With the NFL season almost halfway over it’s time for some professional hopefuls to think about the next football league: the XFL.
With the 2020 XFL draft scheduled for Oct. 15 and 16, two former Southern Utah University football players will be looking to have their name called by one of the eight new teams. At the time of posting the draft is live on xfl.com, and team picks will be available on Twitter @XFL2020.
One such player is Raysean Pringle. Pringle played running back and wide receiver at SUU from 2013-16, but converted to a defensive back when he signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2017.
During his Thunderbird career, Pringle rushed for 1,163 yards and 14 touchdowns while hauling in 329 yards and one touchdown through the air.
Pringle could be drafted to either position, but showed potential at DB.
After spending time with the Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars practice squads in 2017, Pringle signed with the Detroit Lions in 2018 for a short stint. After being waived, Pringle signed with fellow former T-Bird James Cowser to the Oakland Raiders as a member of the practice squad.
Since being cut, Pringle has been looking for work within professional football. The XFL may give him the chance he has been looking for.
The other former T-Bird looking to be a part of the new jumpstart XFL is Brock Miller. Miller started his SUU career out as a kicker connecting on 12-17 field goals and 32-33 PATs. After switching to punting duties, Miller punted the ball for more than 7,000 yards and was able to down 60 of his punts inside the opponents 20-yard line from 2009-13.
Miller has been able to find short service stints in the NFL since 2013. He has been a member of the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants and most recently the Los Angeles Rams. Miller has also worked out for the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills.
Miller cannot be selected until at least the fifth phase of the XFL draft due to the structure the league put in place for its first season. Pringle is eligible to be drafted in the first phase as an offensive skill player or anytime after the second phase set aside for offensive linemen.
The inaugural XFL season is slated to begin after Super Bowl LIV in February and will be a ten week season with a two week playoff to decide a champion.
Story By: Kurt Meacham
kurtleymeacham@gmail.com
Photos courtesy of: XFL
