The first slate of the 2023 XFL games are this weekend. The DC Defenders players set to make their XFL debut this weekend are now known. The Defenders are set to face off against the Seattle Seadragons. Here is a look at the top three DC Defenders players to watch this weekend.
DC Defenders Players to Watch
Jordan Ta’amu
Jordan Ta’amu will be the quarterback to get the start for the DC Defenders this weekend. Ta’amu played for Ole Miss, playing in 2017 and 2018. In two years, Ta’amu completed 381 passes out of 591 attempts for 5,600 yards according to Sports Reference. The quarterback averaged 9.5 yards per attempt and passed for 30 touchdowns in just two years in the SEC.
Following his time with Ole Miss, Ta’amu did sign with the Houston Texans in 2019 but never made the final roster. Ta’amu was a player featured in the 2020 XFL, which was unfortunately cut short. Ta’amu played with the St. Louis Battlehawks. With the Battlehawks, Ta’amu completed 97 passes out of 134 attempts, according to the XFL. He passed for 1050 yards, five touchdowns, and just two interceptions in the five games he played.
The quarterback bounced around on NFL practice squads for a while, but now one of the members of the DC Defenders offense. Ta’amu will be one of the top DC Defenders players to watch this weekend.
Kentrell Brice
DC Defenders safety Kentrell Brice spent four years with Louisiana Tech. Brice was there from 2012 to 2015 but never played in a game in 2012. Brice had a total of 210 combined tackles, 154 being solo, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 13 pass deflections according to Sports Reference. He also had five sacks, four of which came in his junior year. As for turnovers, Brice had impressive stats. He had three interceptions for 13 yards, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
Brice went as an undrafted free agent to the Greenbay Packers. The safety actually played many times with the packers over the course of three years. He played 36 games in three years for the packers according to Pro Football Reference. In those games, Brice had 100 total tackles, 82 of which were solo, one sack, and six pass deflections. He also had one fumble recovery and one interception.
Following his time with the Packers, Brice did not maintain staying on other teams and ended up joining the 2020 Seattle Seadragons but was released. After making another attempt in the NFL, and a time in the CFL, Brice has returned to the XFL. This weekend Brice will be one of the DC Defenders players to watch against a team he once played on.
Abram Smith
While the Defenders’ defense will be exciting to watch, running back Abram Smith is another one of the DC Defenders players to watch this weekend. Smith spent four years at Baylor. At Baylor, Smith rushed for 1,647 yards and 11 touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. He also had 14 receptions for 78 yards. These rushing stats only were for two of the three years before there was actually one year that he played as a linebacker with Baylor.
In the year he was listed linebacker, Smith had 48 total tackles, 31 of which were solo, five tackles for loss, and one sack. The Defenders have Smith listed as a running back, playing linebacker could have helped him learn what defenders think as the opposing team rushes the ball. Before joining the XFL, Smith was signed with the New Orleans Saints but did not get his career going there. Now he is one of the DC Defenders players to watch this weekend.
The Defenders will face the Seattle Seadragons this Sunday night in their 2023 debut game. Both teams were around in 2020, but are brand new teams. Be sure to check out these DC Defenders players in their first game of the year.
For More Football Content:
Check out this article on the DC Defenders coaches and other important staff members. Also, check out the team’s offense here and their defense here.
Check out which former Penn State players will be playing in the XFL. Also, check out which former Rutgers players will be playing in the XFL. Check out which Penn State players will be participating in the 2023 NFL Combine. Also, check out which players to watch during Rutgers’ Pro Day.
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Check out this breakdown of the New Jersey Generals 2023 Schedule in the USFL.
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