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Last week we took a look at where players are coming from for the XFL Player Pool. This week we are focusing on the small schools, the guys who played Division 3 football. The one big thing that separates D3 players with the rest of college football, there are no athletic scholarships. These guys go through the same schedule, practice grind, and expectations as other college football athletes, but do it for the love of the game. Last year for the Alliance of American Football, I covered the 12 Division 3 Players trying out for the AAF, so I thought I would do the same for the 15 former Division 3 players trying out for the XFL. There are a few overlaps from the AAF but a lot of new faces coming out for the XFL. Here’s a brief look at those 15 players.
Oscar White – CB – Dubuque
White was a 3 year starter for Dubuque. He played on the 2015 IIAC Champion team. That season he was named 1st team All-Iowa Conference and named team defensive MVP. In 2017 he played for the Northland Bulls of the Northern Elite League. When the AAF began in 2018, he was allocated to the San Antonio Commanders. He is currently playing for the Tampere Saints in Finand. At 6′ 200lbs with great hip movement, White should see his way onto an XFL roster.
Reggie Cole – CB – Mary Hardin-Baylor
One of the few rookies on our list, Cole was an athlete for one of the best D3 schools in the country. He played wide receiver as a Freshman, linebacker and DB as a Sophomore, and started 6 games at corner as a Junior before becoming the starting corner as a Senior. Cole went to 3 straight national championship games with the Cru; beating Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2016, losing to Mount Union in 2017, and ultimately beating Mount Union in 2018. In his Senior season he was named 2nd team All-American by D3Football.com. Could be a great nickel corner at the next level, as he works well in zone, has great ball instincts, and is a solid tackler.
Bryon Cook – CB – Baldwin Wallace
Cook is another player who saw time on both sides of the ball throughout his college career. He played corner as a Freshman and Sophomore, starting as a Sophomore. He was converted to a wide receiver his Junior year. He led the team in receptions (27) and touchdown catches (5). Injuries limited him to only 4 games his Senior season, were he caught for 126 yards and 3 TDs. In 2018 he played for the Cedar Rapids Titans of the Indoor Football League. He has also made the switch back to his former position of CB.
Adham Talaat – DE – Gallaudet
Talaat is the most decorated player in Gallaudet history. He was a finalist for both the Gagliardi (the D3 equivalent of the Heismann) and the Cliff Harris award (small college defensive player of the year). He was 1st team All-Conference and was HM All-American from D3Football.com. Talaat became the first player in Gallaudet history to host an NFL pro day. He attended rookie mini-camps for both the Seahawks and Chiefs and worked out later with the Giants, becoming one of only a handful of deaf players in NFL history. Talaat later joined the Hudson Valley Fort of the Fall Experimental Football League. In 2015 he went back to Gallaudet and joined the coaching staff as the defensive line coach. After an internship with the strength and conditioning department at USC in 2017, Talaat joined the St. James as their Director of Football and Asst. Direct of Strength and Conditioning. Talaat is the most removed from his playing days from all the players on this list, but his experience in coaching and S&C could be an asset.
Nick Giorgio – DE – Springfield
Our second rookie of the 3 on this list. Giorgio was a prolific pass rusher for Springfield. He was 1st team All-Liberty league as a sophomore. As a junior, he had 10.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and 4 forced fumbles. This led to being named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, earning All-Region and NEWMAC Defenisve Player of the Year. Things only got better as a senior. He finished with a team-high 82 tackles and 14 sacks on the way to being named a semi-finalist for the Gagliardi and NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his college career as the schools all-time sack leader (29.5) and leader in tackles for loss (70.5). Giorgio received an invite to Saints rookie mini-camp this season and also received a tryout in the CFL. He’s a little undersized by today’s standards but you cannot deny his ability to get after the quarterback. That and his ability and willingness to excel on special teams should see him end up on an XFL roster.
Jake Payne – DE – Shenandoah
Payne was a dominant force on defense throughout his career in the ODAC, earning 2nd-team honors as a sophomore, 1st-team as a junior, and Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior where he had 7 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. He earned himself a tryout at both the Jets and Eagles rookie camps in 2016. In 2017-18 he played defensive end for the Washington Valor of the Arena Football League. He earned a spot in camp with the AAF’s Birmingham Iron, making the squad in Week 5 and began making an impact on defensive. He had 1.5 sacks in their final game in week 8 against Atlanta. At 6’4″ 285lbs Payne not only has great size to play DE at the next level, but you can see his growth through each level from D3 to AFL to the AAF. He was admittedly one of my favorite prospects from the AAF and I hope to see him on an XFL roster.
Michael Baird – OG – Wisconsin-Platteville
Baird anchored the RT position for the Pioneers. He started 4 games at the position as a sophomore before becoming a full time starter as a junior and senior. Baird did not have the traditional path to playing college football. He was homeschooled growing up so he didn’t have the opportunity to play organized football in school (I’m a strong supporter of the Tebow Bill by the way). He focused on weightlifting instead and then tried out for the team after enrolling at UW-Platteville. This past season he spent time in camp with the AAF’s Atlanta Legends.
Matt Conroy – LB – Salve Regina
Conroy was named NEFC 1st team All-Conference as both a Junior and a Senior. He has spent the last 2 season playing in Italy; for the Torino Giaguari in 2017 and Milan Rhinos in 2018. For the Rhinos, Conroy led the league in tackles with 63. He has great ball skills and is a solid closer. He has played both LB and SS in his career, but I think his size and skills are best suited at SS (or if your playing a Saban-esque defense, a money backer).
Rathvon Williams – OT – Louisiana College
The 3rd and final rookie on our list. Williams was a mauler at the D3 level. He was a 2018 Podyum 2nd-team preseason All-American. After watching some of his tape, I think his skill set is best suited at guard, but the one thing I can say for sure is this guy is a finisher. He will have a tougher time man-handling guys at the next level of competition, but if he can keep that kind of tenacity at the next level he should be able to make an impact.
Ryan Schmidt – OT – St. Lawrence
Schmidt was 1st-team All-Liberty League, in the same class with the eventual highest D3 NFL draft pick of all-time Ali Marpet. He earned honorable mention All-Conference as a sophomore and junior as well. He has a pro-ready frame at 6’6″ 300lbs. Has had workouts in the CFL, spent time in camp with the AAF’s Orlando Apollos, and played this season in Your Call Football.
Joe Callahan – QB – Wesley
Callahan is the most decorated player on this list and the only one with NFL experience. In his senior season at Wesley, Callahan threw for 5,063 yards and 55 TDs leading his team to the playoffs. He went on to win the Gagliardi Trophy (the D3 Heismann). He was signed as an UDFA by Green Bay in 2016 and went on to throw for 499 yards, 3 TDs, and 0 INTs in the preseason, earning a spot on the 53-man roster. He was released by GB that October and was signed/waived by the Saints and Browns before ending back up on the Packers practice squad.
Callahan started the 2017 season again on the Packers practice squad but was pulled up to backup Brett Hundley after Aaron Rodgers was injured. He made his NFL debut on December 31, 2017 against the Lions, completing 5 of 7 for 11 yards. He was waived by GB following that season then signed a 2 year deal with the Eagles, but was waived before the start of the season. Signed a futures contract with the Bucs in January of this year, but was waived in April. I believe he is one of the top QBs in this pool and wouldn’t be surprised to see him as one of the starting 8.
Shaquille Lewis – S – Louisiana College
Lewis was a ball-hawking safety for the Wildcats. He was named USA College Football 1st team All-American and 1st team All-ASC as a senior. He finished his career with 13 interceptions, 6 of those coming in his Senior year. He spent the 2018 season in The Spring League, after which he received an invite to the Chiefs mini-camp. He spent this season playing for Your Call Football.
Dimitrios Tsesmetzis – TE – Western Connecticut State
This is a big dude, measuring in at 6’6″ 240lbs. 2018 graduate from Western Connecticut State earning 2nd-team All-Conference honors. His size is immediately apparent, especially at the D3 level. He’s not going to blow any defenders away in open space but knows how to find the soft zone. Could make him a very valuable red zone target. Tsesmetzis was an offensive lineman in high school, so his inline blocking skills are above average. That combined with his enormous wingspan should help him see his way onto an XFL roster.
Anthony Ezeakunne – TE – Chapman
Ezeakunne was a two time 1st team All-SIAC for the Panthers. After his Senior season, he earned an invite to the National Bowl Game (a D3 all-star type game). He was then invited to a regional NFL combine. He signed as an UDFA with the Browns but ultimately did not make the final 53-man roster. Ezeakunne is also no stranger to spring football, having played in the Spring League in 2018 and Your Call Football in 2019.
Brian Sandifer – WR – Wisconsin-Stout
Sandifer played 1 year for the University of Sioux Falls before transferring to Stout. After graduating in 2018, he worked out for NFL teams but ultimately went unsigned. Last season he played for the Kansas City Phantoms of the Champions Indoor Football league. Sandifer is a big, contested catch receiver. His highlights show him winning a lot of contested catches, which could mean a problem with separation, but a guy that can win in those tough situation could be a valuable asset in the redzone.
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