Punt Returns

Similar to the kickoff, there will still be a 5 yard halo rule with no fair catch. One thing to remember, is the 5 yard halo is dependent on the ball and not the player. Meaning, if the ball hits the ground and bounces towards the kicking team, the players will need to retreat until the receiving team picks up the ball.

Running Play Clock/Come Back Period

Instead of stopping the clock on incomplete passes and runs out of bounds, the clock will keep running, except in the last two minutes of the half; this is what the league has been calling the “come back period”. The hope is that it will speed everything up, and accomplish the leagues goal of creating a fast-paced game.

Extra Points

Unlike the NFL, the XFL will not utilize kickers after a touchdown. Instead the scoring team will have three options:

• 1 point starting at the 2 yard line
• 2 points starting at the 5 yard line
• 3 points starting at the 10 yard line

This will give the opposing team more chances to get back into the game, which should create a more exciting game for the fans. An interesting aspect of this is also how they would handle interceptions that result in a score. If this is to happen, the defense would receive the amount of points that the offense was attempting. For instance, if XFL Houston is going for a 3 point attempt and XFL Seattle intercepts and runs it back, Seattle would receive three points.

Multiple Forward Passes

The league has been testing the ability to have multiple forward passes; meaning more than two. All passes would need to be performed behind the line of scrimmage. If the QB passes to another player and becomes the receiver they will be treated as any other player and would no longer be protected by QB safety rules. This would potentially open up more plays for the backup QB, or at least that is a thought at the moment. If any of the passes are incomplete, the whole play is incomplete.

Officiating

As part of keeping the game up tempo, the XFL is aware that officiating is going to play a key part of that. There will be a dedicated ball spotter to ensure that time isn’t wasted setting the placement after each play. They will also have a officiant in the booth, much like the AAf and it’s Sky Judge. There will be replay reviews, but they are looking at ways to expedite the process. Dean Blandino has also recently stated that the XFL is making a concerted effort to hire female and minority officials.

Overtime

Probably the most intriguing innovation they are testing out is new overtime rules. Again, a huge focus that they are working to achieve is keeping all of the games under 3 hours, including overtime. To achieve this, and give each team an opportunity to score they are testing rules similar to hockey and soccer. Both teams offense and defense would be on the field at the same time starting at the 5 yard line. Each team would take turns attempting to score, with each touchdown accounting for one point. If there is a tie after 5 rounds, then it becomes sudden death. Whoever scores first, wins the game.

There will be 4 refs on each side, with a ref in the booth similar to the AAF’s Sky Judge to officiate the plays. If the defense commits a penalty the ball would move to the 1 yard line, if they commit a second penalty, the offense receive a point. Alternatively, if the defense intercepts the ball or recovers a fumble then they would receive a point. With these rules in place there will always be a winner, no ties in the XFL.

XFL Draft

We have heard numerous times that the XFL Draft will occur in early October; first fro, XFL St. Louis Head Coach Jon Hayes, then further confirmed by Commissioner Luck. There has also been some rumors that Tier 1 quarterbacks will not be apart of the draft; instead they would be assigned to teams. League representatives had commented on this issue and said this is only up for consideration. Johnny Manziel has said that he’d be open to play for either Dallas or Houston. If the league went this direction, it would allow for this to happen without the uncertainty of the draft.

The league if going to be comprised of 8 official teams and a “Team 9” also based of of Dallas. We’re assuming that this team will not partake in the draft, rather they will select players from the pool of left over players. Something else to keep in mind is that the XFL has different eligibility rules from the NFL. This means we could see players come straight from high school, or leave college early to join the league.

Training Camp

Training camp will take place in Houston next January with all eight leagues participating. This would replace a pre-season for the league, at least for the inaugural season. It’s very possible that if the league surpasses it’s predecessors existence that we may see a proper pre-season.

Commissioner Luck has stated in the past that he expects team practices to start around late fall, this would not replace that, rather this would supplement those practice sessions.

Kickoff

Last but not least, we arrive at the moment we’ve all been waiting for. The XFL officially kicks off just six days after the Super Bowl on Feb 8th, 2020. The early game starts at 2pm EST on ABC, and the later game starting at 5pm EST on Fox.

That is huge news for the XFL, both of their opening day games are going to be aired on “free” over-the-air television. Not to mention that all XFL games will be broadcast across ABC, ESPN, Fox or FS1. The times and dates of all of the games have been announced, but no teams associated with them just yet.

This Week in the XFL we look at the upcoming Q&A hosted by XFL Houston Team President Brian Michael Cooper, discuss the last Summer Showcase in St. Louis, analyze the latest hires in the league, and lastly we give an update on the status of the AAF asset auction.

The XFL Summer Showcase is coming to a conclusion this Saturday and the XFL has just named the first two attendees. Via Twitter the XFL have announced that Trent Richardson and Connor Cook will be at the Summer Showcase in St. Louis.

It's the final #XFLShowcase!@XFLStLouis is expecting a turnout of over 140 players Saturday, including Trent Richardson and @Connor_Cook03. pic.twitter.com/06aymrvGLC

— XFL (@xfl2020) July 11, 2019

Trent Richardson

Trent Richardson most recently played for the Birmingham Iron of the AAF. He played college for the University of Alabama. Richardson was recognized as an All-American, and was a member of two BCS National Championship teams. Considered the top running back prospect for the 2012 NFL Draft. Richardson was thought to be the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson. He was selected third overall by the Cleveland Browns.

During the first game of the 2019 AAF season against the Memphis Express, Richardson carried for 58 yards in 23 carries, resulting in 2.5 yards per carry with two rushing touchdowns and one fumble. Richardson also recorded one catch, breaking several tackles for a 14 yard gain and a first down, as well as a two point conversion catch following his first touchdown. In later weeks, Richardson would be utilized more as a receiving back, in addition to rushing duties. Richardson caught his first touchdown in a week 6 victory against the San Diego Fleet, and has scored at least one rushing touchdown in each game through 8 weeks, including what would have been a playoff clinching game in week 8 against the Atlanta Legends. Richardson finished his time in the AAF’s short existence as arguably the most productive player with the most rushes per game, and had a league best 12 total touchdowns.

Connor Cook

Cook played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was their starting quarterback from 2013 to 2015. He holds the record for most career wins at Michigan State. Cook was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. After initially serving as the third-string backup to Derek Carr and Matt McGloin, Cook played in his first NFL game in the Raiders’ last regular season game of the 2016 NFL season after Carr and McGloin suffered injuries. Following this, he was named the starter for the Raiders’ playoff game against the Houston Texans. Due to this he became the first quarterback in NFL history to make his first career start in a playoff game.

We’re just a couple days out from the last XFL Summer Showcase event. This Saturday the Showcase stops in St. Louis at Lou Fusz Athletic Training Center. The XFL is giving you a chance to win a chance to attend with a guest of their choosing. All you need to do is retweet the following:

Want to attend our Summer Showcase?

RT this by 3 pm ET Thursday for a chance to attend the next #XFLShowcase as a fan, taking place this Saturday at Lou Fusz Athletic Training Center!

20 random winners will be selected to attend with a guest. #XFL2020 #Sweepstakes pic.twitter.com/f5OqAlFEDO

— XFL St Louis (@XFLStLouis) July 10, 2019

Last week we covered the first four Summer Showcase events, this week we shift our focus to the next two. We’re taking a look at some of the key prospects that attended the XFL Summer Showcase in Los Angeles and Seattle. Enjoy!