The college football and NFL season may be over, but that does not mean that football season is over. In fact, this week, the XFL relaunches under the leadership of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia. For many professional players, this is a golden opportunity to showcase their talents while trying to prove that they have the ability to contribute to the major leagues once again.
LSU has always been known for being NFLSU, but there are still a lot of former Tigers that are looking to take advantage of playing professional football in the reboot of the XFL.
Below is a list of former LSU players that have found themselves on XFL rosters for the 2023 season.
Arlington Renegades:
On the Arlington Renegades roster is former Nicholls State and LSU cornerback Darren Evans. The former Glen Oaks High School product was one of the top cornerbacks in the Southland Conference playing for the Colonels before transferring to play at LSU in 2020. In two years, Evans appeared in 22 games while adding six starts. He capped off his LSU career with 33 tackles, four pass breakups, and three quarterback hurries. He now finds himself on the Arlington Renegades coached by former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops.
D.C. Defenders:
Longtime veteran LSU defensive back Cameron Lewis spent six seasons playing for the Tigers, and now, his playing days continue as he now finds himself on the D.C. Defenders coached by Reggie Barlow. The former Wossman High School standout played multiple positions for the Tigers’ secondary including at cornerback, safety, and at nickel. Part of the Tigers’ 2019 National Championship Team, Lewis finished his LSU career with 88 tackles, three tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. His best season was his last in 2021 where he was fourth on the team in tackles with 55.
Houston Roughnecks:
After being cut by the Arizona Cardinals, former LSU wide receiver Jontre Kirklin now finds himself with the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks coached by former Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips. Kirklin was a true LSU Tiger as he appeared in 57 career games and played wherever the Tigers needed him to play in his five years in Baton Rouge including quarterback. That’s right. In his final collegiate game at LSU, the former Lutcher High School quarterback was asked to start for LSU under center in the Texas Bowl. Although it was in a losing effort, Kirklin showed out by completing 7 of 11 passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns against Kansas State. Kirklin also played wide receiver and defensive back where he finished with 20 receptions for 313 yards and three touchdowns.
Joining Kirklin on the defensive side of the football for the Houston Roughnecks is former LSU defensive lineman Glen Logan. Coming from Destrehan High School as the number two overall player in Louisiana, Logan had a long productive career for the Tigers in his six seasons with the Tigers appearing in 51 games including 37 starts. The four year starter and 2019 National Champion finished his career with 110 tackles, ten tackles for loss, and seven sacks.
The third former LSU Tiger to be joining the Houston Roughnecks is cornerback Kary Vincent Jr. Vincent was a dynamic two sport athlete at LSU where he not only played football, but he also was part of the SEC Champion 4×100 meter relay team in 2018 and 2019. The LSU track star displayed his speed on the football field where he was a starter on the 2019 National Championship team and had his best season with 48 tackles, nine passes defended, and four interceptions. Vincent finished his LSU career with 87 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, 18 pass breakups, and six interceptions. After the 2019 season, Vincent announced that he would sit out the COVID-19 2020 season and enter the NFL Draft where he would be drafted in the 7th round by the Denver Broncos. After bouncing around with the Broncos, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the the San Francisco 49ers, Vincent now finds himself in the XFL.
San Antonio Brahmas:
Former LSU punter Brad Wing is now a punter for the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas coached by former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward. Wing was a special teams standout on the Tigers’ 2011 National Championship runner-up team and was one of the greatest punters to ever come through LSU. The Australian native and left footed punter played in 23 games during his LSU career and finished first all-time in the program’s history averaging 44.6 yards per punt. Despite his record breaking numbers at LSU punting the football, Wing is most known for stretching his arms out while on his way scoring a 52 yard touchdown against Florida on a fake punt. Because of the new rules at the time regarding taunting, the touchdown was nullified and did not count. After LSU, Wing had stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the New York Giants in the NFL before being in the AAF with the Memphis Express and now with the Brahmas of the XFL.
St. Louis Battlehawks:
Former LSU offensive lineman Vadal Alexander is now playing for the St. Louis Battlehawks coached by former NFL tight end Anthony Becht. Alexander was a mainstay during his LSU career as a four year starter having 46 starts in 50 career games. During his time on campus, Alexander earned Freshman All-SEC honors, 2nd Team All-SEC honors, and 1st Team All-SEC honors. Alexander was drafted in the 7th round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. After being waived by the Raiders in 2018, he made his football comeback in 2022 with the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers before being picked up by the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks.
Along with the five former LSU Tigers that ended their careers in Baton Rouge, there are also five other players that started their careers at LSU before transferring elsewhere to end their careers.
Jamal Pettigrew started his career at LSU where he played for four seasons including on the Tigers’ 2019 National Championship team before transferring to McNeese State where he finished his college career. Now, the former St. Augustine High School (LA) tight end will have a chance to continue his football career with the San Antonio Brahmas.
Chidi Okeke will join Pettigrew in San Antonio as well. Okeke played 11 games in two years on the LSU Tigers’ offensive line in 2015 and 2016 before he finished out the remainder of his eligibility with Tennessee State.
Maea Teuhema started 21 games for the LSU Tigers in 2015 and 2016 as he was part of the Tigers’ offensive line that helped Leonard Fournette achieve a single season program record of 1,953 yards rushing in a season. In August of 2017, Teuhema then transferred to play at Southeastern Louisiana University. Now, he will be playing for the Arlington Renegades.
The XFL season will start this Saturday and will run through the XFL Championship Game on May 13. Every XFL game will be aired on ESPN Networks with the championship game being aired on ABC.
You must be logged in to post a comment.