Two Former BYU Football Players Were Selected In USFL Draft
Feb 23, 2022, 3:27 PM | Updated: Feb 25, 2023, 6:16 pm
20180923 Brigham Young Cougars defensive lineman Corbin Kaufusi (90) hurries McNeese State Cowboys quarterback James Tabary (4) in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. BYU won 30-3. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The USFL Draft for the 2022 season concluded on Thursday. So no, you’re not seeing things; the USFL, the popular spring football league in the 80s, is back once again as its old namesake, the United States Football League.
We are the USFL 🏈
🐾 @USFLPanthers
🎖 @USFLGenerals
⭐️ @USFLStars
⚒️ @USFLMaulers🐎 @USFLStallions
🎰 @USFLGamblers
🌊 @USFLBreakers
🤠 @USFLBandits pic.twitter.com/IWppp5b2Sz— USFL (@USFL) November 22, 2021
The inaugural season of the USFL begins on April 16, so to get ready, the league held a 35-round draft to field its eight teams.
During the 35 rounds held over two days in Birmingham, Alabama, the newly formed leagues selected a pair of former BYU football players.
Corbin Kaufusi to the Tampa Bay Bandits
Former BYU defensive lineman Corbin Kaufusi was selected in the sixth round, pick No. 43 overall to the Tampa Bay Bandits. Since his days causing havoc for opposing offenses at BYU, Kaufusi has carved out a role in his professional career on the offensive line. The offensive line was where Kaufusi was slotted to play when he signed with former head coach Bronco Mendenhall in 2011 out of Timpview High School.
Kaufusi won’t be protecting former Tampa Bay Bandits great Jim Kelley, but instead, he will block for the Bandits No. 1 pick in former Ole Miss signal-caller Jordan Ta’amu. Ta’amu was the second overall pick in the draft behind former Michigan QB Shea Patterson, who the Michigan Panthers selected No. 1 overall.
The pick is in! #BanditBall pic.twitter.com/tlgVKehlf2
— Tampa Bay Bandits (@USFLBandits) February 23, 2022
Kaufusi was the only former BYU player selected during day one of the 2022 USFL Draft.
Tomasi Laulile selected on day two of the USFL Draft
Welcome to the squad, Tomasi Laulile! #AllIn pic.twitter.com/0KPNFy8aDu
— Houston Gamblers (@USFLGamblers) February 23, 2022
During Wednesday’s second day of the draft, the Houston Gamblers selected another former BYU defensive lineman. This time it was Tomasi Laulile. Laulile last played at BYU in 2016. Since his college career, Laulile had stints in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. He then played for the Dallas Renegades in the XFL before COVID-19 shut the season down.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
