Players took to the field in a tryout for the XFL at Orlando on October 7, 2023. (Twitter)
Merger? What merger?
That seemed to be the general sentiment on the ground at the XFL Orlando Showcase on Saturday, held at Celebration High School. It was the first official XFL event since news broke of the merger with the USFL and predictably, the league tried to operate “business as usual” by going forward with the tryout involving upwards of 300 players.
Orlando Guardians Head Coach Terrell Buckley was there, as was the team’s defensive coordinator, Tony Carter. Buckley briefly took questions from the media, standing in the eye of the storm, forced to act as if a major overhaul to the league itself wasn’t in the midst of occurring, talking instead about his plans for leading the Guardians next season.
When he was inevitably asked about “the changes that are going on,” and what he would say to the fans who are concerned, Buckley quickly replied with a laugh, “Nothing. They (the XFL) put out a statement about what’s going on and they told us that. That’s about the extent of it.”
According to Player 54‘s Mike Lathrop, who was at the Showcase, the number of XFL personnel attending was down from previous iterations. He cited Buckley (the only head coach present) and Orlando’s staff as well as a contingent from the Arlington Renegades. XFL Senior Vice President of Player Personnel Doug Whaley represented the league in overseeing the proceedings.
That’s not to say there weren’t quality players working out. Among them: DT Nick James, who played in five games with the Houston Roughnecks in XFL 2020, making five tackles; CB David Tolentino, a featured part of the “Player 54” ESPN docuseries that aired during this past season; DL Anthony Montalvo, a 2023 undrafted free agent out of UCF who was signed at different times by the Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, and Washington Commanders this summer; and DB Antwan Collier, selected in the fifth round of the defensive backs phase of the 2022 XFL Draft by the Guardians.
To the players, the merger is almost irrelevant. They’re getting an opportunity to work out in front of decision-makers for the XFL, and the workout was likely recorded so that all coaches could view the action. Some of those coaches will transfer over once the leagues coalesce, so there’s still value in participating (and most had likely already plunked down the $260 entry fee). Plus, it’s an opportunity to network with other players, coaches, and staff for not only football, but opportunities in life after the game as well.
As XFL personnel await the next step in the merger, the league will continue to act as a zombie, neither alive nor dead, continuing to slowly lurch forward. The San Diego Showcase is the final of its kind scheduled, set for Saturday, October 21. The next day, Nick Novak will be prepared to have his specialists work out for XFL coaches and directors of player personnel in the same city. Those could very well be the final two events that take place under the XFL banner.
