AAF-XFL-USFL Crossovers
By Pat Rifino
Spring Football is back! And for most of us this is the 6th attempt at an alternative football that many of us have experienced in our lives. Yep, this time it’s the USFL part two, that will grace our screens in less than thirty days, but this time the USFL is taking a bit of a different approach than the leagues of the past. The USFL actively drafted and recruited multiple players who did not have alternative football experience and out of the 279 players drafted in the USFL draft only 51 were members of the XFL. To break down those numbers even more out of the 51, 16 had both AAF and XFL experience. That equates to around 6%! As April 16th looms quicker and quicker I’ve taken the time to highlight several of those players as they will be looked upon to lead this new era of football come April 16th.
54th Overall: New Orleans Breakers Marquis Lucas OT
Orlando Apollos and Tampa Bay Vipers
This Offensive Tackle took awhile to really begin contributing in professional football but managed to make two starts for the Tampa Bay Vipers in 2020. With the Breakers taking him as their third offensive tackle on the team, look for Lucas to remain a role player on the Breakers roster.
56th Overall: New Jersey Generals Terry Poole OT
San Diego Fleet and Houston Roughnecks
Poole was actually a 4th round pick in 2015 by the Seahawks, however never actually could make it on the field. Since leaving the NFL Poole has been with the Fleet and Roughnecks in which he has started thirteen out of thirteen spring football games. As one of the more seasoned members of the Generals Offense expect Poole to be penciled in as a day one starter.
62nd Overall: Philadelphia Stars Channing Stribling CB
Memphis Express and Seattle Dragons
A former Michigan man, Stribling didn’t really become a full time starter in college until his senior season. However, after getting cut by several NFL teams, Stribling would join the Memphis Express in 2019 starting six games in the AAF. Stribling would also spend 2020 starting five games for the Seattle Dragons before the league would cease operations due to COVID.
66th Overall: Houston Gamblers Jamar Summers CB
Birmingham Iron and New York Guardians
Summers went undrafted in 2018 despite starting thirty-nine games out of UCONN, After being cut by the Steelers, Summers went to the Birmingham Iron of the AAF earning Special Teams Player of the Week at one point. Summers' success in the AAF earned him two more NFL opportunities and he was even a First Round draft pick by the Guardians in the XFL.
91st Overall: Philadelphia Stars Bradley Sylve CB
Birmingham Iron and DC Defenders/LA Wildcats
Sylve won three National Championships at Alabama before going undrafted in 2016. After getting cut by the Bills and having a short stint on the Saints Practice Squad, Sylve started four games for the Iron in the AAF before becoming a 5th round draft pick in the XFL. Though he didn’t start any games Sylve is credited with scoring the first defensive touchdown of the XFL 2.0.
141st Overall: Philadelphia Stars Jack Tocho Safety
Birmingham Iron and LA Wildcats
Tocho was the 3rd member of the Stars secondary to have both AAF and XFL experience showing that Coach Bart Andrus values seasoned veterans in his defensive backfield. Tocho has played a lot of Football since enrolling in NC State in 2013. Tocho has started thirty-six games in college, and an additional thirteen in the AAF and XFL. As the first Safety taken in the USFL draft expect Tocho to make an immediate impact for the Stars.
166th Overall: Houston Gamblers Beniquez Brown ILB
Birmingham Iron and Houston Roughnecks
Beniquez Brown stays in Houston as he joins the Gamblers, by way of the Roughnecks. A tackling machine, Brown amassed two hundred tackles at Mississippi State, and amassed another One Hundred and Ten in the AAF and XFL.
169th Overall: Birmingham Stallions Scooby Wright III ILB
Arizona Hotshots and DC Defenders
At one point considered a Heismen Candidate, injuries derailed Scooby Wright’s draft status as he fell to the Cleveland Browns in the 7th Round. Wright still has put together a solid professional career playing in thirteen NFL games and eleven games in the AAF and XFL. He’s also the first player on our list that has played in the NFL so far.
176th Overall: Michigan Panthers Taiwan Jones ILB
Memphis Express and LA Wildcats
Jones was a standout at Michigan State before going undrafted in 2015. After a short stint with the Jets in which he would play in three games in 2016. After spending three years out of football Jones’ joined the Memphis Express before the league shutdown. After a stint with the LA Wildcats as a reserve Linebacker, Jones looks to join the Panthers as their starting Linebacker in 2022.
187th Overall: Tampa Bay Bandits Damien Mama OG
San Diego Fleet and New York Guardians
Coming out of USC Mama was an All-Pac 12 Second Team selection before going Undrafted in 2017. Mama, would get cut by three NFL teams before debuting for the Fleet in 2019. While in the AAF and XFL Mama would start nine games while appearing in twelve games before getting drafted by the Bandits.
225th Overall: Pittsburgh Maulers De’veon Smith RB
Orlando Apollos and Tampa Bay Vipers
The Second player out of Michigan to be on this list, Smith burst onto the scene with the explosive Orlando Apollos Offense that was led by Garrett Gilbert. After the AAF folded Smith would join the Vipers in 2020 where he would be the leading rusher before the league ceased operations.
230th Overall: New Jersey Generals Trey Williams RB
San Antonio Commanders and Seattle Dragons
Williams joins the Generals after only receiving just over two hundred carries in college. Despite being almost thirty, Williams should be rather fresh after appearing in eleven games in the XFL and AAF.
244th Overall: Michigan Panthers Frank Ginda OLB
San Diego Fleet and New York Guardians
Ginda was considered one of the best Linebackers in the Mountain West Conference during his college years. After going undrafted in 2018 Ginda was a stand out player in the AAF and XFL. Still relatively young at 24 Ginda has plenty of good football left in him before his playing days are done.
258th Overall: New Orleans Breakers Austin MacGinnis K
Memphis Express and Dallas Renegades
After a couple game winners in the AAF, MacGinnis joined the Renegades where he went 10 for 10 on field goals in the XFL. MacGinnis is expected to be one of the higher echelon special teams players in the USFL.
275th Overall: New Jersey Generals Nick Truesdell TE
Salt Lake Stallions and Tampa Bay Vipers
Truesdell could be considered an AFL legend well before he joined the AAF or the XFLDuring his time in AFL Truesdell has caught over 100 passes including a 23 touchdown season with the Spokane Shock in 2015. During his time with the Salt Lake Stallions Truesdell was considered a Top Tight End, However, only caught nine passes in the XFL.
278th Overall: Philadelphia Stars Ryan Navarro LS
Memphis Express and LA Wildcats
Navarro played in all thirteen possible spring games for the AAF and XFL before getting drafted by the Stars. One of Four Long Snappers drafted Navarro, has also had stints with Raiders (2017) and Washington Redskins (2018) before joining the Express.
With the USFL scheduled to have their supplemental draft on March 10th, we can expect the percentage of players with AAF and XFL experience to rise. However, with the USFL trying to become its own brand, I think they did a pretty good job of shying away from “re-treads”. Regardless, football fans can rejoice that they will be able to see some of their favorite players take the field on April 16th, and maybe find some new players they can root for, in less than 45 days.
