Sporting News, December 20, 1985
The USFL draft produces few surprises, but plenty of talent for the spring league. As the USFL concluded their two-part draft this week, it seemed apparent that teams were focused on shoring up areas which had been problematic league-wide in past years, lower cost and lower profile positions such as D-Line, O-line, tight end and cornerback were highly recruited, while very few teams used the draft to enhance their QB or RB positions. Teams also seemed to be concerned about their proximity to the league’s salary cap, as the majority of the players chosen were those cited as potential mid-round NFL picks, rather than top names in the draft. While fans in Birmingham were likely very disappointed that the Stallions did not list Auburn’s Bo Jackson among their territorial picks, it seems clear that, with a few notable exceptions, top 20 prospects were largely avoided in favor of solid, but less controversial selections.
So, after 5 rounds of territorial picks, in which each USFL squad had exclusive rights to players from 4 protected schools, the league conducted 8 rounds of open picks in which teams could choose from all remaining eligible players, with a draft order determined by each team’s 1985 record. All in all 224 players were selected, and with USFL coffers bolstered by additional revenue from their successful lawsuit against the NFL, the league is hoping to top its signing rate of 44% over its first three years.
In the Territorial Draft, most teams used the picks for depth, hoping for a higher signing rate by targeting lower-round projection players. That is not to say that there were not some notable signings from the group. Michigan went after one of the top LB’s in the draft, picking MSU Spartan LB Anthony Bell. The Express tried to improve protection for Steve Young by picking USC’s James Fitzpatrick at tackle, and two top tier defensive linemen were named by New Jersey (Notre Dame’s Eric Dorsey) and Pittsburgh (Pitt’s Bob Buczkowski), but the skills positions were a little sparse in this section of the draft. Perhaps the most dynamic offensive players taken were LSU running back Dalton Hilliard, selected by the newly relocated New Orleans Breakers, ASU halfback Darryl Clack (Wranglers) and Virginia rusher Barry Word (Federals). The only QB taken in the Territorial Draft was projected late round pick, Maryland’s Stan Gelbaugh, joining the new Baltimore-based Blitz. Top QB talent such as Purdue’s Jim Everett, Iowa’s Chuck Long, and Illinois’ Jack Trudeau would have to wait for the open draft to see if the USFL was interested.
The Open Draft began with the shockingly bad New Jersey Generals, who mustered only 3 wins despite having a roster boasting 2 Heisman winners in Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie. The Generals pick with the #1 selection was symbolic of the entire draft, a team looking to shore up the less glamorous but equally essential pieces of their roster. New Jersey selected Western Michigan’s John Offerdahl at linebacker with the first selection. It was not a glamour pick, but a sensible one with a high signability quotient and in a position of need.
Overall the first round of the draft followed this pattern. After Birmingham selected Louisville wideout Ernest Givens, we saw a parade of linemen and defenders. Memphis took DE Gerald Robinson of Auburn, Pittsburgh opted for Robinson’s teammate, Gerald Williams, Denver went safety with Indiana State’s Vencie Glenn. It was a very practical round, though not all selections were safe. Michigan used their first pick to select a backup to Bobby Hebert in Jack Trudeau of Illinois. With Hebert’s contract scheduled to end this year, the risk of losing the 3-time ALL-USFL signal caller made this pick more necessary than a backup QB might ordinarily be. Arizona also opted to go this route, choosing BYU’s Robbie Bosco with its first pick. The only other “skills position” selection was by the Washington Federals, who claimed SDSU wideout Webster Slaughter as a possible complement to Joey Walters in their passing game.
Some of the more intriguing picks came in later rounds. New Jersey looked to revamp their offense by signing top talent in lower cost positions, FB Keith Byars of Ohio State and TE Brent Jones from Santa Clara. The Wranglers, still trying to build a reliable run game chose two backs, ASU’s Darryl Clack and BYU’s Vai Sikahema. Some top defenders were also taken, including LB Dino Hackett (PIT), OSU’s Pepper Johnson at linebacker (also PIT), FSU’s Garth Jax (New Orleans), and Alabama’s Larry Roberts (LA).
In later rounds, the teams took some fliers on players who may be a little raw, or who projected as NFL free agents. This included Houston surprising many by taking a shot on USC QB Sean Salisbury, Arizona selecting wideout Aubrey Matthews from Delta State, and LA taking our favorite name of the day, Hawaii RB Nuu Faaola.
All in all, it was a great day for defense and offensive linemen. Clearly USFL teams are finally seeking to play some D and to protect their big name QB’s. This year’s draft saw a record number of linemen taken on both sides of the ball. Perhaps the top rated of the bunch is Temple G John Rienstra (HOU), but he is joined by USC tackle James Fitzpatrick (LA), Vandy’s All-SEC tackle Will Wolford (PHI), Iowa’s Mike Haight (Tampa), Tom Newberry of UW-La Crosse (Baltimore), and Illinois’s Jim Juriga (Houston again).
With the flurry of NFL-USFL poaching this offseason, this draft will prove an essential part of teams rebuilding or strengthening their rosters. Now all they must do is watch that salary cap, make good use of their newly added 4th exempt player, and develop chemistry as camps look to open in late January. For the players selected this week, the biggest choice of their life awaits. Do they sign with the spring league or hold out until April and the NFL draft to see if they can fare better with the senior league? Time for their agents to earn their 15%.