USFL Holds Draft This Week, Two UAB Players Drafted
The United States Football League (USFL) held their inaugural draft this past week at Protective Stadium. The draft saw 280 players, including two former Blazers, receive new opportunities to play professional football.
Former UAB kicker Nick Vogel and offensive tackle Justice Powers were selected by the Houston Gamblers and Birmingham Stallions, respectively.
Vogel, who played his final season with the Blazers in 2019, has experience playing professional football during his stints with the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL and the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. Vogel was selected by the Gamblers with the seventh pick of the 32nd round.
Powers wrapped up his career for UAB after the 2018-19 season. He had previously signed as an undrafted free agent to the Los Angeles Rams but never made the official roster.
After spending some time in the Canadian Football League, Powers will have a chance to return home after being selected by the Stallions with the second pick of the seventh round.
25 players with roots in the state of Alabama will make their way onto USFL rosters, including former standouts from Samford, Auburn and Jacksonville State.
The Stallions, the official USFL team of Birmingham, selected quarterback Alex McGough with their first selection of the draft. Led by former Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz, the Stallions hope to build around the quarterback this season.
The entire USFL regular season will take place in Birmingham, with games being played at both Legion Field and Protective Stadium.
The Birmingham Stallions open their season against the New Jersey Generals on April 16th at Protective Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on both Fox and NBC.
