Category: Longhorns in XFL

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson becomes part owner of XFL

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia, Gerry Cardinale, and RedBird Capital Partners have teamed up to buy the XFL for $15 million. 

The XFL was five weeks through their “rebirth” season before the league was shut down due to COVID-19. One month later, the league’s parent company, Alpha Entertainment LLC, filed for bankruptcy, leaving the XFL without an owner.

Insert Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who is now a minority owner in the league.

Johnson, his business partner Dany Garcia, Gerry Cardinale, and RedBird Capital Partners have teamed up to buy the XFL for $15 million.

“The acquisition of the XFL with my talented partners, Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale, is an investment for me that’s rooted deeply in two things — my passion for the game and my desire to always take care of the fans,” Johnson said.

Four former Longhorns played in the XFL last season, spanning across three different teams.

Defensive end Cedric Reed and guard Patrick Vahe played for the Los Angeles Wildcats, while Kent Perkins was a starting guard for the St. Louis Battlehawks. Wide receiver Jerrod Heard wrapped up former Texas players in the league, playing for the Dallas Renegades.

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With XFL now cancelled, what’s next for former Longhorns?

Now that the XFL has followed suit and cancelled their season, what could be the next stop for three former Texas Longhorns?

The XFL was part of every major sports league that cancelled their season due to the outbreak. The XFL released a statement on the cancellation.

It was a great gesture by the league to pay their players the base salary plus benefits despite the league cancelling the remainder of their first season. With their season now in the books, what is in the future for the three former Texas Longhorns who were still on active rosters?

Cedric Reed and Patrick Vahe of the Los Angeles Wildcats and Kent Perkins of the St Louis Battlehawks will now have an opportunity to get another shot at the NFL if a team should look their way for training camp rosters in the 2020-21 NFL seasons.

Vahe was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Ravens following the 2019 NFL Draft. He spent the entire offseason and training camp with the team prior to the beginning of the season. He was a roster cut casualty before being picked up the following October for the XFL Draft. He should garner some interest this offseason.

Perkins was a part of the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals as part of their practice squad, moving up to the active roster late in the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He, much like Vahe, was an undrafted free agent after not being selected in the draft. He was released after announcing retirement from the NFL. He resurfaced in the XFL, so could he apply for re-instatement into the NFL? That will be one situation to monitor.

Both Vahe and Perkins could provide interior depth for the upcoming seasons provided they are brought onto training camp rosters. Both should still be eligible to be on practice squads for the upcoming season.

The third member of the former Longhorns who could make the jump back to the NFL is Cedric Reed. He was an undrafted free agent from the 2015 NFL Draft class. Reed signed with the Buffalo Bills and spent the 2015 season as a member of their practice squad.

He was released the following July and picked up by the Miami Dolphins. He would be released prior to the 2016 season as part of roster cuts. Reed didn’t play football again until he was picked up in the XFL Draft. As a member of the Wildcats, Reed accumulated 13 tackles, three sacks, three tackles for loss and five quarterback hits in five games.

The hope for Reed, Vahe and Perkins is that they put enough quality tape together for NFL teams to become interested. The possibility for the former Longhorns is there, just a matter of monitoring the situation at this point.

 

WATCH: Former Longhorn Cedric Reed forces fumble

Former Longhorn Cedric Reed helped the LA Wildcats secure a victory thanks to his first forced fumble. You can watch the play here:

Leading by six late in the fourth quarter, the Los Angeles Wildcats needed a defensive stop to secure a victory on Sunday. Not only did they get a stop, but the Wildcats were able to add onto their lead, thanks to Cedric Reed.

The former Longhorn ran right by the right tackle, making his way for Tampa Bay Vipers’ quarterback Taylor Cornelius. Once hit, Cornelius lost the ball, leaving it for Boogie Roberts to scoop it up for a touchdown.

You can watch the play here:

Los Angeles went on to win the game 41-34, with the difference coming from Reed’s force fumble. It was the second win of the season for the Wildcats, moving to 2-3 on the season.

Reed has been a key contributor all season, having the second-most sacks in the league this season. Added on to his three sacks are 13 total tackles, five quarterback hits, and this forced fumble.

You can watch Reed and the Los Angeles Wildcats again this weekend, as they will face the Seattle Dragons on Sunday, March 15 at 6 p.m. CST on ESPN2.

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Former Longhorn Jerrod Heard Waived From Dallas Renegades

The Dallas Renegades made roster moves today and one was waiving former Longhorn, Jerrod Heard. He had been injured for most of the season.

The Dallas Renegades made three roster moves today and one was waiving former Texas wide receiver/quarterback, Jerrod Heard. Being injured for the entire season, Heard was falling and falling down the depth chart, before being waived.

Heard has been replaced by former Carolina Panther, Cleveland Brown, and Chicago Bear wide receiver Armanti Edwards. Like Heard, he was a quarterback during his time in college at Appalachian State.

During his time at Texas, Heard had a 58.3 completion percentage, while passing for 1,214 yards and five touchdowns. Making the switch to receiver after his freshman year, he then had 540 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 58 receptions.

After going undrafted in 2019, Heard will now look to get healthy again to make his way back into professional football. If the NFL is not there for him, the XFL should have a spot for his talent.

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Week Two: Longhorns in the XFL

The XFL was back on the field for week two. Former Longhorns Cedric Reed, Patrick Vahe, Jerrod Heard and Kent Perkins all in action.

The XFL was back for week two of the 2020 rebirth season. Cedric Reed and Patrick Vahe of the Los Angels Wildcats faced off against Jerrod Heard and the Dallas Renegades. Vahe didn’t have a tipped pass caught for a reception in this game.

Heard wouldn’t catch a pass in this game and didn’t return a punt in this game. It was all quiet for the former quarterback turned receiver in the second game of his XFL career. Cedric Reed on the other hand, had more of an impact.

Reed got to the quarterback a couple times in this game with a quarterback hit and sack. It was quite reminiscent of his Longhorn days, seeing Reed bring down a former Sooners quarterback in Landry. Reed finished with three combined tackles, one sack, one qb hit and one tackle for loss. The Wildcats fell to the Renegades 25-18.

Kent Perkins and the St Louis Battlehawks lost to the Houston Roughnecks 28-24.

Week One: Longhorns In The XFL

Week one of the XFL is now in the books. Here are how the former Texas Longhorns fared in their first game of the season.

Football is back after a long five day layoff following the Super Bowl last weekend. The XFL rebirth kicked off on Saturday with their first two games and followed that with the final two on Sunday. Four former Texas Longhorns players took part in the first XFL season since the league folded in 2001.

There were no Longhorns in the initial game of the XFL season between Seattle and DC. However, in the second game between the Los Angeles Wildcats and Houston Roughnecks featured two former Texas players.

  • Cedric Reed: One tackle
  • Patrick Vahe: One reception on a tipped passed that went for five yards.

In the first game on Sunday, neither team had a former Longhorn when the Tampa Bay Vipers traveled to New York to face the Guardians. The final game between the St Louis Battlehawks and the Dallas Renegades saw two former Texas players facing either other.

  • Kent Perkins: started at left guard for St Louis.
  • Jerrod Heard: One punt return for 16 yards

2020 NFL Mock Draft: Two Longhorns selected in round three

Former Longhorns Brandon Jones and Collin Johnson are expected to be selected in round three of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Two former Longhorns are widely projected to be selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Although safety Brandon Jones and wide receiver Collin Johnson are the two highest-rated draft prospects out of Texas, wide receiver Devin Duvernay isn’t far behind.

Let’s take an updated look at where NFL Draft Scout’s predict these former Longhorns to land.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller recently released a full seven-round mock draft that has two former Texas players selected within the Top 100.

Brandon Jones – No. 87 overall pick to the Buffalo Bills

Collin Johnson – No. 98 overall pick to the New York Giants

Devin Duvernay – No. 129 overall pick (Round 4) to the Minnesota Vikings

NFL.com’s draft analyst Chad Reuter recently released a three-round mock draft that believes Jones and Johnson will be chosen much earlier.

Brandon Jones – No. 73 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars

Collin Johnson – No. 75 overall pick to the Indianapolis Colts

Don’t miss rounds three and four of the 2020 NFL Draft, as it appears Texas’ top draft prospects will be taken off the board very close together.

Kyle Shanahan becomes second Texas graduate to coach in Super Bowl

San Francisco 49’ers head coach Kyle Shanahan joins Tom Landry as the only Texas graduates to coach in a Super Bowl.

When you share any type of recognition with football legend and Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry, you know you’re doing something right.

There are now two former Longhorns who have lead their professional organizations to the Super Bowl as a head coach, San Francisco 49’ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and former Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry.

A former receiver for the Longhorns, Shanahan has been the driving force for the 49’ers Super Bowl journey. Although he didn’t necessarily have a decorated collegiate career as a player, Shanahan’s potential as a coach is unmatched.

He has already steered an impressive turnaround for the 49’ers in three short years, officially being hired as head coach in 2017. San Francisco is now one step closer to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

Shanahan and Co. are set to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV. An incredible achievement in itself, the former Longhorn and his father Mike also became the first father-son duo in NFL history to appear in the Super Bowl as head coaches.

It appears the accolades will continue for years to come.

 

 

Where Are The Former Longhorns On XFL Depth Charts?

Where are the former Texas Longhorns listed on the first XFL depth charts ahead of their first games of the year?

The Super Bowl wraps up the 2019-2020 NFL season on Sunday evening but for a handful of former Texas Longhorns players, their season begins on February 8. Four Longhorns will be taking the field as part of the rebirth of the XFL season of 2020.

Recently the initial depth charts for each of the eight participating teams in the XFL were announced. Here is where each former Longhorn is currently projected on the teams depth chart.

  • Jerrod Heard, 4th wide receiver for the Dallas Renegades
  • Patrick Vahe, backup right guard for the Los Angeles Wildcats
  • Cedric Reed, starting left defensive end for the Los Angeles Wildcats
  • Kent Perkins, starting left guard for the St Louis Battlehawks

In the opening weekend, XFL has the Battlehawks traveling to Dallas to take on the Renegades. Jerrod Heard and Kent Perkins will both be on display in that game. Dallas will play their home games at Globe Life Park, the former home of the Texas Rangers who move into a new stadium in March.

The other game with two longhorns will be on Saturday night when the LA Wildcats travel to Houston. Cedric Reed and Patrick Vahe will represent Texas as they play their first XFL game in the state where they played a majority of their college football. This game will be played at TDECU Stadium, the home of the University of Houston.