XFL Preview: Arlington Renegades
Starting off the DDSN XFL team breakdown series are the Arlington Renegades, formerly the Dallas Renegades of XFL 2.0. The Renegades will call the newly transformed Ballpark at Arlington, now Choctaw Stadium its home this season. It is also the location of the XFL Hub for the XFL 2023 season.
Coaches:
The Renegades hold on to the first head coaching hire of the XFL 2.0 back from 2019, Bob Stoops the former Oklahoma Sooner head coach. Bob Stoops’ name carries a lot of weight around the nation as one of the most successful college football coaches the past couple decades. He led the Oklahoma Sooners to a National Championship in 2000, 10 Big XII conference titles in 17 seasons and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Under Stoops there will be co-offensive and co-defensive coordinators. On the offense, longtime NFL assistant Jonathan Hayes, along with a limb from Stoops’ coaching tree, Chuck Long will have the Renegades moving the ball. On the defense, Jay Hayes, longtime defensive line coach for Cincinnati Bengals and brother of co-offensive coordinator Jonathan Hayes. He will be partnering up with Tim Lewis another NFL journeyman coach as the co-defensive coordinators for the Renegades. With the experience of the coaching staff, the Renegades are in great hands leading into the 2023 season.
Team:
Heading up the Renegades team roster is 2022 All USFL Team Quarterback Kevin Sloter. An undrafted free agent signed by the Broncos in 2017. He had multiple practice squad stints with multiple teams including Vikings 2017-2019, 2021, Cardinals 2019, Lions 2019, Bears 2020 and Raiders in 2021. Sloter started one season at Northern Colorado culminating with a heroic final game against Cal Poly where he threw for a school record 438 yards and 6 touchdowns. Although Sloter is currently number one on the depth chart, Drew Plitt will be pressing for playing time as the 1B quarterback.
In true Bob Stoops fashion, the Renegades are entering the season with a stable of solid running backs. Leading the way is Michigan alum, De’Veon Smith, who was the leading rusher in the XFL 2.0 prior to league shutting down due to Covid. Texas high school legend and Texas A&M alum, Keith Ford, will be spelling Smith. Ford had stints in the NFL with Buffalo, Indianapolis, Green Bay before playing with the St. Louis Battlehawks during the XFL 2.0 season. Rounding out the running back corps is UCF alum, Adrian Killins, who also had a brief NFL stint with the Eagles and Broncos.
The receiving targets for the Renegades also consist of talented receivers and tight ends that coaches Johnathan Hayes and Chuck Long will be able to use to scheme an aggressive passing game with
After reviewing the rosters, the Renegade defense seems to be where its strength lies. The defensive side of the roster is filled with standouts from the USFL, AAF and XFL 2.0. The secondary will be the strongest aspect of the defense with De’Vante Bausby and Will Hill anchoring. The defensive front and linebacking crew will also be a strong group with Tomasi Laulile and Aaron Adeoye leading the Renegades into the trenches.
Season Prediction:
With a veteran coaching staff leading a plethora of talent at many positions on the roster, the Renegades have the potential to be at or near the top of the XFL South Division.
Stay tuned for the remaining XFL team breakdowns as the season kicks off this Saturday!