2023 USFL draft
The 2023 USFL College Draft was the second annual player selection event for the revived United States Football League (USFL), held on February 21, 2023, where the league's eight franchises chose 80 eligible collegiate athletes over 10 rounds to bolster their rosters for the upcoming season.[1] This draft marked a shift from the previous year's format, expanding to 10 rounds and selecting a total of 80 players, with the Michigan Panthers securing the No. 1 pick in each round by virtue of their victory in the 2022 regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Maulers—a unique USFL rule awarding the top selection in every round to the winner of the last game rather than strictly following reverse standings order.[2] The event concluded the USFL's independent drafting process, as the league merged with the XFL later that year to form the United Football League (UFL), which launched its inaugural season in March 2024.[3] In the first round, the Panthers selected offensive tackle Jarrett Horst from Michigan State with the top pick, aiming to strengthen their offensive line after a disappointing 2022 campaign.[4] The draft order for the first round was: 1. Michigan Panthers, 2. Pittsburgh Maulers, 3. Houston Gamblers, 4. Memphis Showboats, 5. New Orleans Breakers, 6. Philadelphia Stars, 7. Birmingham Stallions. The New Jersey Generals faced penalties for offseason roster violations, including the forfeiture of their first-round pick (moved to the end of the 10th round) and the demotion of their picks in rounds 2–5 to the end of those rounds.[2] Notable later picks included wide receiver Tyler Scott from Cincinnati (New Orleans Breakers, Round 1) and linebacker Noah Taylor from Virginia (also Breakers, Round 2), highlighting the draft's focus on bolstering skill positions and defensive fronts across the league.[5] The draft underscored the USFL's strategy to build competitive rosters from recent college talent, with selections broadcast live and emphasizing players overlooked by the NFL, setting the stage for the 2023 season that ran from April to June and featured the Birmingham Stallions as repeat champions before the league's restructuring.[1]Background
League context
The United States Football League (USFL) was established as a professional American football league operating in the spring, distinct from the NFL's fall schedule, with its inaugural season launching on April 16, 2022. The league featured eight teams divided into North and South conferences, including the Birmingham Stallions, Houston Gamblers, New Jersey Generals, and Philadelphia Stars, among others, playing a 10-game regular season format. Owned and operated by Fox Sports, a subsidiary of Fox Corporation, the USFL was designed as a developmental pathway for players, coaches, and officials seeking opportunities in professional football, positioning itself as a competitive alternative to existing NFL feeder systems.[6][7][8] The 2022 season concluded with the Birmingham Stallions defeating the Philadelphia Stars 33-30 in the championship game on July 3, marking the Stallions' undefeated 10-0 regular-season record and overall 11-1 postseason performance as league champions. This success highlighted the league's viability in attracting talent and viewership during its debut year. Unlike the 2022 player selection meeting, which allocated rights to established professionals by position over multiple rounds, the 2023 USFL College Draft adopted a traditional format focused on recent college talent to supplement veteran rosters and build depth for the upcoming campaign.[9][10][11][11] Announced as the first-ever USFL College Draft on February 21, 2023, the event preceded the league's impending merger with the XFL, which was formalized in late 2023 to create the United Football League (UFL) for the 2024 season. This consolidation ended the USFL's independent operations after just two seasons, redirecting resources and talent into a unified spring football entity under shared ownership including Fox Sports.[12][3][13]Player eligibility
To be eligible for the 2023 USFL College Draft, players were required to have been out of high school for at least three years and either waived their remaining college eligibility or exhausted it entirely.[11] This criterion primarily targeted college seniors and graduates whose NCAA eligibility had ended, aligning the draft pool with recent college talent rather than active underclassmen still in school.[14] An exception applied to junior college players, who could declare eligibility after just two years out of high school, broadening access for those from two-year programs.[15] The eligible player pool consisted of approximately 3,000 candidates, drawn from NCAA programs and scouted extensively by USFL teams.[16] Teams placed particular emphasis on drafting offensive linemen and quarterbacks to address league-wide needs for depth and stability along the lines and at the most critical skill position.[1] For instance, the first round featured multiple offensive tackles and signal-callers, reflecting strategic priorities to build foundational units for the 2023 season.[17] Unlike the NFL Draft, which focuses exclusively on incoming college talent without prior professional exposure, the USFL's 2023 college selection process prioritized recent graduates projected as NFL undrafted free agents.[18] This approach allowed the USFL to secure rights to a wider array of developmental prospects, many of whom might otherwise enter free agency without guaranteed opportunities.[11]Draft mechanics
Format and structure
The 2023 USFL College Draft followed a streamlined 10-round structure, in which each of the league's eight teams made one selection per round, yielding a total of 80 picks overall.[1] This format allowed every team to build depth equally, with each roster potentially adding up to 10 new players from the eligible college pool.[18] Unlike the league's inaugural 2022 draft, which featured 35 rounds and position-specific phases, the 2023 event adopted a more conventional approach focused on overall selections without mandating picks by position group.[19] Trades were explicitly prohibited during the draft itself to maintain order and fairness, though pre-draft adjustments for league violations were enforced, such as the New Jersey Generals' first-round pick being forfeited and moved to the end of round 10, with their picks in rounds 2 through 5 relocated to the end of those rounds as a penalty for breaching offseason roster management rules.[19][20][21] There were no restrictions on player positions, enabling teams to address any need in any round, and teams could not pass on their turn—selections were mandatory within time limits of five minutes for Rounds 1-3 and three minutes for Rounds 4-10, followed by a five-minute intermission between rounds.[19][12] This procedural framework ensured a predictable and equitable process, with the reverse-order selection determined by prior season performance applying consistently across rounds to promote competitive balance.[16]Selection order determination
The selection order for the 2023 USFL draft was determined by arranging teams in reverse order of their 2022 regular-season winning percentages, a standard approach to reward poorer-performing teams with earlier picks. Ties in winning percentage were broken using strength of schedule, calculated as the combined winning percentage of each team's opponents from the previous season. The Memphis Showboats, as the new expansion team, were assigned the draft position corresponding to the disbanded Tampa Bay Bandits' 2022 record of 4–6, placing them fourth in the order.[19][12][16] To resolve the tie for the league's worst record, the Michigan Panthers and Pittsburgh Maulers entered Week 10 both at 1–8; the league scheduled their matchup with a twist on traditional rules, awarding the No. 1 overall pick to the winner rather than the loser. The Panthers secured the top selection with a 33–21 victory over the Maulers on June 19, 2022, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, flipping the standard incentive where losing teams typically retain higher draft positions. This outcome placed the Panthers first and the Maulers second in the order.[22][23] The New Jersey Generals faced an adjustment to their draft position due to a penalty for violating offseason roster management rules in 2022, which included fielding an ineligible player; as a result, their first-round pick was forfeited and moved to the end of round 10 (pick 80). Their picks in rounds 2 through 5 were relocated to the end of those rounds.[11][19][21] The complete first-round order was as follows, with only seven picks due to the Generals' forfeiture:| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan Panthers |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Maulers |
| 3 | Houston Gamblers |
| 4 | Memphis Showboats |
| 5 | New Orleans Breakers |
| 6 | Philadelphia Stars |
| 7 | Birmingham Stallions |
Draft proceedings
Event details
The 2023 USFL College Draft took place on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET.[12][11] This event marked the league's inaugural traditional college draft, structured over 10 rounds with a total of 80 selections across its eight teams.[12] The draft was conducted entirely remotely, with head coaches and general managers participating from their respective locations rather than convening at a central venue.[12] There was no live audience or physical location, reflecting the league's first fully remote college draft and influenced by ongoing post-pandemic protocols that favored virtual operations.[12] Picks were submitted via this remote process and announced in real-time through the USFL's official website, social media channels on Twitter and Facebook, and coverage by Fox Sports.[12][11] To manage the proceedings, teams had five minutes per pick in the first three rounds and three minutes per pick in the remaining seven rounds, with five-minute breaks between rounds.[12] The event lasted approximately 4-5 hours, allowing for efficient completion while enabling real-time public updates on official channels.[12]Key moments and trades
The 2023 USFL College Draft commenced with the Michigan Panthers selecting offensive tackle Jarrett Horst from Michigan State as the first overall pick, a move aimed at strengthening their offensive line following a challenging inaugural season.[4][1] Horst, who had started 15 games for the Spartans over two seasons, represented a high-upside addition from a Power Five program.[24] A notable surprise emerged in the early rounds with an early run on quarterbacks, with two signal-callers taken in the first three picks (Lindsey Scott Jr. at No. 2 by the Pittsburgh Maulers and Chase Brice at No. 3 by the Houston Gamblers), followed by Tanner Morgan at No. 8 by the Michigan Panthers.[1] This trend continued with selections like Adrian Martinez (No. 15, New Jersey Generals) and Malik Cunningham (No. 22, Birmingham Stallions), reflecting teams' urgency to secure mobile, dual-threat prospects amid limited elite options.[17] An early cluster of defensive backs also caught attention, with cornerbacks such as Justin Ford (No. 10, Houston Gamblers) and Isaiah Bolden (No. 11, Memphis Showboats) highlighting a defensive emphasis in the early second round.[1] Unlike previous drafts in spring leagues, no trades occurred during the proceedings, maintaining a straightforward selection process without on-the-fly negotiations.[1][17] Later rounds emphasized value selections, including undrafted NFL hopefuls like wide receiver Jake Bobo (No. 60, New Orleans Breakers from UCLA), who later earned a spot on an NFL roster, and punter Adam Korsak (No. 61, Michigan Panthers from Rutgers).[25] The draft concluded smoothly in its virtual format, free of significant controversies.[1]Results
Overall selections
The 2023 USFL Draft featured 80 total selections across 10 rounds, with each of the league's eight teams allocated 10 picks to construct their rookie classes. The selection order followed the reverse standings from Round 1 for all rounds, without traditional serpentine reversal between rounds, and the New Jersey Generals, penalized for offseason roster violations by forfeiting their first-round pick (which was moved to the 10th round), and having their first five selections demoted to the end of those rounds, received an additional selection in the 10th round to reach the standard allotment.[1][26] This draft emphasized bolstering the lines of scrimmage, as teams collectively selected 20 offensive linemen to address foundational needs in protection and run-blocking. Additionally, four quarterbacks were chosen to provide starting-caliber options, while defensive talent—particularly along the lines and in the secondary—accounted for roughly 35 selections, highlighting a focus on physicality and coverage.[1][26] Post-draft, team rosters reflected strategic priorities in filling positional gaps from the previous season. For instance, the Michigan Panthers heavily invested in the trenches, selecting four offensive linemen and multiple defensive front-seven players to build a robust foundation for their expansion-year lineup. Similarly, the Philadelphia Stars dedicated five of their picks to offensive tackles, aiming to solidify pass protection around their quarterback. The Birmingham Stallions balanced their selections with offensive line reinforcements and skill-position speed, while the Houston Gamblers targeted defensive interior depth to complement their quarterback acquisition. These choices collectively aimed to create competitive depth charts, with offensive linemen comprising about 25% of all picks league-wide.[1][26][17] Below is a complete listing of all selections, organized by team for clarity. Each entry includes the round, player name, position, and college.Michigan Panthers
| Round | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jarrett Horst | OT | Michigan State |
| 2 | Tanner Morgan | QB | Minnesota |
| 3 | Santrell Latham | LB | Southern Miss |
| 4 | DJ Scaife Jr. | OL | Miami |
| 5 | Dashaun White | LB | Oklahoma |
| 6 | Levi Bell | DT | Texas State |
| 7 | Gunnar Oakes | TE | Eastern Michigan |
| 8 | Andrew Farmer II | DE | Lane College |
| 9 | Chim Okorafor | OT | Benedictine |
| 10 | Sidy Sow | OT | Eastern Michigan |
Pittsburgh Maulers
| Round | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lindsey Scott Jr. | QB | Incarnate Word |
| 2 | Malik Hamm | DE | Lafayette |
| 3 | Tre'Quan Dorsey | OT | St. Francis |
| 4 | Ferlando Jordan | DB | Southeastern Louisiana |
| 5 | Isaiah Land | DE | Florida A&M |
| 6 | Nash Jensen | OL | North Dakota State |
| 7 | Taylor Grimes | WR | Incarnate Word |
| 8 | CJ Turner | WR | Southeastern Louisiana |
| 9 | Jacob Slade | DL | Michigan State |
| 10 | Ethan Evans | P | Wingate |
Houston Gamblers
| Round | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chase Brice | QB | Appalachian State |
| 2 | Justin Ford | DB | Montana |
| 3 | Joseph Fisher | G | Shepherd |
| 4 | Scott Matlock | DT | Boise State |
| 5 | Jeffery Johnson | DT | Oklahoma |
| 6 | Keenan Isaac | DB | Alabama State |
| 7 | Alex Jensen | OT | South Dakota |
| 8 | Brady Russell | TE | Colorado |
| 9 | Jason Taylor II | S | Oklahoma State |
| 10 | Colby Reeder | LB | Iowa State |
Memphis Showboats
| Round | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mason Brooks | OT | Ole Miss |
| 2 | Isaiah Bolden | CB | Jackson State |
| 3 | Brevin Allen | DE | Campbell |
| 4 | Benny Sapp III | DB | Northern Iowa |
| 5 | Michael Ezeike | TE | UCLA |
| 6 | Jerome Carvin | OL | Tennessee |
| 7 | Nehemiah Shelton | CB | San Jose State |
| 8 | Trea Shropshire | WR | UAB |
| 9 | Silas Dzansi | OL | Virginia Tech |
| 10 | Antonio Fletcher | S | Southern Illinois |
New Orleans Breakers
| Round | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyler Scott | WR | Cincinnati |
| 2 | Noah Taylor | LB | Virginia |
| 3 | DJ Ivey | CB | Miami |
| 4 | Keaton Mitchell | RB | East Carolina |
| 5 | Isaiah Moore | LB | NC State |
| 6 | Dante Stills | DT | West Virginia |
| 7 | Darius Hagans | RB | Virginia State |
| 8 | Jake Bobo | WR | UCLA |
| 9 | Alex Palczewski | OL | Illinois |
| 10 | Tyler Baker-Williams | CB | NC State |
Philadelphia Stars
| Round | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alfred Edwards | OT | Utah State |
| 2 | Anderson Hardy | OT | Appalachian State |
| 3 | Isaac Moore | OT | Temple |
| 4 | Truman Jones | DE | Harvard |
| 5 | Earl Bostick Jr. | OT | Kansas |
| 6 | Jose Ramirez | DE | Eastern Michigan |
| 7 | Demontrey Jacobs | OT | South Florida |
| 8 | Trey Botts | DL | Colorado State-Pueblo |
| 9 | Destin Mack | CB | Citadel |
| 10 | Dre Terry | LB | Alabama A&M |
Birmingham Stallions
| Round | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kadeem Telfort | OT | UAB |
| 2 | Quinton Barrow | OT | Grand Valley State |
| 3 | Malik Cunningham | QB | Louisville |
| 4 | Derius Davis | WR | TCU |
| 5 | Zeke Vandenburgh | DE | Illinois State |
| 6 | Colby Sorsdal | OT | William & Mary |
| 7 | Grant DuBose | WR | Charlotte |
| 8 | Mark Evans II | OL | Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| 9 | BJ Thompson | DE | Stephen F. Austin |
| 10 | Starling Thomas | DB | UAB |
New Jersey Generals
| Round | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Adrian Martinez | QB | Kansas State |
| 3 | J.J. Holloman | WR | Tennessee State |
| 4 | Victor Jones | DL | Akron |
| 5 | De'Jahn Warren | CB | Jackson State |
| 6 | Derrick Tucker | S | Texas Southern |
| 7 | Jermaine McDaniel Jr. | DE | North Carolina A&T |
| 8 | Adam Korsak | P | Rutgers |
| 9 | Jalen Holston | RB | Virginia Tech |
| 10 | Nick Zecchino | LS | Purdue |
| 10 | Rey Estes | DB | Grambling State |