With the conclusion of Super Bowl LVII last Sunday, many people believe that they will have to wait till August before they get to see a football game.
Fortunately for those yearning for football, the XFL season begins this weekend, with games on Saturday and Sunday.
Former Alabama players will be featured on four of the eight teams.
The #XFL2023 season kicks off tomorrow and former Bama players are well represented amongst the teams. @XFLBrahmas : Ben Davis @XFLBattlehawks : A.J. McCarron & Dallas Warmack@XFLVipers: Maurice Smith @XFLSeaDragons: Chris Owens & Thomas Fletcher
— Joe Will (@SuperWillSports) February 17, 2023
San Antonio Brahmas: LB Ben Davis
Davis was one of the highest-rated Alabama recruits of all time but failed to see the field much. In two seasons with the Crimson Tide, the linebacker appeared in 22 games and recorded 7 tackles and a sack, before transferring to Texas in April of 2021. After going undrafted in 2022, he wound up in the CFL playing for Edmonton Elks.
St. Louis Batttlehawks: QB A.J. McCarron and OL Dallas Warmack
McCarron was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, after winning multiple National Championships quarterbacking Alabama. He last played in 2021 with the Atlanta Falcons.
Warmack went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, despite being selected All-Pac-12 third-team nominee, as a member of the Oregon Ducks award-winning offensive line. He signed with Tampa Bay Bandits in 2022 and also spent time with the Memphis Showboats, for the final couple of games.
Las Vegas Vipers: CB Maurice Smith
Smith played cornerback for Alabama during the 2013-2015 seasons, before transferring to Georgia in 2016. Smith went undrafted in 2017 and had short stints with the Dolphins, Redskins, Bengals, and Titans.
Seattle Sea Dragons: OL Chris Owens and LS Thomas Fletcher
Owens came to Tuscaloosa as a guard in 2017, but in his six years at the Capstone, he played center and tackle as well. Owens started 12 games at right tackle and one at center. Owens went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft but was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers, before spending time with the New York Giants.
Fletcher was perfect during his time as a long snapper and won the Patrick Mannelly Award winner, presented annually to the nation’s top long snapper. Fletcher was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft but became injured and was waived before the 2022 season began.
The other four XFL teams are the Arlington Reneagade, Houston Roughnecks, DC Defenders, and Orlando Guardians.
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