As the XFL’s opening season approaches, the Tampa Bay Vipers have an interesting group of players. These green and gold warriors will be led by former Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman. The second incarnation of the XFL brings football back to the I-4 corridor. The Vipers look to build upon the success of the Alliance of American Football Orlando Apollos. The Vipers roster consists of a lot of former NFL talent and college stars. This particular article will examine the quarterback room for the Tampa based franchise.
Tampa Bay Vipers Quarterback Analysis
During the quarterback allocation draft, the Vipers acquired the services of Aaron Murray. Murray was a product of the University of Georgia and holds the SEC touchdown record. As a member of the Vipers, Murray returns to the Tampa area. Murray spent his high school career playing for two different Tampa schools. He then spent five seasons (including a redshirt season) in Athens. After a successful career in the SEC, Murray was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He spent two years on the Chiefs before being released. Murray bounced around on the practice squads of the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. A short spell on the Los Angeles Rams marked the end of his NFL career.
In 2016, a new opportunity presented itself as Murray became a member of the inaugural season of the Alliance of American Football Atlanta Legends. The Legends had high expectations for Murray as he was the second overall selection of the AAF Draft. However, Murray failed to outplay Matt Simms and started the season as the Legends backup. Murray entered the fourth game of the season for an injured Simms. He was able to rally the struggling Legends to first-ever win. Shortly thereafter, the AAF folded and thus ended Murray’s run in the spring league.
Murray has a varied background and looks to lead the Vipers to success in the rebirth of the XFL. Marc Trestman has had success in the NFL as both an offensive coordinator and head coach. The offensive-minded coach should be able to help Murray develop and play to his strengths. Tampa has some interesting offensive weapons that should help Murray. The future looks bright for the college all-star and home town hero in the green and gold.
The only other Tampa Bay Vipers quarterback is Taylor Cornelius. He was born in Amarillo, TX and played his high school ball in Bushland. Cornelius is a product of Oklahoma State but did not start until his fifth year. During this season, he finished as a top 10 quarterback with 3,978 passing yards and 32 passing touchdowns. He spent a majority of his college career backing up current Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller Mason Rudolph The bright spot of his college career was a win over ninth-ranked West Virginia. Cornelius held his own against future NFL quarterbacks in Kyler Murray, Will Grier, and even had a crucial Liberty Bowl victory over the Denver Broncos’ Drew Lock.
Cornelius was not selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, but he did not spend some time with the Green Bay Packers during the off-season. He failed, however, to make the final 53-man roster or play in any preseason games. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy was then selected by the Vipers in the ninth round of the skill players draft in 2020. Overall, Cornelius should be able to be a reliable back up and can develop further. He should not challenge Murray for the starting role but does have the pedigree to step up if needed. The fact that the Vipers are only keeping two quarterbacks on the roster is a testament to his skills. His youth and previous college experience make him someone for Viper fans to keep their eyes on during the future.
