The new edition of the XFL is holding its inaugural draft next week, and the player pool includes eight former Ohio State players.

Former Ohio State linebacker Dante Booker, safety Christian Bryant, running back Bri'onte Dunn, offensive tackle Chase Farris, cornerback Doran Grant, guard Malcolm Pridgeon and defensive tackles Robert Rose and Tracy Sprinkle are all among the players who have entered the draft, which will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday.

While all of those former Buckeyes are looking to continue their professional football careers, none of them are currently on NFL rosters – though Pridgeon is currently on the Cleveland Browns' practice squad, while Booker (Arizona Cardinals) and Sprinkle (Browns and Houston Texans) also spent time with NFL teams this summer.

Sprinkle, Farris and Grant all played for the Atlanta Legends in the short-lived Alliance of American Football earlier this year, while Rose briefly played for the Arena Football League's Columbus Destroyers in May.

Bryant and Grant are the only Buckeyes in the group who have played in regular-season NFL games.

Dunn, whose football career came to a halt when he was dismissed from Ohio State in 2016 and was later charged with rape, is looking to pursue a professional career after being found not guilty of that accusation last October.

The new XFL's inaugural season is scheduled to begin play in February 2020. Whether the league will find more long-term financial viability than the AAF remains a major question – according to a report by Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith, the league's average salary for players will be $55,000 – but the eight former Buckeyes, along with hundreds of others who are in the player pool for next week's draft, will hope it gives them an opportunity to extend their professional football careers.