Bearcats in the XFL - Draft Preview

The XFL is being rebooted and kicks off this February. There are eight teams across eight different cities and the inaugural draft takes place next week. As part of the announced draft pool, there are 7 Bearcats that are eligible to be drafted.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and a look back on their Bearcats careers and what they have been up to since graduation.

WR Devin Gray

Gray played at Cincinnati in 2016-2017, sadly during two of their worst years of the past decade. In two years, Gray caught 86 passes and 8 touchdowns and totaled 1,304 yards. In 2016, Gray’s 806 yards receiving yards led the team and his 5 receiving TDs were tied for the team lead with Kahlil Lewis (who appears next on this list).

Gray was undrafted in 20178 and spent last summer and this 2019 summer in training camp with the Falcons, but was unable to secure a contract either year.

WR Kahlil Lewis

Lewis played at Cincinnati from 2015-2018. He led the Bearcats in receiving yards in both 2017 and 2018 and from 2016-2018 exceed 600 yards and caught 5 or more touchdowns in each of those three seasons. He ended his career with 168 catches, 2,116 yards, and 21 touchdowns.

Lewis was undrafted and spent time in training camp with both the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks.

WR Mekale McKay

McKay was a 3-star WR prospect, who initially committed to Arkansas. He was the 99th ranked WR in the 2011 class (according to 247Sports) and the 9th ranked player from Kentucky. He caught 21 passes in 12 games in 2012, before transferring to Cincinnati, where he played 33 games from 2013-2015. He caught 87 passes at Cincinnati and 17 touchdowns.

McKay played in the AAF, where he caught 22 catches, 4 for touchdowns.

TE Adrien Robinson

Robinson played at UC from 2008-2011. He only caught 29 passes in 30 games as he was mostly utilized as a blocking tight end. He was such a good blocker, that in the 2012 NFL Draft the New York Giants drafted him in the 4th round (127th overall). He caught 5 passes for the Giants in 2014, one of those for a touchdown, but that was it. He did play all 16 games that season but was used mostly on special teams or in blocking situations. Those 5 catches were the only catches of his NFL career.

Robinson played on the Memphis Express in the AAF this past fall.

OT Kendall Calhoun

Calhoun played 10 games with Cincinnati, including 9 in 2017. He spent 2018 training camp with the Atlanta Falcons and played one pre-season game. He never appeared in a regular season game.

He was on Atlanta’s roster in the AAF in the spring and now has a chance to play pro ball again in the XFL.

LB Jeff Luc

Luc began his career at Florida State in 2010. Coming out of high school, he was a 5-star prospect and according to 247Sports was the 26th ranked player nationally, #2 inside linebacker, and #4 overall player from Florida.

Luc transferred to Cincinnati after the 2011 season, sat out one year, and started 26 games total from 2013-2014. During his senior season in 2014, Luc led the team in tackles (133), second on the team in solo tackles (64), third in tackles for a loss (9), second in sacks (6.5), and third in pass deflections (4).

He went undrafted in 2015 and spent time in training camp/practice squads with the Dolphins, Jets, Saints, Bengals. He also spent time on a pair of CFL practice squads. He made his pro debut this past spring in the AAF, playing for the Atlanta team, recording 32 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and forcing one fumble.

LB Nick Temple

Temple played linebacker at Cincinnati from 2011-2014. He recorded 281 total tackles (160 solo), 32 tackles for a loss, and 11 sacks.

Temple also had 3 career interceptions, but arguably none bigger than his game-clinching pick six at the end of the 2012 Belk Bowl. After a long Travis Kelce touchdown gave the Bearcats the lead, Duke got to midfield and were driving, until Temple picked off a tipped pass and ran it back 55 yards to give Cincinnati a 48-34 win.