We’ve been talking about these players for 10 weeks of XFL play, and now we asked our XFLBoard contributors to collectively weigh-in on their choices for a 2023 “All-XFL” team. Three of our contributors, Greg Parks, Aidan Burke, and Mark Nelson took the challenge. As well, Matthew Tyler and Drew Wells from the XFL Insider Podcast joined in.
Each person voted for who they thought should make the “All-XFL” squad, and everyone voted for different players. Of course, majority ruled! Here are the final results:
Offense
Quarterback, A.J. McCarron, St. Louis Battlehawks
The leading MVP candidate for much of the season (and perhaps the eventual winner), McCarron was able to lead his team to the brink of the playoffs by minimizing mistakes, something his counterparts around the league struggled with all season. ~ Greg Parks
McCarron Record setting pivot known as the class of the league. McCarron should automatically generate interest from NFL teams. ~ Mark Nelson
McCarron had the highest completion percentage (68.8%) in the league, the second most yards thrown, and led the league in TD passes with 24, all while having been sacked the most times in the league. He also had a 4-to-1 TD/INT ratio. ~ Matthew Tyler and Drew Wells.
Running Back, Abram Smith, D.C. Defenders
Abram Smith led the league in every statistical rushing category this season, to include TDs (7) and average yards per rush (5.02). He was also the most called upon, having rushed the ball 42 more times than his closest peer. ~ Matthew Tyler and Drew Wells.
This might be the easiest decision of the entire ballot. No one came close to Smith’s output from the running back position this year. He was far-and-away the best runner in the league. ~ Greg Parks
Top running back with 778 yards at 5.0 yards per carry and 7 touchdowns. Hugely responsible for DC’s amazing success on offense. ~ Mark Nelson
The XFL rushing leader finished with an imposing 778 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He led the league in runs for 10+ and 20+ yards with 21 and five, respectively. He also had the longest run of the season for 70 yards during week five against St. Louis. Really a no-brainer. ~ Aidan Burke
Tight End, Cody Latimer, Orlando Guardians
One of the few bright spots in Orlando’s 1-9 season, Latimer led all TEs in receptions, yards, and TDs. He was also Pro Football Focus’s highest-graded TE. ~ Greg Parks
Latimer was the main source of production on an otherwise pedestrian Orlando Guardians offense. He ranked third in most receiving categories, hauling in 50 receptions and nearly 600 yards with four TDs on the year. ~ Matthew Tyler and Drew Wells.
The receiver-turned-tight end was by far the top target on the 1-9 Guardians and amongst all tight ends in the XFL. He ended the season third league-wide in receptions with 50 and fourth in receiving yards with 593. ~ Aidan Burke
A top performer on an Orlando offense that was hot and cold, and when it was hot it was because Latimer was hot. Latimer had 593 yards total on the season, which was good for 4th best in the XFL.~ Mark Nelson
The speedy aerial threat was one of the many targets for Ben DiNucci on the playoff-bound Sea Dragons. ~ Aidan Burke
The XFL’s leading receiver and a great find by Seattle’s personnel department. Showed tremendous hands, quickness, and balance throughout the season, becoming a security blanket for QB Ben DiNucci. ~ Greg Parks
Top receiver statistically and a proven playmaker for the Sea Dragons. One of Ben DiNucci’s favorite targets and for a good reason, because Pearson got the job done. ~ Mark Nelson
Pearson led the league in yards, yards per game, and targets this season in a red-hot Seattle offense. Pearson was a spark plug, taking advantage of both man and zone coverages to make his success the success of the Sea Dragons as a whole. ~ Matthew Tyler and Drew Wells.
Wide Receiver, Hakeem Butler, St. Louis Battlehawks
This redzone threat used every bit of his 6-5, 225 lbs frame to haul in catches at times. Butler led the XFL in receiving touchdowns with eight. ~ Aidan Burke
Second in the league in both receptions and yards, Butler was a stalwart for Anthony Becht’s Battlehawks. Huge TD receptions to seal comebacks and put away games were a hallmark across his 2023 body of work. ~ Matthew Tyler and Drew Wells.
A great story – DM’ing coach Anthony Becht on Twitter for a shot – Butler proved he still has what it takes to play at a high level. ~ Greg Parks
Steady performer and statistically the 2nd best receiver in the league with 51 catches for 59 yards and number one in the XFL with 8 touchdowns. ~ Mark Nelson
Wide Receiver, Lucky Jackson, D.C. Defenders
The explosive receiver tied for first in 20+ yard receptions with 10 and finished the season with 573 receiving yards. ~ Aidan Burke
Made the plays and was a favorite touchdown target for Jordan Ta’amu with five majors on the season. Jackson had 36 catches for 573 yards, making him a top performer in the 2023 XFL season. ~ Mark Nelson
Center, Alex Mollette, Houston Roughnecks
A consistent piece along Houston’s offensive line, Mollette did not commit a penalty in 585 snaps and allowed just one sack. ~ Greg Parks
The Roughnecks offensive line with Mollette at center blocked for the XFL’s second-best rushing attack. ~ Aidan Burke
Consistency is important for anyone in this position and Mollette brought it. ~ Mark Nelson
Offensive Guard, Mike Horton, Arlington Renegades
The former Auburn Tiger was huge in both pass-blocking and creating holes from his interior position for the likes of De’Veon Smith and Leddie Brown on the Renegades during the season. ~ Aidan Burke
Horton and his Renegade cohorts had a difficult time with a rotating cast of quarterbacks during the season. Yet Horton excelled, rotating between both guard spots. ~ Greg Parks
Opened holes for Renegades running backs De’Veon Smith and Leddie Brown, kept the offensive line solid despite many quarterback changes. ~ Mark Nelson
Offensive Guard, Liam Fornadel, D.C. Defenders
Fornadel started all 10 games for D.C. and was sixth on the Defenders in overall PFF grades. ~ Aidan Burke
While many offensive lines in the league struggled to run the ball, DC did so with ease thanks in part to the play of linemen like Fornadel. Fornadel was equally adept at pass blocking, grading over 70.0 in both run and pass per PFF. ~ Greg Parks
A key part of DC’s O-line so good at protecting Ta’amu and opening holes for the Abram Smith running attack. ~ Mark Nelson
Offensive Tackle, Colin Kelly, Seattle Sea Dragons
The Seattle passing attack flourished while the offensive line allowed only 11 sacks all season, with Kelly as one of the tackles. ~ Aidan Burke
The CFL import joined Seattle just before the regular season began. He helped solidify the most important position on the line – left tackle – on what turned out to be a strong unit for the Sea Dragons. ~ Greg Parks
Seattle’s O-line only allowed 11 sacks and Kelly was a big part of that success. During the pandemic he went through the CFL, and now he returned to the US to the Sea Dragons who were lucky to sign him. ~ Mark Nelson
Offensive Tackle, Liam Ryan, D.C. Defenders
Ryan played every snap on an offensive line that helped the league’s best-rushing attack and allowed the least sacks. ~ Aidan Burke
Ryan was part of the line that kept the league’s best running game running up field. ~ Mark Nelson
Defense
Defensive End, Delontae Scott, San Antonio Brahmas
Quarterbacks trembled at the sight of this one-man wrecking machine with 7.5 sacks, 36 tackles including a whopping 11 for a loss. ~ Mark Nelson
Scott played eight games, yet managed to total 36 tackles, including 11 for a loss and 7.5 sacks. ~ Aidan Burke
Scott has the bragging rights between himself and his brother, Mike (also a Brahma): Delontae led San Antonio in sacks and was second in tackles for loss. ~ Greg Parks
Defensive End, Davin Bellamy, D.C. Defenders
For opposing teams, Bellamy was just one of the many problems on the D.C. front seven, with the former Georgia Bulldog racking up 5.5 sacks. Bellamy also forced three fumbles during the season – tied for second league-wide. ~ Aidan Burke
DC Defenders, DC’s sackmaster had 5.5 sacks and forced 3 fumbles, combined with 20 tackles (9 solo) in the 2023 season. ~ Mark Nelson
Outside Linebacker, Tim Ward, Houston Roughnecks
Ward teamed with Trent Harris on the outside to form the most formidable pass-rushing tandem in the league. His counting stats would’ve been higher had he not missed a couple of games due to injury. ~ Greg Parks
Part of the Roughnecks formidable pass rush. Impressive season statistics with 22 tackles (17 solo) and 5.0 sacks. ~ Mark Nelson
Skipper far-and-away led Seattle in sacks for one of the best defensive teams in the league. He also forced three fumbles on the season. ~ Greg Parks
With 6 sacks, 20 tackles (14 solo), and 8 tackles for a loss on the season, Skipper was a key part of the Sea Dragons formidable defense. ~ Mark Nelson
Linebacker, Trent Harris, Houston Roughnecks
Harris was a sack machine in the early part of the year. With 30 total tackles and 9.5 sacks (league record), he was a pest for opposing offenses across the league. ~ Matthew Tyler and Drew Wells.
Amazing 9.5 sacks on the season. Every quarterback was listening for his footsteps. ~ Mark Nelson
Harris was an MVP candidate early in the season he was so dominant. He was part of a fearsome pass-rush tandem along with Tim Ward in Houston. ~ Greg Parks
This edge rusher led the league in sacks (9.5), while he tied for first with Jordan Williams in tackles for loss. While both were healthy, him and Tim Ward were a lethal duo off the ends for Houston. ~ Aidan Burke
Linebacker, Pita Taumoepenu, Vegas Vipers
Vegas Vipers wrecking machine with a league high 4 forced fumbles, recovering one, plus 26 tackles with 21 solo and 7 sacks on the season. ~ Mark Nelson
Taumoepenu was a shining star on an otherwise lackluster Vegas D. He may have punched his ticket back to the NFL after posting 7.5 sacks this year and showing tremendous bend around the edge. ~ Greg Parks
Linebacker, Jordan Williams, San Antonio Brahmas
He didn’t have the sack numbers of his counterparts, but Williams was all over the field for the Brahmas. He led the league in tackles – 26 more than second place – and tied for the league lead with 12 tackles for loss. ~ Greg Parks
Williams was a driving force behind San Antonio’s excellent defensive unit. He logged 26 more tackles (89 total) than the next closest defender in the league and had an interception to go with them. ~ Matthew Tyler and Drew Wells.
Williams was a key asset on the top-tier Brahmas defense, totaling an astounding 89 tackles from his outside linebacker position – the most by a longshot from any XFL defender. ~ Aidan Burke
Cornerback, Ajene Harris, Houston Roughnecks
The XFL leader in interceptions was known as much for being a returner heading into the season than for his abilities on the back end of the defense. That’ll change now. ~ Greg Parks
The shutdown corner made five interceptions during the first half of the season, including a pair against Seattle during week five, but has not made one since. Yet the value is still the most by any XFL defender. ~ Aidan Burke
Ajene Harris led the league in interceptions this season while logging 31 total tackles. He also had a Play of the Year candidate when he stood up and stripped Martavis Bryant, returning the strip for a TD. ~ Matthew Tyler and Drew Wells.
The man quarterbacks dreaded with an XFL high 5 interceptions, and with 31 tackles (18 solo). ~ Mark Nelson
Cornerback, Michael Joseph, D.C. Defenders
Joseph returned two of his four interceptions for a touchdown and tallied 41 tackles in nine games. ~ Aidan Burke
Joseph had four interceptions on the season, most notably returning two of them for touchdowns. He did a lot of his work early in the season; by the end, teams seemed to be avoiding his side of the field. For good reason. ~ Greg Parks
Puts the defense in the “D.C. Defenders” with league leading 4 interceptions, 41 tackles (32 solo). ~ Mark Nelson
Safety, Joe Powell, Arlington Renegades:
Powell turned four interceptions into 164 return yards, often setting the offensively-challenged Renegades up to take advantage of good field position on the turnover. ~ Greg Parks
Powell also had four picks during the season, including an XFL record 90-yard return on one against the Defenders. ~ Aidan Burke
Multi-purpose defensive back with 4 interceptions, 35 tackles (25 solo) and he is a great kick returner. ~ Mark Nelson
Safety, Deontay Anderson, Vegas Vipers
Anderson was one of the most active safeties in the league, placing second on the team in tackles. He didn’t make the splash plays others did, but was a consistent presence for the Vipers. ~ Greg Parks
A bright light on the Viper’s defensive squad, Anderson had 52 tackles (21 solo) and caught one interception. ~ Mark Nelson
Special Teams
Kicker, Parker Romo, San Antonio Brahmas
The season didn’t end the way he would’ve liked, but he was the most consistent and accurate kicker in the league. He was also the most active, as the Brahmas relied on him for points when they frequently came up short at getting in the end zone. ~ Greg Parks
A really close call between Romo and some others, but in the end, Romo finished with the most field goals and best kicking percentage. ~ Aidan Burke
Romo converted 89% of his kicks, scoring 51 total points for the struggling San Antonio Brahmas offense. His longest was two yards short of the current XFL record of 59 yards, held by Donnie Hageman. ~ Matthew Tyler and Drew Wells.
Kicked some amazing field goals. 17 for 19 on the season including an XFL record 57 yard field goal. ~ Mark Nelson
Punter, Brad Wing, San Antonio Brahmas
Wing led the league in both gross and net punting, a spectacular feat considering he hasn’t played pro football since 2019 in the AAF. ~ Greg Parks
Lead the 2023 XFL in all punting categories. Considering he kicked more punts than anyone in the league, his consistency was on display all season.~ Mark Nelson
Wing unleashed some absolute bombs this season, including one that traveled 72 yards. He punted 42 times for over 2,000 yards, while leading the league in average yards per punt (47.9). ~ Matthew Tyler and Drew Wells.
Return Specialist, Darrius Shepherd, St. Louis Battlehawks
Led the league in kickoff return yardage by a full three yards. Gave the Battlehawks consistently good starting field position throughout the year. ~ Greg Parks
Although he never broke one off for six, he certainly came close on multiple occasions and consistently kick-started drives for St. Louis. ~ Aidan Burke
Shepherd averaged nearly 25 yards per return across his 37 attempts, proving a critical asset for St. Louis in the field position game. His 907 return yards were the most in the league, and his long return of 80 yards was the second longest on the season. ~ Matthew Tyler and Drew Wells.
