XFL Kicker Ernesto Lacayo kicks off for the Seattle Dragons
Earlier this year, the XFL announced it had partnered with Nick Novak, founder of Novak Kicking & Consulting and former professional football placekicker, to run a specialist showcase in San Diego, California on Sunday October 23, 2022. This event would focus specifically on kickers, punters and long snappers, and provide a dedicated forum for players to exhibit their skillset exclusively for the XFL’s player personnel departments.
“Our coaching staff is excited to evaluate a collection of talented specialists under the direction of Nick and his team. With Nick’s experience in the field and eye for talent, we are confident we will have elite specialists competing at a professional level in the XFL,” said Doug Whaley, Senior Vice President, Player Personnel, of the XFL.
“I am excited to be working alongside the XFL. Our goal is to find qualified specialists around the country and put them in a position to succeed both on and off the field. I went through at least 50 free agent workouts during my career. I have designed a program that takes the best elements from those workouts and created a system which determines the strengths and weaknesses of each player. Having the XFL provide this platform for up-and-coming specialists is an invaluable opportunity for all,” said Nick Novak.
Novak Kicking & Consulting is managing the event, which will take place at Maranatha Christian School in San Diego, CA, while XFL coaches and personnel directors will attend to evaluate player performance for potential inclusion in the XFL Draft player pool for the upcoming 2023 season.
The XFL just released the list of players they will evaluate at this specialist showcase:
Kickers
Alexander Woznick
Bryce Crawford
Paul Ortiz
Kevin Macias
Hunter Duplessis
Dylan Barnas
Matt Coghlin
Austin Jones
Daniel Parisi
Donnie Hageman
Nick DiCairino
Yahia Aly
Gabriel Vicente
Ernesto Lacayo
Austin MacGinnis
Chandler Staton
Lucus Havrisik
Bailey Griffin
Alex Quevedo
Chris Blewitt
Brandon Ruiz
Billy Deane
Tyler Basch
Josiah Yazdani
Evan Staley
John Parker Romo
Punters
Mike Carrizosa
Stephen Adam
Devin Anctil
Brad Wing
Marquette King
Brendan Brown
Ben Niesner
Mac Loudermilk
Jacob Schum
Aiden Marshall
Zach Harding
Thomas Monte
Simon Laryea
Nick Conte
Dean Krcic
Mac Brown
Caleb Lightburn
Will Spiers
Daniel Whalen
Andrew Foster
Snappers
Johnathan Sullivan
Brett DioGuardi
Brian Khoury
Cameron Kaye
Cole Jenkins
Logan Klusman
Scott Meyer
Alonso Vera
Alex Mathieson
Adam Higuera
Dustin Nickle
Seth Cottengim
Oscar Shadley
Rex Sanahara
Brady Sorenson
Sean Mills
Ethan Tabel
Eric Dickerson
Tanner Schmidt
Nate Durham
Nick Truesdell
Nick Truesdell, former XFL Vipers tight end
Former XFL specialists
The list of attendees features former XFL 2020 players:
Ernesto Lacayo, former placekicker for the Seattle Dragons.
Austin MacGinnis, former placekicker for the Dallas Renegades. After the XFL he spent time with the Los Angeles Rams. Later he was signed by the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL, but did not play.
Marquette King, former punter for the St. Louis BatttleHawks. Selected by the BattleHawks in the XFL Supplemental Draft he played in five games with St. Louis, recording 19 punts for 868 yards. King has NFL experience as he was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2012. King led the NFL in punting yards in 2014.
Brian Khoury, suited up for five games as a defensive end for the DC Defenders in 2020. At this showcase he is listed as a snapper.
Nick Truesdell, selected in the first round of the 2020 XFL draft as a tight end by the Tampa Bay Vipers. Truesdell played three games for the Vipers, with 9 catches for 91 yards. At this showcase he is listed as a snapper.
Jacob Schum, former punter for the Tampa Bay Vipers.
Jacob Schum was the punter for the Vipers as well
You are correct. We added Jacob Schum.