After making a mark in the XFL, a former Seminole athlete has returned to the NFL scene.
Following the conclusion of the 2023 XFL season, standout players from the league are seizing opportunities with NFL teams. On Monday, the first day of eligibility, 11 former XFL players inked deals with NFL franchises.
Another player swiftly joined their ranks, poised to transition to the highest echelons of professional football.
On Tuesday, the Denver Broncos secured a deal with former Florida State running back Jacques Patrick, as confirmed by his agent. Patrick distinguished himself with the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas, who maintain his rights should he opt to return to the league.
The contract extension followed Patrick’s performance during a tryout workout at Denver’s Rookie Mini-Camp over the weekend. His showing was sufficient to impress new head coach and his staff, earning him a further opportunity with the franchise.
Hailing from Florida, Patrick concluded his second stint in the XFL as one of the premier offensive threats for the Brahmas. He ranked second in the league in rushing, amassing 115 attempts for 443 yards and five touchdowns, alongside 30 receptions for 238 yards. Notably, four of his touchdowns were scored in the final three games of the season, including a standout performance of 96 yards and a touchdown in a closely contested match against Houston.
Patrick had previously ventured into the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, and Baltimore Ravens. While most of his engagements were on the practice squad, he enjoyed two promotions to the 53-man roster with San Francisco, rushing twice for 12 yards.
Sean Payton’s appointment as the Broncos’ head coach signals an endeavor to rejuvenate veteran quarterback Russell Wilson’s performance, contingent upon consistency from the team’s skill players. The Broncos are revamping their running backs unit, which faced challenges in the previous season with the departure of Melvin Gordon, Chase Edmonds, and Latavius Murray. With Patrick’s addition, Denver now boasts seven running backs on its roster, including Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine.
Despite an impressive collegiate career at Florida State under coaches Jimbo Fisher and Willie Taggart, Patrick went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft. During his four-year tenure in Tallahassee, he shared the backfield with notable talents such as Dalvin Cook and Cam Akers.
Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 234 pounds, Patrick ranks in the top 20 in program history for rushing touchdowns (tied for 15th) and rushing yards (16th). Across 45 games, including 13 starts, he accumulated 366 attempts for 1,790 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground, complemented by 47 receptions for 356 yards and a touchdown.
Patrick’s standout season with the Seminoles occurred in 2017, appearing in 11 games with nine starts. He concluded the year with career-best figures of 134 rushes for 748 yards and seven touchdowns. Notably, Patrick delivered a stellar performance of 155 yards and two touchdowns in a victory against ULM, securing a bowl game berth for the program.
