The NFL season will be wrapping up next Sunday with two former Longhorns getting a shot at a Super Bowl ring. While neither Alex Okafor or Marquise Goodwin will get an opportunity to actually play in the big game, they were part of the team prior to injuries ending their season. Football isn’t over despite the championship game on the horizon.
The XFL will be playing their first season since they folded the organization after one season in 2001. After a failed experiment with the Alliance of American football earlier this year, the XFL provides another avenue for players to chase their dream of playing professional football. For a handful of Longhorns, it is another opportunity to play they game they love on a National level.
Jerrod Heard is one of five Longhorns who joined the league in their draft. Heard will be playing wide receiver in Dallas for the Renegades. Heard played quarterback for Texas before switching to receiver. Following the switch, he caught 58 passes at Texas for 540 yards and four touchdowns.
Following the 2015 NFL Draft, Cedric Reed signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. Reed also was a member of the Miami Dolphins before being out of the league. He never played a game at the NFL level, now Reed will be a member of the Los Angeles Wildcats.
Reed will be joined by former offensive lineman Patrick Vahe. He started 45 games for the Longhorns from 2015-2018. Vahe was a member of the Baltimore Ravens in 2019 when he signed with the team prior to training camp but released before the season started as they trimmed down rosters.
Kent Perkins will be representing Texas with the St. Louis Battlehawks. Perkins played one game in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018 after being promoted from the practice squad. He retired from football the next season before re-emerging with St Louis of the XFL. Perkins played in Austin from 2013-2016 starting 34 games at right guard and tackle.
Davante Davis was originally with Tampa Bay Vipers before being waived on January 5, 2020. Davis would’ve made it five Longhorns in the XFL. Hopefully the former cornerback who played in 48 games in Texas gets another opportunity to play football again.