The XFL is a football league designed to keep football fans on the screens between the NFL's offseason until the beginning of the preseason for next season.
The idea of a spring and summer football league has been dabbled in before, with the likes of the XFL in 2001, and more recently the Alliance of American Football in 2018. Though both previous leagues declared bankruptcy, it doesn’t mean failure for the resurrected XFL.
The XFL draft took place in October, and a few Gamecocks made the rosters.
Ulric Jones
Ulric Jones transferred from Butler Community College and played for the Gamecocks from 2015 to 2017. After being redshirted by the Gamecocks, Jones played for the Carolina defense, picking up 42 tackles and a pair of blocked field goal attempts in his 2016 season. In his senior year, he played in every game of the season.
He also made an impact off the field, winning the 2017 Community Service Award.
Jones signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted rookie, but he saw no minutes and his NFL career didn’t last long.
Jones is currently on the St. Louis BattleHawks, where he was drafted in the fifth phase of the XFL draft as a defensive end.
Jones said in an interview with Al Muskewitz of East Alabama Sports Today that he's "excited about the opportunity."
"I've been at the lowest of levels and I've been at the highest of levels, so this XFL is just another stepping stone to get back to the highest level," Jones said. "Now it's just about playing, about getting there and performing."
Devin Taylor
Devin Taylor played for South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier from 2008 to 2012. After his first game against North Carolina State, Taylor won SEC defensive lineman of the week. In his first game, he finished with six tackles, including three for a loss, two forced fumbles and a blocked punt. In his sophomore year, Taylor led South Carolina for tackles on the defensive line and started all 14 games. He also led the team with eight pass breakups and 11 quarterback hurries. He was on the 2010 Associated Press All-SEC first team.
Taylor was drafted by and played for the Detroit Lions in 2016, where he recorded 28 tackles, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble after starting all 16 games. He was not picked back up with the Lions and signed with the New York Giants, being released shortly afterwards.
The former Gamecock was picked during the third phase of the XFL draft by the Tampa Bay Vipers.
Ronald Patrick
Ronald Patrick played a lot of offensive snaps his junior and senior seasons for the South Carolina Gamecocks. The right guard had 19 consecutive starts until his senior season of 2013, when he suffered a high-ankle sprain. Patrick earned a spot on the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll for three straight years, embracing his role as a student-athlete.
Patrick signed with the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and the Washington Redskins. Patrick mostly remained on practice squads, never getting a snap in professional football.
He was selected in the XFL draft by the DC Defenders.
Elliot Fry
South Carolina kicker Elliot Fry was drafted by the St. Louis BattleHawks, but he didn't sign with the team, as he is a reserve with the Carolina Panthers.
The XFL season kicks off Feb. 8 between the DC Defenders and the Seattle Dragons, where you can watch them at 2 p.m. on ABC.