Former Bulls’ defensive lineman and cornerback, both from Tampa, will go head-to-head for XFL title
TAMPA, MAY 12, 2023 – Former South Florida football program standouts and Tampa natives Bruce Hector (2013-17) and KJ Sails (2019-20) will square off on opposite sides of the ball in the inaugural XFL Championship game Saturday in the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas.
The game that pits the South Division title-winning Arlington Renegades (4-6) vs. the North Division title-winning DC Defenders (9-1) will kick off at 8 p.m. and be broadcast live on ABC and ESPN+. The winner will take home the XFL Championship Trophy — which features a prominent gold “X”. The last time the two championship contenders faced off was last month when the Defenders edged the Renegades, 28-26.
Hector, a defensive tackle who has started all 10 games for the Renegades, played in 43 career games for USF, making 24 starts, and was a defensive stalwart and all-conference selection before going on to play four seasons in the NFL for three teams. He was part of three bowl games at USF and helped the 2016 (11-2) and 2017 (10-2) teams post the best records in program history while winning back-to-back Birmingham Bowl appearances over teams from the SEC and Big 12. He is tied for fourth all-time at USF with 18 career sacks while logging 90 tackles and 28.0 tackles for loss.
Sails, a defensive back and kick returner for the Defenders, was an all-conference selection while playing two seasons for USF after transferring from North Carolina where he played in 19 games over three seasons. He led the team with three interceptions, five takeaways and nine passes defended in 2019 while starting 12 games at cornerback and as a punt returner. He started eight of nine games in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season before going on to spend the 2021 season with the NFL’s LA Chargers.
Sails, who spent time with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor while at USF and has a goal of serving as mayor of his hometown one day, was featured in and XFL “Know My Name” video earlier this season (LINK).
USF opens the 2023 season on Sept. 2 at Western Kentucky before returning to Raymond James Stadium to face Florida A&M on Sept. 9 and Alabama on Sept. 16. The Bulls open American Athletic Conference play at home on Sept. 23 vs. Rice.
New season tickets for the 2023 USF football season at Raymond James Stadium are on sale now. Secure your seats for the 2023 season by calling or texting 1-800-GoBulls or by visiting USFBULLSTIX.com. All tickets are once again dynamically priced for each game based on demand and are subject to change. Tickets can be purchased online at USFBullsTix.com, by calling/texting 1-800-GoBulls or using the direct links below.
Season tickets: https://bit.ly/3yXpIgD
Single-game tickets: https://bit.ly/3PJrTdN
Group tickets (10+): call 1-800-GoBulls.
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 26th season in 2022 while completing construction on a new $22 million Indoor Performance Facility. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 16 All-America selections, including 2021 consensus All-American kick returner Brian Battie, and had 32 first-team all-conference selections. USF has had 30 players selected in the NFL Draft and has made 10 bowl game appearances (going 6-4 in those games), posting a program-record six straight appearances from 2005-2010 and most recently making four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18. The Bulls posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
– #GoBulls –
