Which XFL stars could be playing in the NFL in 2020?
The XFL’s short-lived renaissance has come and gone with the league’s season cancellation, and, rather than because of its own mismanagement like in 2001, this time it came at the hands of COVID-19—which seems to have eradicated sports from the planet for the time being. Although it was only in existence for a short five weeks, a few players managed to make quite the impression on football-starved fans. Here are five names you might be seeing more regularly on Sundays this coming fall (assuming sports are good to go again by September).
1. PJ Walker, QB, Houston Roughnecks
Walker would have run away with the XFL’s MVP award had the season run its course. He led all passers by a country mile in yards and touchdowns with 1,338 and 15, respectively, and added 99 rush yards with a score. Unsurprisingly, the Roughnecks had the best record at the time at 5-0, and it seems like a given that he should land a roster spot as a backup somewhere. With NFL teams transitioning from the pocket passers of old like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning to mobile quarterbacks that can create plays outside of the pocket like Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes, teams will certainly want to see if he can develop into something.
2. Cam Phillips, WR, Houston Roughnecks
Phillips—Walker’s go-to target—was an unstoppable force in his short time in the XFL, leading the league in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns with a ludicrous nine in just five games. Phillips was passed over in the 2018 draft for poor speed, with a 4.79 forty which he ran coming off sports hernia surgery. That is now an afterthought after his dynamic XFL performance included back-to-back weeks with three scores each where he proceeded to burn defenders so badly they looked like they played on the junior varsity high school team down the street. A lot of teams are targeting wide receivers in this year’s draft, but if one team doesn’t get their guy, expect Phillips to get some opportunities.
3. Donald Parham, TE, Dallas Renegades
A physical specimen at 6’8” who is just as quick as the average wide receiver with a max speed of 21.1 MPH, Parham should absolutely get a look. His 7-foot wingspan helped quickly turn him into Landry Jones’ safety valve in Dallas, as he finished third in the XFL in receiving yards. The list of tight ends in the NFL who can actually make an offensive impact is pretty thin, so it’s entirely possible that Parham, who is still only 22, comes out of nowhere to earn a starting job like Darren Waller did last year.
4. Cavon Walker, DT, New York Guardians
The XFL’s league leader in sacks with 4.5, the Walker on the other side of the ball was the heart of New York’s surprisingly strong defence and the only reason the Guardians remained competitive this season. He became a menace for opposing quarterbacks with 9 QB hits, most in the league, and 5 tackles for loss. Walker is quite a bit smaller than the average NFL defensive tackle at 6’2”, 287 pounds, but his prowess for constantly putting on pressure and disrupting passers should get him a training camp invite.
5. Kenny Robinson, S, St. Louis Battlehawks
Robinson was a talented rising star at West Virginia before being kicked off the team for a student code of conduct violation. Instead of entering the NCAA transfer portal and waiting a year to improve his academic standing so he could play at another school, Robinson decided he wanted to play now, and he became the first and only player with draft eligibility to join the XFL. In the process, the 21-year-old made the league his own personal combine leading the no.1 scoring defence in the XFL with 21 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 passes defended, and 1 sack. He’s on the radar of plenty of NFL teams, and will likely hear his name called at the draft in April.
Honourable Mentions: Jordan Ta’amu, QB, St. Louis Battlehawks; Nick Holley, RB/WR, Houston Roughnecks; Deatrick Nichols, CB, Houston Roughnecks