XFL BattleHawks QB Jordan Ta’amu was drafted by the USFL Tampa Bay Bandits
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the newly-resurrected USFL held its draft for the upcoming 2022 season. By the end, each of the eight teams in the league had populated its roster with 35 players. Alumni from the 2020 version of the XFL were well-represented: Almost 20% of those whose names were called in the USFL draft played two years ago in the XFL. That’s not counting players who went to camp and were cut by XFL teams, as a few of them were selected as well. There will also be a supplemental draft next month where more XFL players could be chosen.
USFL contracts are for one year with a league option for a second, meaning those chosen in the draft this past week are unlikely to be eligible to play in the XFL next year. Here is a team-by-team look at the former XFL players chosen by USFL teams in the league’s 2022 draft.
Birmingham Stallions
C Jordan McCray, Vipers – Anchored Tampa Bay’s offensive line in 2020, will do the same in Birmingham
LB DeMarquis Gates, Roughnecks – Filled the stat sheet as starting ILB for Houston; finished second on team in tackles
LB Scooby Wright, Defenders – Another ILB from the XFL taken by Stallions; has played in AAF, XFL, TSL
Michigan Panthers
DE Cavon Walker, Guardians – XFL leader in sacks through five weeks earned him an NFL shot with Steelers
WR Ray Bolden, Roughnecks – Did not appear in a game for Houston as he worked his way back from preseason injury
WR Jeff Badet, Renegades – First-round XFL draft pick has bounced around NFL camps & practice squads since
LB Taiwan Jones, Wildcats – Backup MLB in LA’s 3-4 defense, he was coached by a former LB in Winston Moss
LB Frank Ginda, Guardians – Led New York in special teams tackles with seven; also made 16 stops on defense
Houston Gamblers
OT Avery Gennessy, Roughnecks – Gennessy stays in Houston after starting all five games at RG for Roughnecks
OT John Yarbrough, Vipers – Listed here as an offensive tackle, Yarbrough backed up Jordan McCray at center for TB
CB Jamar Summers, Guardians – Second overall DB selected in XFL draft; played with Birmingham in AAF
S Andrew Soroh, Guardians – Defensive backfield mate of Summers in NY; starting FS picked off a pass for Guardians
LB Beniquez Brown, Roughnecks – Defensive leader in Houston paced team in tackles, tackles for loss
LB Reggie Northrup, Vipers – Another Viper backup; saw significant time on special teams coverage units
G Terronne Prescod, Defenders – Released at final cuts, Prescod was brought back to DC roster at end of February
P Drew Galitz, Renegades – Finished third in XFL in gross punting average, first in net average
TE Brandon Barnes, Wildcats – Placed on injured reserve days before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the season
TE Julian Allen, Renegades – Deep reserve was active for three of Dallas’s five games
New Jersey Generals
OT Terry Poole, Roughnecks – One of three Houston starting OL to get drafted into USFL; played LT for Roughnecks
CB Trae Elston, Roughnecks – Third round DB selection for Houston was placed on IR just before XFL season began
CB David Rivers, BattleHawks – Made ten tackles as starting CB in St. Louis’s nickel alignment
S Dravon Askew-Henry, Guardians – Nickel corner for Guardians was their fourth round pick in DB phase
DT Toby Johnson, Guardians – Versatile lineman backed up both of NY’s defensive tackle spots
DT Kalani Vakameilalo, Defenders – Third-string nose tackle in DC made two tackles in three games
LB D’Juan Hines, Guardians – Showed out in pass coverage in New York with four passes defensed
TE Nick Truesdell, Vipers – Had disappointing showing for first-round XFL draft selection; was last TE picked in USFL
New Orleans Breakers
LB James Folston, Jr., Renegades – DE/LB ‘tweener is pass rush specialist who saw little time in Dallas
OT Marquis Lucas, Vipers – Worked way into the starting lineup during season at right tackle; can also play guard
CB Derrick Jones, Dragons – A graduate of XFL’s Team Nine, Jones re-signed with Seattle just before pandemic
RB Larry Rose, Wildcats – Part of LA’s backfield committee, Rose rushed for just 1.9 yards per carry
K Austin MacGinnis, Renegades – Nearly made LA Rams in 2020; connected on all 10 field goal attempts in XFL
Philadelphia Stars
CB Channing Stribling, Dragons – Starting corner in Seattle had an interception, three passes defensed in 2020
CB Bradley Sylve, Wildcats – Traded by Defenders early in season; backed up Arrion Springs with Wildcats
S Jack Tocho, Wildcats – Active safety was always around ball with two interceptions, two forced fumbles in XFL
S Cody Brown, Roughnecks – Another XFL DB for Philadelphia, Brown went from undrafted to starter in Houston
RB Matthew Colburn, Guardians – Inactive for three of five games in 2020; carried the ball just once
LS Ryan Navarro, Wildcats – Selected by LA in Open Phase of draft; has been in NFL camps, AAF, as well as XFL
Pittsburgh Maulers
OT Isaiah Battle, Dragons – Second overall OL selected in XFL draft; former NFL supplemental draft pick of Rams
CB Ajene Harris, Roughnecks – Pulled double-duty as starting CB and electric kick returner for Houston
DE Boogie Roberts, Wildcats – Can play inside or outside along defensive line; had three tackles for loss in LA
RB De’Veon Smith, Vipers – Part of successful two-headed RB tandem with Jacques Patrick in Tampa
LB Tyson Graham, Dragons – Played safety for Seattle but was first overall OLB taken in USFL draft
Tampa Bay Bandits
QB Jordan Ta’amu, BattleHawks – Only XFL QB taken in USFL draft; he was one of the best in the league in 2020
OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty, Roughnecks – Michigan grad started at right tackle for Roughnecks
WR Eli Rogers, Defenders – DC supplemental pick started in slot, led team in catches; cut by Montreal in CFL in 2021
C Bruno Reagan, BattleHawks – As skilled on the football field as he is on Twitter, Reagan started at LG for St. Louis
G Fred Lauina, Wildcats – Started at LG next to current LA Charger Storm Norton with Wildcats in 2020
G Damien Mama, Guardians – Mountain of a man was backup center for all five games after being acquired from LA
DT Reggie Howard, Wildcats – Starting OLB in LA’s 3-4; so versatile he can also play DT, where he was picked in USFL
LB Emmanuel Beal, Vipers – Part-time player in Tampa’s 4-2-5 base defense for Jerry Glanville
TE De’Quan Hampton, Wildcats – Most recently on Seahawks practice squad in September after failing to make Bucs
