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Two former Colorado Buffaloes were selected on day one as part of the XFL’s inaugural 2020 Draft.
Nelson Spruce was a third round selection (24th overall) among the “Skill position” group by the Los Angeles Wildcats. The Buffs all-time leading receiver was most recently a member of the San Diego Fleet before the AAF dissolved. Spruce also spent time on the rosters of four NFL teams since going undrafted in 2014.
The Houston Roughnecks chose linebacker Drew Lewis as a seventh round selection among the “front seven” group. A native of Atlanta, GA, Lewis earned the reputation as a freak athlete capable of big plays. He was recently on the preseason roster for the New Orleans Saints before missing the final 53-man cut.
All eight XFL teams— the Dallas Renegades, DC Defenders, Houston Roughnecks, Los Angeles Wildcats, New York Guardians, Seattle Dragons, St. Louis Battlehawks and Tampa Bay Vipers took up the task of filling their 71-person rosters. Here’s a complete list of all selections via Sporting News contributor Bill Bender.
ABOUT THE XFL
The XFL will re-imagine football for the 21st century when it kicks off the weekend of February 8-9, 2020, committed to delivering a brisk, fast-paced game, with a fan-centric, innovative, and affordable gameday experience. The inaugural season will launch with teams in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Washington D.C. Each team will compete with a 45-man active roster over a 10-week regular season with a postseason consisting of two semifinal playoff games and a championship game. Every XFL game – every week – will be nationally televised and easy-to-find for fans coast-to-coast. Starting in February 2020, the XFL will air weekly on ABC and FOX, with games also on ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 and FS2. Vince McMahon, XFL Founder and Chairman, is personally funding the new league, and building the XFL with the same commitment and resolve that he has demonstrated building WWE into a global media and sports entertainment powerhouse.