WPIAL, local college players dot XFL rosters with opener nearing

Final roster cutdowns for XFL teams were Monday, and several former WPIAL and local college players are scattered around the league.

Pitt has James Folston (linebacker, Dallas Renegades), Dewayne Hendrix (defensive lineman, St. Louis Battlehawks) and Belle Vernon’s Dorian Johnson (guard, Defenders) in the upstart league.

Penn State is represented by Matt McGloin (quarterback, New York Guardians), DeAndre Thompkins (receiver, Washington, D.C., Defenders) and Saeed Blacknall (receiver, Los Angeles Wildcats).

West Virginia put three players on the Battlehawks: Terence Garvin (linebacker), Imani Christian’s Kenny Robinson (safety) and Allderdice’s Will Clarke (defensive lineman). Other Mountaineers on rosters are Marquis Lucas (offensive tackle, Tampa Bay Vipers), Kenny Bigelow (defensive tackle, Defenders) and Aliquippa’s Dravon Askew-Henry (safety, New York Guardians), who went to training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019.

Also of note in the XFL are former Steelers Landry Jones, quarterback for the Renegades, and receiver Eli Rogers of the Defenders. Jeannette’s Demetrious Cox will play for the Guardians, and Chartiers Valley/Duquesne product Christian Kuntz is a linebacker for the Renegades.

Robert Morris safety Marcelis Branch will play for the Vipers, and Gannon’s Tyler Palka (receiver) and Carnegie Mellon’s Brian Khoury (defensive end) will be teammates with the Defenders.

The new spring league begins play Saturday, Feb. 8.