Four Locals Selected In Inaugural USFL Draft
Feb 23, 2022, 3:36 PM | Updated: Feb 25, 2023, 6:17 pm
Coty Sensabaugh #24 of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Brian Allen #29 watch the Cleveland Browns play the Baltimore Ravens on the scoreboard at Heinz Field following the Steelers 16-13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on December 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Four locals with ties to the state of Utah was selected in the inaugural USFL Draft, that featured 35 rounds over the last two days.
Of those four locals selected in the USFL Draft, includes two former BYU Cougars, one former Utah Utes standout and a former Utah State Aggie.
The USFL will start with eight teams this season, including the Michigan Panthers, Birmingham Stallions, Houston Gamblers, Tampa Bay Bandits, Pittsburgh Maulers, New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Stars and New Orleans Breakers.
Adewale Adeoye, DE, Michigan Panthers
The second round of the draft was defensive ends and the Michigan Panthers took former Utah State standout Adewale Adeoye with the eighth pick in the round. The Panthers took former Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson with the No. 1 overall pick.
Five picks before Adewale was taken in the draft, his brother Aaron was selected by the Birmingham Stallions.
Adeoye played for Utah State from 2014-18, where he improved each season he was in Logan. He redshirted in 2014 and didn’t play in 2015 before seeing the field in 2016. The 2017 season, he played in all 13 games, including seven starts. As a senior in 2018, he earned All-Conference honorable mention.
The Panthers are coached by longtime NFL head coach Jeff Fisher.
We got ourselves a good one 😤
The Michigan Panthers select Adewale Adeoye in the #USFLDraft pic.twitter.com/vTggeWcxfy
— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) February 23, 2022
Brian Allen, DB, Birmingham Stallions
With the seventh pick in the eighth round of the draft, which was for cornerbacks, the Birmingham Stallions selected former Utah DB Brian Allen.
After a successful career at Utah, Allen was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was put on their practice squad in 2018. In 2019, Allen signed with the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad. Allen was cut by the Seahawks in 2020. He then spent time with the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns.
The Stallions’ head coach is Skip Holtz.
We have selected our first DB of the draft! #GiddyUp pic.twitter.com/SxIf3PnT02
— Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) February 23, 2022
Corbin Kaufusi, OT, Tampa Bay Bandits
Former BYU standout defensive lineman Corbin Kaufusi was taken by the Tampa Bay Bandits with the No. 1 pick in the sixth round, which was the round for offensive tackles.
When Kaufusi went to the NFL, he moved over the offensive line and spent time with the San Francisco 49ers in 2021.
Longtime NFL coach Todd Haley is the head coach of the Bandits.
The pick is in! #BanditBall pic.twitter.com/tlgVKehlf2
— Tampa Bay Bandits (@USFLBandits) February 23, 2022
Tomasi Laulile, DT, Houston Gamblers
Former BYU defensive tackle Tomasi Laulile was taken in the 25th round with the fourth pick by the Houston Gamblers. The 25th round was where the defensive tackles were selected.
Laulile spent three seasons with BYU. He played in 13 games in 2014, 12 games in 2015 and eight games in 2016.
Former Texas A&M and Arizona head coach Kevin Sumlin is at the helm for the Gamblers.
Welcome to the squad, Tomasi Laulile! #AllIn pic.twitter.com/0KPNFy8aDu
— Houston Gamblers (@USFLGamblers) February 23, 2022
Training camp will begin on March 21, with the 10-game season will begin on April 16.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for KSLSports.com, Co-Host of Faith, Family and Football podcast with Clark Phillips III and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.
