With the Alliance of American Football reduced to a smoldering pile of rubble, the rebooted XFL stands to take its place as America’s second-tier football league, somewhere fringe NFL players can hang on and keep their playing days going.

Early indications are that XFL 2.0 aims to be a more legitimate operation than the first iteration — both led by WWE’s Vince McMahon — with Oliver Luck in place as commissioner. The league is holding tryouts in each of its eight cities this summer as it progresses toward its debut in February 2020, and a few Michigan State players have turned up to try to find a home in the spring football league.

Former MSU linebacker Taiwan Jones was on the roster for last Saturday’s Houston session at the University of Houston’s TDECU Stadium. The Dallas tryout on Friday at the University of Texas – Arlington included ex-Spartan players Keith Mumphery and Josiah Price.

The XFL’s Houston team will be coached by longtime college head coach June Jones, while former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops will lead the Dallas team as head coach and general manager.

Taiwan Jones was a contributor for Mark Dantonio’s program from the time he stepped foot on campus in 2011. He was a full-time starter his final two seasons, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior. Jones finished his career with 183 tackles, including 25.5 tackles for loss, in 54 games, 30 of which he started.

After going undrafted in 2015, Jones signed with the NFL’s New York Jets as a free agent. He was cut and brought back to the team on the practice squad early in the 2015 season. The Jets waived him against in September 2016, only to re-sign him in October. He was cut for the last time in November 2016. He signed a deal in April to play for the Memphis Express of the AAFL.

A native of Vienna, Georgia, Mumphery redshirted in 2010 before becoming a starting a starter his final three seasons in MSU. He caught 88 passes for 1,348 yards and seven touchdowns during his time with the Spartans. He had 42 catches for 515 yards, both career-highs, in 2012, though he would go on to post three receiving touchdowns in each of the next two seasons.

The Houston Texans selected Mumphery in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played two seasons in the NFL, appearing in 30 total games and posting 198 yards on 24 receptions.

Price became a mainstay during some of MSU’s best years after redshirting during the 2012 season. He wound up appearing in 51 career games and making 25 starts while setting the program’s record for a tight end with 21 career touchdown catches. Price ranks third in MSU history in receiving yards (1,238) and receptions (104) for a tight end.

Price went undrafted in 2017. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings but missed the entire 2018 season with an injury and was let go in the offseason.

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