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Michigan Football: 3 Former Wolverines Selected in USFL Draft

By Kyler Kregel

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 16: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines drops back to pass during the third quarter of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Michigan State 44-10. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 16: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines drops back to pass during the third quarter of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Michigan State 44-10. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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Several Michigan football alumni were drafted to play in the upcoming season of the United States Football League (USFL) which is restarting after operations ceased back in 1985. 

While minor league football has always been a hard thing to keep running long-term, the USFL is seeking to do just that, relaunching in 2022 with eight teams set to play this spring in the developmental league.

With their official draft taking place on Twitter over the last two days, several Michigan football alumni landed an opportunity to further their professional football ambitions.

First up, former Michigan QB Shea Patterson was the first overall selection in the Draft. The USFL Draft rules stipulate that teams draft specific positions in specific rounds, and so with quarterbacks being the first round, the Panthers pounced on landing an athletic local product.

Patterson was a two-year starter for the Wolverines in 2018 and 2019, leading the Wolverines to a 19-7 record over those two seasons, while throwing for 45 touchdowns as well.

Patterson was a fairly good quarterback but did not quite live up to his lofty billing as the fourth-ranked prospect in the class of 2016 according to the 247 Composite Rankings, and a prized transfer addition out of Ole Miss.

He joins former Broncos’ first-round pick, Paxton Lynch, as the two quarterbacks selected by the Panthers, who are currently led by former Rams head coach Jeff Fisher.

The Michigan Panthers won the inaugural USFL title in 1983, defeating the Philadelphia Stars (who also return in the 2022 version of the USFL).

Patterson also has a familiar face at wide receiver, where former Ole Miss WR Quincy Adeboyejo was selected by the Panthers in the 13th Round (the first one featuring wide receivers).

Another member of that 2016 recruiting class (though this one originally committed to Michigan football from the start, former Wolverines DE Carlo Kemp was selected as the second pick of the second round by the Pittsburgh Maulers, led by longtime NFL assistant Kirby Wilson.

Kemp joins former Western Michigan defensive end Eric Assoua and former East Tennessee State edge rusher Nasir Player on the Maulers defensive line, and arguably the centerpiece to their pass-rushing efforts, given his prominent selection.

On the second day of the USFL Draft, another Wolverines was selected with the Maulers adding another former Wolverine in RB De’Veon Smith at the top of the twenty-eighth round of the Draft.

Smith was a three-year starter at the running back position, rushing for 2,235 yards on 495 carries with 23 touchdown runs during his career in Ann Arbor (2013-2016).

Smith bounced around the Miami Dolphins roster as an undrafted free agent, and has experience in several other professional leagues, spending time in the Alliance of American Football (Orlando Apollos), the XFL (Tampa Bay Vipers), the Spring League (Aviators), and the Canadian Football League (BC Lions) since graduating from Michigan.

Next. Projected Michigan football depth chart. dark

No other Wolverines were selected during the USFL Draft. We wish each of these the best of luck in this new league.

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