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Written by: Roy Countryman @PreacherBoyRoy
Offensive Player of the Week
Jordan Ta’Amu: QB, DC Defenders
17/26, 247 pass yds, 9.5 avg, 4 pass TD, 8 rushes for 13 yards, 8 long.
Ta’Amu is the Peyton Manning of spring football, as he has put up big play after big play in every season he has played in an upstart league. He started the 2020 season for the St. Louis Batthlehawks, and even started in the 2022 edition of the USFL with the Tampa Bay Bandits.
Surprisingly, he is still just 25 years old, and has the skill set that puts him squarely on the NFL’s radar with excellent arm strength, touch, mobility, and solid decision-making. He has also shown off his selflessness this season in DC by not pitching a fit or demanding more playing time when Coach Barlow has brought in the talented D’Eriq King on certain drives.
He was money in this contest of XFL North foes, and came through in the clutch moments to secure a XFL North Division playoff berth. Now the Defenders have the opportunity to sit back and watch which team from the Battlehawks and Sea Dragons they will face in the first round of the playoffs.
As far as Ta'Amu goes, all he needs to do is maintain consistency throughout the season. He will almost assuredly be offered a shot with an NFL team for training camp, and could carve out a role as a backup for a long time.
Defensive Player of the Week
Travis Feeney: EDGE, St. Louis Battlehawks
8 Total Tackles (5 Solo), 1.0 Sack, 2 TFL, 1 FF.
Feeney is a highly skilled and athletic defender who has bounced back and forth from off-ball linebacker to edge rusher. The Pittsburgh Steelers originally selected him in the sixth round in 2016. He then bounced around football from the New Orleans Saints to the AAF’s San Diego Fleet, which led him to an opportunity with two CFL teams. He then went to play in the USFL until finally being selected by the Battlehawks in the second round of the XFL draft.
While Feeney played most of his snaps while at Washington at off-ball linebacker, his best position is out at edge rusher due to his bend, burst, and length. He has also struggled with injuries throughout his career, and by moving to Edge Rusher, he isn’t exposed to as many violent collisions inside, which gives him a better chance of staying durable.
He has become a pass rushing force for the Battlehawks this season, as he is tied for fifth in the XFL in sacks with 5, and is tied for second in the league in forced fumbles with 3. With Feeney finally settling into a position that suits his physical abilities, it won't surprise me if an NFL team in need of pass rushing depth looks to sign him to a deal immediately after the conclusion of the XFL season.
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