At first, Darrius Shepherd wasn’t sure what to think. But the St. Louis Battlehawks’ wide receiver and kick returner has learned to appreciate the XFL’s unusual kickoff format.
On kickoffs in the XFL, the 10-man blocking unit lines up at its own 30-yard line while the 10 men from the defending team start out at their opponent’s 35. No one can move except the kicker and returner until the ball is caught or is on the ground for three seconds.
“First off, it’s completely different from anything I’ve ever done,’’ said Shepherd, a Kansas City native who starred at North Dakota State and who played in 14 NFL games with the Green Bay Packers in the 2019 and 2020 seasons.