This year, Dallas Cowboys return specialist KaVontae Turpin became the poster child for what a strong performance in the USFL can do for a football player looking to break into the NFL after he not only made the Dallas Cowboys roster but emerged as a legitimate weapon on special teams and earned a spot in the Pro Bowl. And with the USFL holding their college draft on Tuesday, someone else will have the chance to step into Turpin’s shoes.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s draft, USFL executive V.P. of football operations Daryl Johnston shared a statement expressing that the league hopes to find the next KaVontae Turpin.
“We are building the USFL for long-term success and our first-ever College Draft demonstrates our clear focus on building winning teams for Season 2, Season 3, and beyond,” Johnston said according to Pro Football Talk. “The USFL will continue to search for and evaluate the best players to join our league. We are excited to see who the next KaVontae Turpin will be to turn an opportunity with the USFL into a springboard for success in the NFL. Conducting our inaugural College Draft shows that the USFL is committed to providing these talented players an alternative route to pursue their professional football dreams.”
There aren’t many players who successfully turned their USFL stints into wildly successful NFL careers, but Turpin certainly proved it’s possible.
