The D.C. Defenders selected ten players during yesterday’s inaugural XFL Rookie Draft. It’s unknown exactly how many of these players will be part of the Defenders by the time the 2024 season rolls around, whether some decline their invite to the XFL or others don’t make the final roster. In general, it’s evident D.C. looked to fill some of their roster gaps created by NFL departures. Some holes even pre-existing as the production at the position struggled last season. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown and brief analysis of each player taken:
3 OLs
3 WRs
2 LBs
1 DB
1 P
P Paxton Brooks, Tennessee
Even though they didn’t punt often due to the frequent success of their offense, the Defenders entered the draft knowing they’d need a new punter for next year after all-XFL punter Daniel Whelan signed with the Green Bay Packers shortly after the conclusion of the 2023 season. With that, the Defenders decided to use a selection on Brooks during one of the later rounds of yesterday’s draft. Out of Tennessee, Brooks certainly has the potential to fill Whelan’s shoes. His 42.3 yards-per-punt rank eighth in Vols history. At the same time, he pinned 58 of his 163 punts inside the 20.
He sent 32 punts 50+ yards throughout five seasons at Tennessee, where his success ultimately led to a 2023 NFL Combine invite and then an invite to Indianapolis Colts rookie minicamp. He also has a successful history as a placekicker, averaging 60.5 yards per kickoff and forcing a return on 126 of his 252 kickoffs. However, D.C. kickoff duties will likely remain Matt McCrane’s after his contributions last season.
OL Matt Carrick, Michigan State
Arguably the most superficial position in all of football, D.C. heavily invested in offensive linemen during the draft. Carrick out of Michigan State was one of the linemen Defenders DPP Von Hutchins took a chance on. Overall, Carrick played 47 collegiate games, making 27 starts, including nine in 2022 at right guard. He received an invite to Green Bay Packers minicamp after going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft but was never signed.
At 6-5 320 lbs, Carrick brings size and power to D.C.’s offensive line that allowed a respectable ten sacks throughout the regular season before an apparent breakdown in the championship, where starting quarterback Jordan Ta’amu was sacked twice and pressured countless times. He threw a season-high three picks in that game as his team ultimately faltered, 35-26. Carrick could assist in keeping Ta’amu clean and be an effective blocker in D.C.’s zone-run scheme, with Abram Smith as the feature back. On the other hand, I will point out that Carrick’s lack of agility is problematic with his bigger frame.
OL Alex Jensen, South Dakota
While he’s not an FBS product, Jensen’s collegiate experience as a four-year starter is certainly one of his positives as a prospect. He started 38 games for South Dakota at left tackle throughout his six-year career. Along the way, he earned all-MVFC honors twice and was named team captain for his senior season. He provides upside in pass protection, even earning an invite to Miami Dolphins minicamp after going undrafted. While the size and awareness are there for Jensen, his shorter arms and struggles in blocking at the second level remain concerns. With that said, Jensen could provide depth behind the likes of Cody Conway and D’Marcus Hayes for a D.C. offensive line that dealt with a plethora of injuries last season.
Interestingly enough, Jensen’s status as a USFL draftee puts him at a crossroads between leagues. Like many of the other players selected by both the XFL and USFL, we’ll see which league Jensen chooses (if any) soon enough.
WR C.J. Johnson, East Carolina
Since the season ended, the Defenders have lost three receivers (and counting) to the NFL. With that, it’s evident one of their top priorities this offseason would be “reloading” their once-lethal receiving corps, and that’s just what they did during the draft. Johnson broke records at East Carolina, setting its single-game receiving yards record against Cincinnati in 2019 with 283 yards on 12 grabs. He also tied both the ECU and AAC single-game records with four receiving touchdowns against South Florida in 2022. That same season, he earned second-team all-AAC honors, as he recorded an exceptional 67 receptions for 1,016 yards and ten touchdowns.
Johnson was fun to watch at ECU, at times using every bit of his 6-1 224 lbs frame to haul in contested catches. And while he struggles with quickness, he brings physicality to the D.C. receiving attack, an aspect it lacked last season, especially after Jazz Ferguson’s (6-5 223 lbs) training camp injury that held him out for a prolonged period of time. With his physical advantage, Johnson could pose numerous mismatches against smaller opposing corners.
LB Kaleb Oliver, Western Kentucky
A violent hitter, Oliver certainly plays bigger than his 6-4 215 lbs frame, likely much to the appeasement of Defenders DC Gregg Williams. Overall, Oliver spent six years at the collegiate level, including his first four at Georgia Tech, where he played 33 games, totaling 92 tackles, including 7.5 for a loss and two sacks, before transferring to Western Kentucky for his final two years of eligibility, much to the benefit of his football career as his role in WKU’s defensive backfield was a prominent one. With the Hilltoppers, Oliver played 25 games, finishing with 81 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, and four interceptions. He capped off his lengthy collegiate career with a Conference USA honorable mention for his showing during the 2022 season.
Oliver also has experience at the safety position at the collegiate level. But it’s likely the Defenders will primarily use him as a linebacker, where he could help in defending both the run and pass.
OL Jack Plumb, Iowa
Plumb spent his entire five-year collegiate career at Iowa, appearing in 46 games. As a junior, he made six starts at right tackle, registering 483 snaps. His usage took a slight hit in his senior year, as he only saw 418 total snaps, most of which came during the last five games of the season after being inserted into the starting lineup for the Hawkeyes. A four-year letterman in both football and basketball during HS, Plumb certainly embodies the meaning of a “multi-sport athlete.” Plumb played tight end at high school but was mainly utilized as a blocker. Thus, he transitioned to offensive tackle when he got to Iowa.
Plumb received invitations to multiple NFL minicamps but wasn’t able to stick with any squads. He’s a lengthy athlete who could be a reliable rotational piece at tackle for a D.C. offensive line that was plagued by injuries last season.
DB Bentlee Sanders, Nevada
Ironically, I talked about Sanders as a potential Defenders prospect in one of my pre-draft articles. Likely the most significant thing that sticks out for the Florida native is his sub-4.4 40-yard-dash time, along with his versatility and ability to play either the cornerback or safety position. With his burst and ability to stick with quicker receivers, Sanders addresses some concerns for a struggling D.C. secondary, which allowed 300+ passing yards in each of its last five regular season games. But will he be enough?
Sanders capped off a fruitful six-year collegiate career at Nevada by earning all-Mountain West first-team honors and leading the Wolfpack in tackles (82), interceptions (five), and forced fumbles (three). He spent two seasons at Nevada after transferring from South Florida after four years. Not only that, Sanders provides upside as a return man with some experience in both returning kickoffs and punts at the collegiate level. At 5-9 179 lbs, he certainly plays bigger than his size, but his ability to continue doing so in the XFL will be important if he wants to survive at the next level.
LB MoMo Sanogo, Louisville
While he’s physically limited, Sanogo’s impressive collegiate career at Louisville and Ole Miss likely sticks out to many, including Defenders DPP Von Hutchins and DC Gregg Williams. After transferring to Lousiville for one last season, he led the Cardinals in tackles with 89 while recording an impressive 4.5 sacks and team-high three fumble recoveries. For his performance, he earned an all-ACC honorable mention. Previously at Ole Miss, he totaled 210 tackles, including 12 for a loss and 3.5 sacks in 47 games.
Sanogo represents yet another productive run-stopper added to the defensive backfield for D.C. He adds depth to a talented inside linebacking corps with guys like Francis Bernard and Reggie Northrup.
WR Ty Scott, Missouri State
Scott represents a rare FCS selection from the Defenders during yesterday’s draft. Regardless, the deep threat marks another receiver who could help fill the void left by the departures of Lucky Jackson and Chris Blair, who combined for over 1,000 receiving yards during the 2023 season. Scott himself had an impressive last season at Missouri State, leading his team with 48 receptions and 674 receiving yards as he earned an all-MVFC honorable mention.
Unfortunately, this was a downgrade from his previous record-breaking season, where he notched 66 receptions for 1,110 yards and eight touchdown receptions. Nonetheless, Scott’s success at the collegiate level shows he’s prepared to be a big-time playmaker at the next level with D.C. Before Missouri State, Scott spent two seasons at Central Michigan.
WR Trea Shropshire, UAB
Out of UAB, Shropshire represents yet another player who could fill the shoes of D.C.’s departing receivers. The two-time all-Conference USA honorable mention ranked third nationally with his 22.5 per yards catch during the 2022 campaign. His career 1,936 receiving yards rank fifth all-time in program history, while his impressive showing at the 2023 Hula Bowl only boosted his stock. Just watch this 75-yard touchdown reception where he scampered into the end zone untouched for six after the deep-ball catch:
Shropshire’s playmaking ability will undoubtedly be fun to watch if he chooses the XFL over the USFL, where the Memphis Showboats drafted him in February. He has the potential to be an immediate starter for the Defenders at outside receiver with all the turnaround in their receiving room.
Final Thoughts
As I pointed out, just because an XFL team drafted an individual does not mean he will play in the league. Even so, I commend Von Hutchins and the entire Defenders staff for going out and getting guys who can resolve some of the team’s roster gaps while giving each of these guys the opportunity to keep working at their dreams. Breaking down their draft variety, the Defenders selected four power-five products, four group-five products, and two FCS products. While I’m excited for all of these athletes’ futures in the XFL, C.J. Johnson is the player who stands out the most to me with his unique physicality and pass-catching abilities.
Arguably the most superficial position in all of football, D.C. heavily invested in offensive linemen during the draft. Carrick out of Michigan State was one of the linemen Defenders DPP Von Hutchins took a chance on. Overall, Carrick played 47 collegiate games, making 27 starts, including nine in 2022 at right guard. He received an invite to Green Bay Packers minicamp after going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft but was never signed. 
While he’s not an FBS product, Jensen’s collegiate experience as a four-year starter is certainly one of his positives as a prospect. He started 38 games for South Dakota at left tackle throughout his six-year career. Along the way, he earned all-MVFC honors twice and was named team captain for his senior season. He provides upside in pass protection, even earning an invite to Miami Dolphins minicamp after going undrafted. While the size and awareness are there for Jensen, his shorter arms and struggles in blocking at the second level remain concerns. With that said, Jensen could provide depth behind the likes of Cody Conway and D’Marcus Hayes for a D.C. offensive line that dealt with a plethora of injuries last season.
Since the season ended, the Defenders have lost three receivers (and counting) to the NFL. With that, it’s evident one of their top priorities this offseason would be “reloading” their once-lethal receiving corps, and that’s just what they did during the draft. Johnson broke records at East Carolina, setting its single-game receiving yards record against Cincinnati in 2019 with 283 yards on 12 grabs. He also tied both the ECU and AAC single-game records with four receiving touchdowns against South Florida in 2022. That same season, he earned second-team all-AAC honors, as he recorded an exceptional 67 receptions for 1,016 yards and ten touchdowns. 
A violent hitter, Oliver certainly plays bigger than his 6-4 215 lbs frame, likely much to the appeasement of Defenders DC Gregg Williams. Overall, Oliver spent six years at the collegiate level, including his first four at Georgia Tech, where he played 33 games, totaling 92 tackles, including 7.5 for a loss and two sacks, before transferring to Western Kentucky for his final two years of eligibility, much to the benefit of his football career as his role in WKU’s defensive backfield was a prominent one. With the Hilltoppers, Oliver played 25 games, finishing with 81 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, and four interceptions. He capped off his lengthy collegiate career with a Conference USA honorable mention for his showing during the 2022 season. 
Plumb spent his entire five-year collegiate career at Iowa, appearing in 46 games. As a junior, he made six starts at right tackle, registering 483 snaps. His usage took a slight hit in his senior year, as he only saw 418 total snaps, most of which came during the last five games of the season after being inserted into the starting lineup for the Hawkeyes. A four-year letterman in both football and basketball during HS, Plumb certainly embodies the meaning of a “multi-sport athlete.” Plumb played tight end at high school but was mainly utilized as a blocker. Thus, he transitioned to offensive tackle when he got to Iowa.
Ironically, I talked about Sanders as a potential Defenders prospect in one of my pre-draft articles. Likely the most significant thing that sticks out for the Florida native is his sub-4.4 40-yard-dash time, along with his versatility and ability to play either the cornerback or safety position. With his burst and ability to stick with quicker receivers, Sanders addresses some concerns for a struggling D.C. secondary, which allowed 300+ passing yards in each of its last five regular season games. But will he be enough?
While he’s physically limited, Sanogo’s impressive collegiate career at Louisville and Ole Miss likely sticks out to many, including Defenders DPP Von Hutchins and DC Gregg Williams. After transferring to Lousiville for one last season, he led the Cardinals in tackles with 89 while recording an impressive 4.5 sacks and team-high three fumble recoveries. For his performance, he earned an all-ACC honorable mention. Previously at Ole Miss, he totaled 210 tackles, including 12 for a loss and 3.5 sacks in 47 games.
Scott represents a rare FCS selection from the Defenders during yesterday’s draft. Regardless, the deep threat marks another receiver who could help fill the void left by the departures of Lucky Jackson and Chris Blair, who combined for over 1,000 receiving yards during the 2023 season. Scott himself had an impressive last season at Missouri State, leading his team with 48 receptions and 674 receiving yards as he earned an all-MVFC honorable mention. 
Out of UAB, Shropshire represents yet another player who could fill the shoes of D.C.’s departing receivers. The two-time all-Conference USA honorable mention ranked third nationally with his 22.5 per yards catch during the 2022 campaign. His career 1,936 receiving yards rank fifth all-time in program history, while his impressive showing at the 2023 Hula Bowl only boosted his stock. Just watch this 75-yard touchdown reception where he scampered into the end zone untouched for six after the deep-ball catch:
