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Browns: 3 names to keep an eye on after first XFL game

By Chad Porto

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 08: DC Defenders fans celebrate during the second half of the XFL game against the Seattle Dragons at Audi Field on February 8, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 08: DC Defenders fans celebrate during the second half of the XFL game against the Seattle Dragons at Audi Field on February 8, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 08: Austin Proehl #13 of the Seattle Dragons scores the first touchdown in the history of the resurrected XFL during the first half of the game against the DC Defenders at Audi Field on February 8, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 08: Austin Proehl #13 of the Seattle Dragons scores the first touchdown in the history of the resurrected XFL during the first half of the game against the DC Defenders at Audi Field on February 8, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Seattle Dragons – WR Austin Proehl

Austin Proehl, the son of Ricky Proehl who was one of the slot receivers from Kurt Warner’s days in St. Louis with the Greatest Show on Turf,  made a huge mark on the XFL in his first pro-game. The 5’9 wide receiver out of North Carolina University has a 4.41-40 yard dash and showed that he has exceptional route-running skills in his first pro-game. He showed he has great hips, which means he can rotate and shift his weight as needed in order to avoid being tackled and has great vision to be able to put himself in a position to make plays.

Proehl was the only receiver to step up for Seattle, catching 10 passes for 88 yards, while scoring two touchdowns and performing well on special teams. With how bad former Memphis Express quarterback, Brandon Silvers played, it’s not hard to think that the first game of the XFL would have been a lopsided beating if it wasn’t for Proehl stepping up to make plays.

Proehl was a 7th round draft pick out in 2018 and failed to catch on with Buffalo, Tennessee, and the L.A. Rams before leaving the NFL and heading to the XFL. Not every player is always properly evaluated and sometimes coaches just assume that because of someone’s size that they can’t play. It’s stereotypical and bull ducky to make that assumption but if his play in week one is any sign of what you can expect from Proehl in the subsequent weeks, we could be watching The Browns slot receiver for the next ten years.

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