The United States Football League, Part II, is off-and-rolling. Tuesday, the new spring league, that will begin play in April, started filling the roster of its eight teams.
The inaugural USFL Draft was being held over two days in Birmingham, Alabama. Tuesday featured 12 rounds, followed by 23 rounds on Wednesday.
The draft was unique, because each round featured specific positions. The first round was for quarterbacks.
The overall No. 1 pick was Shea Patterson by the Michigan Panthers. Patterson’s football career has been a cross-country journey to say the least.
The former 5-star prospect started his high school football career in Texas after growing-up in Ohio. He then moved to Louisiana where he played at Calvary Baptist Academy for his sophomore and junior years. He closed-out his scholastic career at IMG Academy in Florida.
Patterson had a cup of coffee with the Kansas City Chiefs after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Below you can see where all the first round picks played their high school football.
2021 USFL Draft
1st Round – Quarterbacks
No. 1 Michigan Panthers – Shea Patterson – IMG Academy (Florida), 5-star
FIRST OVERALL ??
— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) February 23, 2022
The Panthers select QB @SheaPatterson_1 with the No. 1 pick in the #USFLDraft pic.twitter.com/7Rm8W7BDWc
No. 2 Tampa Bay Bandits – Jordan Ta’amu – Pearl City (Hawaii), 3-star
WE’VE GOT OUR QB ?
— Tampa Bay Bandits (@USFLBandits) February 23, 2022
With the second pick of the #USFLDraft, the Bandits select @JTaamu10! #BanditBall pic.twitter.com/CsCVuIlNBj
No. 3 Philadelphia Stars – Bryan Scott – Palos Verdes (California)
#ForPhilly
— Philadelphia Stars (@USFLStars) February 23, 2022
With the 3rd pick of the #USFLDraft, the Stars select @BryanScottQb. ? pic.twitter.com/xavsh8N1c8
No. 4 New Jersey Generals – Ben Holmes – Orchard Park (New York), 3-star
#InCommand
— New Jersey Generals (@USFLGenerals) February 23, 2022
Welcome to the squad Ben Holmes. pic.twitter.com/hcdJt2WlLT
No. 5 Houston Gamblers – Clayton Thorson – Wheaton North (Illinois), 4-star
POCKET ACES ?
— Houston Gamblers (@USFLGamblers) February 23, 2022
Clayton Thorson is a Gambler. #AllIn pic.twitter.com/Zw8YrFY08J
No. 6 Birmingham Stallions – Alex McGough – Gaither (Florida), 3-star
GIDDY UP! ?
— Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) February 23, 2022
We got our man under center, Alex McGough. pic.twitter.com/dCbUxM4Ar1
No. 7 Pittsburgh Maulers – Kyle Lauletta – Downingtown East (Pennsylvania)
Nailed our first pick ?
— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) February 23, 2022
Welcome to the squad, Kyle Lauletta. pic.twitter.com/Ibq8MYWtQo
No. 8 New Orleans Breakers – Kyle Sloter – Mount Pisgah Christian (Georgia), 3-star
#GeauxBlueWave
— New Orleans Breakers (@USFLBreakers) February 23, 2022
With the 8th pick in the #USFLDraft, the Breakers select Kyle Sloter ? pic.twitter.com/8pUWgcMHEy