The Houston Roughnecks picked up two players during the XFL Combine rights draft held earlier this week. They acquired the rights to both TE Tristen Wallace, and DB Elijah Blades.
Of the eight teams in the XFL, seven selected at least one player during this event. Seattle was the lone team to avoid doing so.
TE Tristen Wallace | Prairie View A&M
Tristen Wallace played his college football at Prairie View A&M. He saw the majority of his playing time from 2018-2019, where he thrived as a tight end. Wallace racked up 1,114 receiving yards, alongside six touchdowns during those two seasons.
Prairie View A&M’s Tristen Wallace with 27-yard catch pic.twitter.com/8B9WQ6Jnpq
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) September 8, 2019
He was technically a wide receiver during his time at Prairie View, but now transitions to tight end in Houston. Wallace was at the XFL Combine, and reportedly received plenty of interest from multiple organizations.
#DeSotoU 🦅 @FootballDesoto @DesotoMbb LEGEND, Tristen Wallace (TE – Prairie View) getting plenty of attention from teams at the #XFL Combine today in Arlington. pic.twitter.com/qH6JRGYegc
— 𝑹𝒐𝒏 𝑴𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒚 (@RonMurrayJr) July 26, 2023
DB Elijah Blades | Buffalo
Elijah Blades began his college career at Arizona Western Community College. There, he was the #4 ranked JUCO player in the nation, performing quite well.
Welcome Back Elijah Blades! pic.twitter.com/3MGTOeZ8lB
— Aggie Crew (@aggie_crew) December 27, 2020
He then moved onto Texas A&M, making 19 tackles and compiling 1.5 sacks for the Aggies. He played for Florida for a year, but only appeared in three games.
After that, Elijah Blades wrapped up his college career at Buffalo. He put up excellent numbers in 2022, posting 27 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and four pass breakups. Considering Houston has lost a couple of key defensive players, Blades could prove to be a perfect replacement. He’s got tremendous upside.
Final Thoughts
While the Houston Roughnecks opted to only acquire two players, they have been busy making moves. The team traded for San Antonio Brahmas WR Landen Akers, which is an impressive pickup. Akers was solid for San Antonio, and brings depth to Houston who has lost a couple of receivers.
Per source, the Houston Roughnecks have traded for San Antonio Brahmas WR Landen Akers. The former Los Angeles Ram appeared in 6 games for the Brahmas in 2023 (5 starts), catching 31 passes for 303 yards.
— Evan Willsmore (@evan_willsmore) August 9, 2023
After a 7-3 record during the 2023 XFL season, Houston will look to improve upon their playoff success, losing to Arlington in the divisional round.
What are your thoughts on these three players picked up by the Houston Roughnecks? Which athletes should they pursue? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
