MOST RECOGNIZABLE NAMES: TE Tyji Armstrong, RB John Avery, WR Aaron Bailey, K Andy Crosland, RB LeShon Johnson, QB Kevin McDougal, WR Roell Preston, WR Ryan Yarborough.

DID YOU KNOW?: QB Paul Failla went to Notre Dame before signing a professional baseball contract with Anaheim. Three years later he returned to Indiana (Pa.) University and threw for 2,067 yards and 15 touchdowns.

OUTLOOK: Avery (29th pick in the 1998 NFL draft by Miami) and Johnson (sixth in the 1993 Heisman voting) will be counted on while young QBs develop.

Las Vegas Outlaws

STADIUM: Sam Boyd Stadium.

COACH: Jim Criner.

MOST RECOGNIZABLE NAMES: TE Rickey Brady, S Ron Carpenter, QB Ryan Clement, OL David Diaz-Infante, DE Antonio Edwards, LB Kurt Gouveia, DB Brandon Sanders, DT Carl Simpson, CB Jamel Williams.

DID YOU KNOW?: Carpenter played 16 games with the Super Bowl champion Rams in 1999, and Diaz-Infante won two titles with Denver.

OUTLOOK: The Outlaws are built for defense with NFL-experienced players including Sanders and Williams, and they place offensive hopes Clement's hands. The team released QB Mike Buck on Sunday as well as DT Antonio Dingle, both former NFL players.

Memphis Maniax

STADIUM: Liberty Bowl.

COACH: Kippy Brown.

MOST RECOGNIZABLE NAMES: OT Harry Boatswain, DE Shante Carver, QB Marcus Crandell, QB Jim Druckenmiller, WR Alvin Harper, WR Charles Jordan, RB Brent Moss, FB Roosevelt Potts, RB Rashaan Salaam, LB Patrick Sapp, DB Cory Sawyer, QB Craig Whelihan.

DID YOU KNOW?: Memphis has five first-round NFL draft picks: Carver, Druckenmiller, Harper, Salaam and OT Bernard Williams.

OUTLOOK: The Maniax are loaded with former NFL players and have the most big names in the league. Crandell is spoken about as a budding star, but he'll have competition from Druckenmiller and Whelihan, former NFLers.

Orlando Rage

STADIUM: Florida Citrus Bowl.

COACH: Galen Hall.

MOST RECOGNIZABLE NAMES: WR Mario Bailey, OL Cheston Blackshear, QB Jeff Brohm, DB Omar Brown, LB James Burgess, RB Derrick Clark, WR Tony Gaiter, DL James Roberson.

DID YOU KNOW?: RB Brian Shay finished his Emporia State career with six NCAA all-division records: most rushing yards (6,958), 200-yard rushing games (15), all-purpose yards (9,301), total touchdowns (88), rushing touchdowns (81) and total points (544).

OUTLOOK: For what it's worth, Brohm is the consensus No. 1 pick in most XFL fantasy leagues. His experience and Hall's coaching -- he led the Rhein Fire to two NFL Europe championships in the past three years -- makes Orlando one of the favorites.

Birmingham Bolts

STADIUM: Legion Field.

COACH: Gerry DiNardo.

MOST RECOGNIZABLE NAMES: WR Jahine Arnold, QB Jay Barker, RB James Bostic, RB Troy Davis, DB Calvin Jackson, TE Reggie Johnson, QB Casey Weldon, WR Stepfret Williams, LB James Willis.

DID YOU KNOW?: Davis was the only player in NCAA history to rush for more than 2,000 yards twice in his career and finished as runner-up for the 1996 Heisman after being the nation's leading rusher in consecutive seasons.

OUTLOOK: Weldon was the second pick in the XFL draft, and the Bolts hope eight years of NFL experience make him worth it. Willis has looked great on defense and is the leader.

San Francisco Demons

STADIUM: Pac Bell Park.

COACH: Jim Skipper.

MOST RECOGNIZABLE NAMES: QB Pat Barnes, RB Derek Brown, WR Lee DeRamus, RB Vaughn Dunbar, WR James Hundon, QB Mike Pawlawski, LB Craig Powell.

DID YOU KNOW?: Dunbar led the New Orleans Saints in rushing as a rookie in 1992, and teammate Brown pulled off the same feat the next season.

OUTLOOK: The Demons have two of the Arena League's most productive players in WR Calvin Schexnayder (MVP in 1998 with record 136 catches for 1,982 yards and 44 touchdowns) and Pawlawski, so they have potential for big offensive numbers.

N.Y./N.J. Hitmen

STADIUM: Giants Stadium.

COACH: Rusty Tillman.

MOST RECOGNIZABLE NAMES: K Leo Araguz, RB Mike Archie, RB Joe Aska, LB Mike Barber, DE Tim Beauchamp, CB Butler By'not'e, WR Andre Coleman, DE James Cotton, WR Kirby Dar Dar, QB Charlie Puleri, QB Wally Richardson.

DID YOU KNOW?: Coleman played 13 games with the San Diego Chargers in 1994, his rookie season, and led the AFC with 1,293 yards on kickoff returns. He was the first player in Chargers history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in a season. He earned all-rookie honors.

OUTLOOK: Puleri is an experienced Arena League QB who has speed to work with: Aska is a former NCAA track champ, and Dar Dar is quick. The Hitmen are one of the more solid teams top to bottom.

Los Angeles Xtreme

STADIUM: Los Angeles Coliseum.

COACH: Al Luginbill.

MOST RECOGNIZABLE NAMES: CB Clifton Abraham, DB Reggie Durden, QB Tommy Maddox, WR Darnell McDonald, QB Scott Milanovich, RB Ken Oxendine, RB Rashaan Sheehee.

DID YOU KNOW?: LB Brendon Ayanbadejo's brother Femi plays fullback for the Baltimore Ravens.

OUTLOOK: Maddox, an NFL first-round pick by Denver, revived his career during the Arena League season. He beat Milanovich, the league's No. 1 pick, for the starting job. Sheehee, a third-round pick of Kansas City, has been impressive.

- Compiled by John C. Cotey.

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