With the 2023 XFL season nearly at an end, close to a dozen stars from the league have gotten the call from several NFL teams. The question now is, which one of them will be able to achieve their goal and land on an NFL roster for this season?
After 10 weeks and one playoff round, the XFL season is down to one final game. On Saturday, May 13, the DC Defenders will battle the Arlington Renegades to decide this year’s champion. While those two teams still have something to play for next week, the athletes on the other six squads in the league have already moved on to figuring out what they will be doing for the rest of 2023.
Many will go back to their regular lives and jobs, or await the start of the 2024 XFL season. However, there are a select few that may actually be playing more football this year, but in the NFL.
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Over the last couple of days, the XFL Instagram has revealed the names of players that have received invites to NFL training camps this year. You can find a rundown of the players and teams below.
- Charleston Rambo, WR Orlando Guardians – Philadelphia Eagles
- Austin Faoliu, DE Seattle Sea Dragons – Seattle Seahawks
- Ben DiNucci, QB Seattle Sea Dragons – Denver Broncos
- Lukas Denis, S St. Louis Battlehawks – Atlanta Falcons
- Jack Coan, QB San Antonio Brahmas – Seattle Seahawks & New York Jets
- Hakeem Butler, WR St. Louis Battlehawks – Pittsburgh Steelers
- CJ Brewer, DL Houston Roughnecks – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Luq Barcoo, DB San Antonio Brahmas – Cleveland Browns
- Kevin Atkins, DL St. Louis Battlehawks – Atlanta Falcons
- Freedom Akinmoladun, DE St. Louis Battlehawks – Miami Dolphins
Only a select few may land a spot on an NFL roster for 2023, so with that in mind, let’s take a look at three XFL stars who could be busy in the most popular league in the country later this year.
Hakeem Butler
Battlehawks receiver Hakeem Butler was one of the top stars in the XFL this season. He was second in the league in receptions, targets, and yards as he and MVP candidate AJ McCarron formed a dynamic combo. Butler also led the XFL in touchdowns with eight.
At 6-foot-5 and well over 200 pounds he has prototypical NFL receiver size. It is why he was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2020 and then played a season with the Philadelphia Eagles. There is a good chance he has evolved enough to get back into the league with the Steelers.
Lukas Denis
Boston College standout Lukas Denis was another impact player for the 7-3 Battlehawks this season. He racked up 37 tackles and two interceptions in 2023. The Atlanta Falcons had a rough year on defense in 2022 and have made some notable moves to upgrade that side of the ball this off-season.
While Denis won’t be a starter, he would be a very nice depth move for the team at what will be a very cheap rate.
Ben DiNucci
Along with AJ McCarron, Sea Dragons star Ben DiNucci is a favorite to win the MVP award this season. He was absolutely dominant at times and a key reason Seattle was a force in the second half of the XFL season.
He led the league in yards and completions and tallied 20 TDs. DiNucci already has some NFL experience — with the Dallas Cowboys — and would make an excellent fit as a backup in Denver with new head coach Sean Payton and an offense that is being totally remodeled in 2023.
