The XFL, a revitalized professional football league that is led by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his production company, concluded its inaugural season this past weekend in San Antonio.
The Arlington Renegades and former Tennessee wide receiver JaVonta Payton defeated the D.C. Defenders to capture the XFL championship trophy.
Now that the XFL season is over, though, players from the eight teams are allowed to enter into conversations with NFL teams.
The XFL announced that former Vol defensive back Bryce Thompson was being invited to the Miami Dolphins training camp on May 9, 2023.
Less than a week later, on May 15, the XFL announced that Bryce Thompson had signed his contract with the Dolphins.
🚨 @XFLSeaDragons S Bryce Thompson has signed his NFL contract with the @MiamiDolphins #XFLtoNFL | #XFL2023 pic.twitter.com/tFS64CZE0L
— XFL (@XFL2023) May 15, 2023
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Thompson was one of 11 players to sign an NFL contract on the first day of eligibility and is the only player on that list representing the SEC.
The former Volunteer ended his first season in the XFL with 34 tackles, 0.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, and two interceptions. Thompson played in all 10 regular-season games for Seattle in the first revitalized year of the league. The Irmo, South Carolina native finished the season with the third-most solo tackles (21) and the fifth-most total tackles on the Seattle roster.
The Seattle Sea Dragons ended the season with a 7-3 record but lost to the D.C. Defenders in the first round (semi-finals) of the XFL playoffs.
Bryce Thompson was at Tennessee from 2018 to 2020 but decided to declare early for the NFL Draft. During his time in Knoxville, Thompson was a one-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week and a one-time SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Thomspon was also invited to the 2021 NFL Combine before being picked up as an undrafted free agent by the New Orleans Saints for one season, on and off.
After an impressive season in the XFL, though, Thompson is now heading back to the NFL level with a new mindset and a new opportunity.
Sea Dragons get the INT then go over to taunt the DC fans who threw lemons at them pic.twitter.com/tZGGzvNbpH
— alex (@highIightheaven) February 20, 2023
Here’s a look at the 11 XFL players that were signed by NFL teams on Monday:
| Pos. | Name | XFL | NFL | College |
| DL | C.J. Brewer | Houston Roughnecks | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Coastal Carolina |
| S | Lukas Denis | St. Louis Battlehawks | Atlanta Falcons | Boston College |
| QB | Ben DiNucci | Seattle Sea Dragons | Denver Broncos | Pittsburgh/James Madison |
| DL | Austin Faoliu | Seattle Sea Dragons | Seattle Seahawks | Oregon |
| DL | Jack Heflin | Houston Roughnecks | New Orleans Saints | Northern Illinois/Iowa |
| DL | Antwuan Jackson | Seattle Sea Dragons | Carolina Panthers | Ohio State |
| LB | Niko Lalos | Seattle Sea Dragons | New Orleans Saints | Dartmouth |
| DL | LaCale London | St. Louis Battlehawks | Atlanta Falcons | Western Illinois |
| K | John Parker Romo | San Antonio Brahmas | Detroit Lions | Virginia Tech |
| S | Bryce Thompson | Seattle Sea Dragons | Miami Dolphins | Tennessee |
| OL | Barry Wesley | Seattle Sea Dragons | Atlanta Falcons | Colorado State |
