Faoliu, Kelly and Pearson Named to 2023 All-XFL Team
May 8, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Seattle Sea Dragons News Release
Arlington, TX - The XFL has announced its 2023 All-XFL Team. The XFL North Division Champion D.C. Defenders led the League in All-XFL Team honorees with seven, while all eight teams had at least one player honored.
The Seattle Sea Dragons had three players recognized with All-XFL honors as defensive lineman Austin Faoliu, offensive tackle Colin Kelly and wide receiver Jahcour Pearson were voted to the team.
The following is a look at the 2023 All-XFL Team (position groups listed in alphabetical order):
All-XFL Offense
Quarterback - Jordan Ta'amu, D.C. Defenders
Running Back - Abram Smith, D.C. Defenders
Wide Receiver* - Deontay Burnett, Houston Roughnecks; Hakeem Butler, St. Louis Battlehawks; Lucky Jackson, D.C. Defenders; Jahcour Pearson, Seattle Sea Dragons
Tight End - Cody Latimer, Orlando Guardians
Offensive Line* - G Liam Fornadel, D.C. Defenders; G Steven Gonzalez, St. Louis Battlehawks; OT Jaryd Jones-Smith, St. Louis Battlehawks; OT Colin Kelly, Seattle Sea Dragons; C Alex Mollette, Houston Roughnecks; C Mike Panasiuk, St. Louis Battlehawks
All-XFL Defense
Defensive Line* - Drew Beesley, San Antonio Brahmas; Davin Bellamy, D.C. Defenders; Austin Faoliu, Seattle Sea Dragons; Jack Heflin, Houston Roughnecks; Davonte Lambert, Arlington Renegades; Caeveon Patton, Orlando Guardians; Delontae Scott, San Antonio Brahmas
Linebacker - Trent Harris, Houston Roughnecks; Pita Tamoepenu, Vegas Vipers; Jordan Williams, San Antonio Brahmas
Defensive Back* - Deontay Anderson, Vegas Vipers; Luq Barcoo, San Antonio Brahmas; Ajene Harris, Houston Roughnecks; Lavert Hill, St. Louis Battlehawks; Michael Joseph, D.C. Defenders
All-XFL Specialists
Kicker - John Parker Romo, San Antonio Brahmas
Punter - Daniel Whelan, D.C. Defenders
Return Specialist - Darrius Shepherd, St. Louis Battlehawks
* Indicates tie in voting, all ties were honored with All-XFL status.
Here are capsules on each of the Sea Dragons' three All-XFL honorees:
T COLIN KELLY: Kelly was part of an offensive line that helped Seattle to a league-best 3,592 total offense yards, 969 rush yards (second in the XFL) and protected QB Ben DiNucci as he was sacked only 11 times, the second-lowest mark in the league. Kelly received a total offense grade of 70.7 and a pass blocking grade of 71.4 from Pro Football Focus. He had five games with a 70 grade or better in overall offense and six games of 70 or better in pass blocking. Kelly was called for one penalty the entire season, and he allowed only 3 sacks in 440 pass blocking snaps, according to PFF.
DL AUSTIN FAOLIU: Faoliu had 24 total tackles (11 solo) with one sack for minus-5 yards. He had at least one tackle in all 10 games, and his sack came in Week 5 at HOU. Pro Football Focus graded him at 71.1 for overall defense, 72.1 for run defense and 67.5 for pass rush. He had a season-high seven tackles (three solo) at Vegas in Week 3. He had at least three total tackles in the first five games of the season and accomplished that in six games overall. He graded 60 or better in overall defense in six games, six games in run defense and in four games in pass rush by PFF.
WR JAHCOUR PEARSON: Pearson posted an XFL-leading 60 receptions for 670 yards - also a league best. His four TD catches were tied for seventh among all league receivers, and he led the league in both catches for first downs (32) and targets (84). He started off the season with a bang as he caught a season-high 12 passes for 95 yards and five first downs at DC in Week 1. He posted a season-high 115 receiving yards on seven receptions in Week 9 at St. Louis, including a 68-yard video-game-style catch and run for a score. He had six games with 76 or more receiving yards, and he had at least three receptions in all 10 games. Pearson scored a touchdown in each of the Sea Dragons' final three games.
In addition to the 2023 All-XFL Team, the XFL previously announced D.C. Defenders Head Coach Reggie Barlow as the 2023 XFL Coach of the Year, Vegas Vipers Linebacker Pita Taumoepenu as 2023 XFL Defensive Player of The Year, St. Louis Battlehawks Wide Receiver Darrius Shepherd as the 2023 XFL Special Teams Player of the Year and D.C. Defenders Quarterback Jordan Ta'amu as 2023 XFL Offensive Player of the Year.
The league's Head Coaches and/or Directors of Player Personnel were responsible for voting for the All-XFL Team and the League's aforementioned top awards.
The 2023 XFL Championship Game between the Arlington Renegades and D.C. Defenders will be played at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT Saturday, May 13 at The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas and will air nationally on ABC.
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XFL Stories from May 8, 2023
- Anderson, Taumoepenu Earn 2023 All-XFL Honors - Vegas Vipers
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- Faoliu, Kelly and Pearson Named to 2023 All-XFL Team - Seattle Sea Dragons
- Latimer, Patton Named All-XFL - Orlando Guardians
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