Washington State Cougars: Max Borghi and Brandon Arconado taken in XFL Draft
Ed Stein
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The 2022 XFL Draft ended on Thursday. Two Washington State Cougars Alumni were among the 378 players selected.
It’s a fantasy for most people interested in football to play professionally. Of the million kids who play in high school, only 71,000 or so continue in college. From there, 1.6% play in the NFL.
For many who play at the highest levels of college ball, there is nothing like the roar of the crowd on a Saturday afternoon. They would love to continue that journey, but there aren’t many jobs. Some need an opportunity to prove themselves.
Wednesday and Thursday, 378 of those players got another chance to continue their dream. Among them are two former Washington State Cougars, running back Max Borghi and receiver Brandon Arconado.
Max Borghi
WSU Career 2018-21 – 368 carries, 2,158 yards (5.8 YPC), and 32 touchdowns. 156 receptions, 1,134 yards, and 9 touchdowns. His 41 TDs from scrimmage is number one in Washington State Cougars history.
When PNWS did our final WSU mock draft consensus back in April, Max Borghi was mentioned in just two of them. One had him going in the fifth round to Dallas, while the other pegged him to land in Green Bay during the final round. Our Ed Stein had the Seahawks taking him in the seventh round at 229th overall if UNC’s Ty Chandler was off the board.
In our Seahawks draft preview, we said the following about Borghi:
Watch the video of him during his four years with the Washington State Cougars. It shows a versatile back who can find holes, accelerate through them, and absorb hits. And he’s even better at catching passes out of the backfield. In the NFL, he’ll be a valuable third down producer.
As it turned out, most of the mocks were right. The 5’10” running back from Pomona High School in Arvada, Colorado, went undrafted. He signed a free agent contract with Indianapolis on May 13, and the Colts parted ways with him five days later.
It was on to the Denver Broncos (August 3-16) and Pittsburgh Steelers (August 18-30). Then it was over. Until Thursday.
Borghi is now a member of the Houston Roughnecks. He went in the sixth round of the skill position portion of the XFL Draft (41st overall).
Brandon Arconado
WSU Career 2017-19 – 82 receptions for 1,182 yards and 8 touchdowns.
A former walk-on, Brandon Arconado had one heck of a senior season for the Washington State Cougars. He was Anthony Gordon‘s main target in 2019.
Arconado started 11 games and hauled in 78 passes for 1,109 yards, including 7 – 100 yard games and 7 touchdowns. The Chino Hills, California native was also an Academic All-American.
He gets a chance to prove himself this spring. The Arlington Renegades selected Arconado in the fourth round (26th overall).
And just like that, the dream is still alive.
The XFL has a supplemental draft scheduled for early 2023, and more Washington State Cougars football alumni may show up there. Stay Tuned.