XFAlpha Podcast Notes - Episode 2

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On episode 2, Jonah and I discuss the pay structure of the XFL, followed by running our mouths about running backs. Since there's former Iowa great, Akrum Wadley, involved, I wax poetically about him while reminiscing of the days when he made fools of defensive players. Let's enjoy some gifs, shall we?

via Gfycat

via Gfycat

via Gfycat

Los Angeles Wildcats - Defensive End Corey Vereen quitting because he didn’t want to make $50,000 for 10 weeks of work. 27000 pay with 1700 for every game, so there’s another 17,000, and they get 2200 for every win. If they win three games, he’s at 50K. 

1. Houston Roughnecks
1. Kyle Hicks was an okay back for TCU.
2. Andre Williams was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy at Boston College after rushing for 2000 yards before getting drafted in the fourth round by the New York Giants and then ran for 700 yards and 7 touchdowns his rookie year, but it seemed to go downhill from there, and now he’s looking for a second chance. He’s also been writing a philosophical memoir according to Wikipedia.
3. Nick Holley played running back, wide receiver, and quarterback for Kent State, none of them particularly well. 
4. AKRUM WADLEY HELL YEAH - Back-to-back 1000 yard years for Iowa. This guy has the moves. He’s not big but packs a good amount of power in a smaller frame. He makes fools look silly, and he immediately makes the Houston Rougnecks must-see TV.
5. Marquez Williams was a fullback at Miami who had a grand total of one yard in college.
2. Dallas Renegades
1. Cameron Artis-Payne - Fifth round pick by the Panthers after a great senior year at Auburn. He did once score two touchdowns in a game against the Buccaneers, which means there are a lot of people who stupidly decided to add him to their fantasy teams and never got any payoff for it.
2. Lance Dunbar is basically the best player in North Texas history and actually did a nice job as a receiving back for the Cowboys from 2014-2016. I think he can carve out a nice role in this league.
3. Dimitri Flowers - Oklahoma fullback who was a bit of a threat catching balls out of the backfield.
4. Darnell Holland was a Kennesaw State running back.
5. Marquis Young is a sleeper for this league as he generated a bit of buzz leading up to the NFL Draft, because the guy just found a way to get yardage and looked good during the East-West Shrine Game week. I think he was underrated since he played for UMass, but he does everything well, and I think he could take over from some of the more high profile names in Dallas. 
3. DC Defenders
1. Jhurell Pressley is a guy who was on the fringes of the NFL after a career in New Mexico He led the AAF in rushing, but then started pissing hot and is facing a two-game suspension if he ever makes an NFL roster. I do not think the drug testing will be too stringent in this league. I think he’s got the juice to be an impact player.
2. Donnell Pumphrey - Ran for over 2000 yards during his senior year at San Diego State and had over 6,000 yards in his college career. Ran a decent 40 at the combine, but didn’t show off any other great feats of athleticism, especially for an undersized back. He was selected in the fourth round but that lack of athleticism caught up with him as he just never showed anything for the Eagles. With his size and athleticism, he needs to do everything well in order to make an impact.
3. Khalid Abdullah - Productive at James Madison
4. John Thomas - Penn State backup
5. Ryan Yurachek - Marshall Tight End trying to be a fullback.
4. Los Angeles Wildcats
1. Elijah Hood got cut after three hours on the Panthers. Big bruiser out of North Carolina. He put together a strong college career but fell off a bit from his sophomore to his junior year before going out for the draft and being a seventh round pick by the Raiders. I could actually see him put something together.
2. Larry Rose tore it up for New Mexico State.
3. Martez Carter is known as Mr. Excitement for his time at Grambling State. 
4. Winston Dimel - Kansas State fullback. His Sophomore year he had 92 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. He transferred to UTEP his Senior year and had negative 3 yards. 
5. Nico Evans - Good back for Wyoming last year, so at least he’s fresh to playing competitive football.
5. St. Louis Battlehawks 
1. Christine Michael - 2nd round pick by the Seahawks in 2013 out of Texas A&M. He was never really that productive in college as he never had a thousand yard season, but outside of the 40, he lit the combine in fire as he was basically amazing in every other event. Apparently, it takes more to be a great back than just athleticism, and although he couldn’t find the hole in the NFL, I think he can find a role in the XFL. 
2. Matt Jones was a third rounder in the 2015 draft for the Washington Redskins. He got some opportunity his rookie year, wasn’t good with it as he only averaged 3.4 yards per carry, and then wasn’t good enough to beat out Robert Kelley for the Redskins. He’s similar to Michael in that he never produced a thousand yard season in college, but the opposite of Michael as he did not test out well at all at the combine. Why did the Redskins select him that high? Because they are the Redskins.
3. Sherman Badie - Tulane RB
4. Ray Lawry - Tore it up for Old Dominion
5. Lenard Tillery - Southern University, tore it up.
6. Tampa Vipers 
1. De’Veon Smith wasn’t very good at Michigan, and then put up one of the worst combine performances in history. It’s tough for me to get excited here.
2. Quinton Flowers is the greatest offensive player in South Florida history. He was a stud at quarterback and ran for 3600 yards over his final three seasons. Can he play running back? No idea, but he’s a hometown hero, so might as well give it a shot.
3. DJ May was more of a linebacker than running back at Wyoming.
4. Jacques Patrick played behind Dalvin Cook, then it was Cam Akers, not the best luck for him.
5. Ralph Webb is the pride of Vanderbilt and ran for two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions in a single preseason game.
7. Seattle Dragons
1. Trey Williams averaged six yards per carry with the Colts in his one shot in the NFL. Now, that was on two carries, so you could say that it was a small sample size, but I could also say that his numbers might improve off of that small sample size as well. He showed some decent athletic traits at the combine in 2015, so he might be a guy to keep an eye on.
2. Kenneth Farrow - Solid back out of Houston. Finished with six more yards than Trent Richardson in the Alliance. Was the lead back over Trey Williams for San Antonio.
3. Lavon Coleman - Backup running back for Washington. 
4. Ja’Quan Gardner - Humboldt State product that finished eighth in rushing in the Alliance.
8. New York Guardians
1. With New York Real Estate being so expensive, it’s a no-brainer pick to get Tim Cook on the Guardians. I don’t think Cook will be all that valuable on the field, but if all he requires is a few snaps a game to pump that Apple money into this team, then I think it’s worth it. 30 carries for Oregon State.
2. Justin Stockton - Texas Tech running back.
3. Darius Victor - From Ivory Coast and had a couple nice years for Towson.
4. Tommy Bohanon - Fullback out of Wake Forest. Played in the NFL for a few years for the Jets and Jaguars. Not sure if I trust a fullback from Cape Coral, that city lacks grit.
5. Matthew Colburn - Another Wake Forest running back.
6. Lawrence Pittman ran for 75 yards in the CFL, got to 82 in the Alliance.