As the NFL season winds down and the playoffs approach, it’s time to start moving our focus to the XFL and their season which begins one week after the Super Bowl. The Seattle Dragons have a lot of talent, including some big names that will be familiar to those in the northwest.
Seattle Dragons Feature Familiar Northwest Talent
Former Washington Huskies
If you plan on following the Seattle Dragons and are from the state of Washington, you’ll certainly recognize the talent on the field. There are numerous former Washington Huskies on the squad as well as Washington State Cougar or two.
Kasen Williams was a standout receiver at the University of Washington. He was on the Seattle Seahawks for two years and also signed with the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts. He failed to really make an impact in the NFL but should shine in the XFL. At the University of Washington, he caught 162 passes and had 15 touchdowns.
The Huskies had a ton of talent at running back in the past five years and Lavon Coleman sometimes gets overlooked. He rushed for 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. His junior season he had a career-best 852 yards and seven touchdowns while backing up future NFL player Myles Gaskin. Coleman rushed for an average of 7.5 yards per carry that season. He was a member of the Green Bay Packers in 2018 but didn’t get a carry. He should see some carries for the Seattle Dragons.
Shane Bowman is a linebacker who played for the Huskies and also played his high school football for perennial Washington power Bellevue High School. His college career was marred by injury, but he will get another opportunity to suit up and hit the gridiron as a member of the Seattle Dragons. He has size and strength for the defensive line. He’s a player who will fly under the radar but could be a big factor on the field. Taniela Tupou is another former Huskie player who also plays professional rugby. He’ll bring plenty of attitude to the Dragons.
Former Washington State Cougars
Every team needs a kicker, and the Seattle Dragons found one in their own backyard. Erik Powell out of Washington State will do the kicking duties for the Dragons. Powell was second-team all Pac 12 as a senior. He nailed a 56-yard field goal as a senior during a game at the University of Arizona. Powell is a talented kicker and it surprises me he’s not on an NFL roster. Their loss is the Dragon’s gain.
Former Oregon State Beavers
In three seasons at Oregon State, tight end Connor Hamlett racked up some impressive numbers. For his college career had 104 receptions, 1109 yards, and ten touchdowns. He was an important part of the offense. He left Oregon State with the third most receptions ever by a tight end. He’s got tremendous size, standing six-foot-seven and weighs 260 pounds. He bounced around a handful of NFL teams but wasn’t able to catch on. He’ll find a home in Seattle and be a valuable member fo the Dragons offense.
Players from the University of Idaho
Jordan Rose was a four-year starter for the University of Idaho. He was a solidifying force on the offensive line from the get-go. He was a standout in high school as well, earning all-state honors on both offense and defense. Rose is six foot six and weighs 345 pounds. He had brief stints with the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs.
Reuben Mwehla was another athlete that came out of Bellevue High School in Washington. His former head coach, Butch Goncharoff, is on the Seattle Dragons staff so they’ll be reunited. At the University of Idaho, Reuben was a receiver and special team return, specialist. He brings explosive speed and athleticism to the Dragons. He could be a dynamic force.
Players from Boise State University
Durant Miles played at Boise State and in his career, he had 17.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. He’s known as a really strong character type and a lockerroom leader. He played with the Atlanta Falcons this pre-season but was cut by the team. He will be on the field this winter for the Seattle Dragons.
The Seattle Dragons open their season on February 8th at 11 AM PST against the DC Defenders. ABC will carry the game nationally. Their home opener is on February 15th against the Tampa Bay Vipers. FOX will broadcast the game nationally at 2 PM PST.
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