USFL '25: National Salvation, or, The 2025 USFL Territorial Draft Presented by Buc-ee's

 

Rules/Guidelines/Clarifications:

Each club may select 15 players from within their territorial maps. USFL Central Committee reviews borders every five years.

In the event of players with service at two (2) or more schools over their collegiate career across multiple territorial maps, they are eligible to be selected by multiple schools–hence the need for a live draft. In the event one team selects a player, they will agree to concede an Open Draft selection of commensurate value based on third-party scouting services and draft projections.

No written rules have been implemented for players with service at more than two institutions, though ad hoc work may lead to a “Dillon Gabriel” rule for 2026. Dillon qualified for three clubs based on service–Tampa Bay (UCF), Oklahoma (OU), and Oakland (Oregon). The Bandits and Oakland trade for Cam Ward (see below) led Tampa Bay to also select Dillon Gabriel. While the Bandits’ received the Invaders’ first open selection for 2025, the Outlaws then received the former’s first round pick as a concession for Gabe; as Oakland received Ward as compensation, team President Marshawn Lynch agreed to waive any concession claim on Dil. In an interview with Scott Van Pelt, League Commissioner Crowe admired the Invaders' gesture–however, he “wants to trust the hearts of men–it is the only way forward–but we will need our better angels expressed on the page.” 

Central Committee can determine concession of lower picks based on scouting reports and projections. As Juice Wells played for two schools in Washington territory before a Birmingham school (Ole Miss), the Feds only needed to concede their 5th round open pick.

Players with at least one year at a territorial school are classified as of that territory. For example, Kurtis Rourke was eligible to Chicago due to his senior year at Indiana.

Clubs may trade territorial picks; however, selections can't be made until the fourth selection by the native rights holder unless the player’s rights are specified in the original trade.

Clubs can sign players ahead of the territorial draft; these inkings count against the list. For instance, Boston’s signing of Matthew Sluka in September counted as the Breakers’ first selection of the draft.

Similarly, Shilo Sanders (to Birmingham) and Jaxson Dart (to Denver) counted as first selections for those clubs as their rights were explicitly traded in October.

Rights to Canadian nationals are determined by school attended. Beyond Boston territorial claims (see below), all remaining Canadian players are open classification.

Any player not selected is declared “open” and will be available in December’s national draft.

Procedural Notes for 2025:

Citing “competitive balance,” the University of North Carolina and Virginia Tech were reclassified to Baltimore; the Stars previously held UNC rights from 1985-1994. 

Boston's claim on LSU as a territory was rejected for the 27th consecutive year, maintaining the program’s open classification. Territorial claims to universities in the Maritimes, Ontario, and UNQ (The National Union Republic of Quebec) were accepted, however.

Commentary:

The territorial draft aired live on Black Friday, November 29, 2024, on Apple Television for the first time; historically, clubs simply submitted a player list to the Central Committee, which was reviewed before dissemination. 

NILs and transfer portal were cited reasons to conduct the draft “live.” After years of individual arbitration, clubs and the Central Committee agreed to rationalize the selection process.

In an attempt to achieve State-Sanctified Entity Status, Bucc-ee’s insisted on serving as sponsor for the event. SSES designation allows for limited private ownership and “potential” excess profit retention after Social Use, different from the new People's Business designation for essential nodes implemented in Military Administration Zones. The company wished to distance themselves from “Bucc-ee Brigades,” self-named far-right groups dispersed by the military–former Delta Force/Seals/JSOC, car dealership scions, Christian Warriors and their forced conscripts, etc. This branding occurred across the interior under different names–WawaWagners, Musk Boys, Eschaton Enjoyers–but Bucc-ee Brigades were the most notorious in their savagery and stupidity across East Texas down to the border. Corporate worried, especially since their well-compensated employees achieved class consciousness and immediately aided the US Army. What better olive branch than help present a critical draft for a reborn league and state of the people?

Trades of Note:

Trades are reflected in the tables below, but we also list them here:

-Baltimore trades their 1st round Open Draft pick (first overall) to New Jersey for the rights to Will Howard and territorial selections in ‘25 and ‘26.

-Denver sends a 1st round Open Draft pick, Shilo Sanders, and two ‘26 territorial selections to Birmingham for rights to Jaxson Dart.

-Michigan trades rights 1st round Open Draft pick and rights to Jaishawn Barham to Baltimore for first draft pick via New Jersey.

-Oakland sends four territorial selections (three in ‘25, one in ‘26) and two first round picks (‘25 and ‘26) to Tampa Bay for the rights to Cam Ward (signed, 5-years, $47 million).

-Oklahoma receives Tampa Bay’s 1st round selection and a territorial pick in 2026 as concession picks for Dillon Gabriel; Oakland waives rights.

-Washington ships 4th, 7th, and 19th round Open Draft picks, two '26 territorial selections, and 1st, 3rd, and 4th round '26 Open Draft picks to Baltimore for Omarion Hampton (signed, 4-years, terms undisclosed). 

Arizona Wranglers

Jalen Catalon	S	Arkansas/Texas/UNLV	Time accrued UNLV
Jonah Coleman	RB	Arizona/Washington	Time accrued Arizona
Jalin Conyers	TE	Arizona State/Texas Tech	Time accrued Arizona State
Tacario Davis	CB	Arizona
Jett Elad	DB	UNLV
Tyler Loop	K	Arizona
Noah Fifta	QB	Arizona
Seth McGowan	RB	New Mexico State
Tetairoa McMillan	WR	Arizona
Omar Norman-Lott	DT/NT	Arizona State/Tennessee	Time accrued ASU; concession pick to MEM
Jonah Savaiinaea	OL	Arizona
Paris Shand	DL	Arizona/LSU	Time accrued Arizona
Bryzai White	TE	Eastern New Mexico/Northern Arizona
Rickey White	WR	UNLV

Baltimore Stars

Jaishawn Barham	LB	Michigan	Rights trade w/MICH (1st round pick swap)
Mansoor Delane	CB	Virginia Tech
Kyrone Drones	QB	Virginia Tech
Power Echols	LB	North Carolina
Tai Felton	WR	Maryland
Roman Hemby	RB	Maryland
Malik Holloway	LB	Shepherd
Will Howard	QB	Ohio State	Trade w/NJ (1st round pick for BIR concession selection, NJ 1st round, ‘25 and ‘26 territorial selection and rights to Will Howard
Byron Nesbit	TE	North Carolina
Aneas Peebles	DL	Virginia Tech
Antwaun Powell-Ryland	DL	Virginia Tech
Kaden Prather	WR	Maryland
Dante Trader	S	Maryland
D’Shaun Seals	WR	West Chester
Tyleik Williams	DT	Ohio State	Trade w/NJ (1st round pick for BIR concession selection, NJ 1st round, ‘25 and ‘26 territorial selection and rights to Will Howard
Marcus Yarns	RB	Delaware

Birmingham Stallions

Zelly Aldridge	FS	Tuskegee
Tyler Booker	G	Alabama
Jihaad Campbell	LB	Alabama
Armoni Goodwin	RB	UAB
Tre Harris	WR	Ole Miss
Tez Johnson	WR	Troy/Oregon	Accrued time Troy
Quinshon Judkins	RB	Ole Miss/Ohio State	Accrued time Ole Miss; concession pick to NJ
Deonte Lawson	LB	Alabama
Noah Martin	LB	Samford
Jalen Milroe	QB	Alabama
Caden Priskorn	TE	Ole Miss
Keon Sabb	S	Alabama
Shilo Sanders	FS	South Carolina/Jackson State/Colorado	Rights trade w/DEN (rights to Jaxson Dart)
Carson Vinson	OT	Alabama A&M
Clay Webb	G	Troy

Boston Breakers

Donovan Ezeiruaku	DE	Boston College
Mason Gilbert	TE	Maine
Thor Griffith	DL	Harvard/Louisville	Accrued time Harvard
Tommi Hill	CB	Nebraska
Cam Horsley	DL	Boston College
Frank Ladson Jr	WR	UMass
Harold Miessan	LB	Univ. of Montreal
Jeremiah Ojo	DL	Univ. of Montreal
John Olmstead	OL	Maine
Kevin Pyne	OT	Boston College
Josiah Silver	OLB	New Hampshire
Matthew Sluka	QB	Holy Cross/UNLV	Accrued time Holy Cross
Ozzie Trapilo	OG	Boston College
Devin Veresuk	LB	Univ. of Windsor
Andrew Weisz	OT	Yale

Chicago Blitz

Amir Abdullah	LB	Illinois State
Antario Brown	RB	Northern Illinois
Sebastian Castro	S	Iowa
Howard Cross III	DT	Notre Dame
JC Davis	OT	Illinois
Yogi Flagler Jr.	WR	McKendree
Jay Higgins	LB	Iowa
Gabe Jacas	Edge	Illinois
Jack Kiser	LB	Notre Dame
Rylie Mills	DL	Notre Dame
Benjamin Morrison	CB	Notre Dame
Xavier Nwankpa	S	Iowa
Kurtis Rourke	QB	Indiana
Xavier Watts	S	Notre Dame
Hunter Zambrano	OT	Illinois State

Denver Gold

Isaiah Bagnah	DL	BYU
Lander Barton	LB	Utah
Tyler Batty	DL	BYU
Dalys Beanum	CB	South Dakota State
Jordan Bergen	WR	Montana
Jaxson Dart	QB	Ole Miss	Rights trade w/BIR (for Shilo Sanders)
Mark Gronowski	QB	South Dakota State
Tory Horton	WR	Colorado State
Travis Hunter	CB	Colorado
Ashton Jeanty	RB	Boise State
Brent Kuithe	TE	Utah
Lan Larison	RB	UC Davis	Rights trade w/OAK (2026 territorial pick)
Shedeur Sanders	QB	Colorado
Cole Wisniewski	FS/OLB	North Dakota State
Marcus Wehr	OL	Montana State

Houston Gamblers

Jack Bech	WR	TCU
Isaiah Bond	WR	Alabama/Texas	Accrued time Texas; concession pick to BIR
Maliq Carr	TE	Houston
Quinn Ewers	QB	Texas
Gunner Helm	TE	Texas
Casshius Howell	DL	Texas A&M
Will Lee III	CB	Texas A&M
Maverick McIvor	QB	Abilene Christian
Moose Muhammad III	WR	Texas A&M
Ar’naj Reed-Adams	OG	Texas A&M
Nick Scourton	Edge	Texas A&M/Purdue	Accrued time Texas A&M; concession pick to CHI
Evan Stewart	WR	Oregon	Accrued time Texas A&M; concession pick to OAK
Donovan Smith	QB	Houston
Shemar Turner	DL	Texas A&M
Trey Zuhn	OL	Texas A&M

Jacksonville Bulls

Carson Beck	QB	Georgia
Oscar Delp	TE	Georgia
Sammy Edwards	QB	Valdosta State
Trevor Etienne	RB	Georgia
Dylan Fairchild	OG	Georgia
Earnest Greene III	OT	Georgia
Haynes King	QB	Georgia Tech
Virgil Lemons	CB	West Florida
Jason Marshall Jr	CB	Florida
Malaki Sparks	S	Georgia
Aiden Swett	DE	West Flordia
Tate Rutlidge	OG	Georgia
Princely Umamielen	DE	Florida/Ole Miss	Accrued time Florida; concession pick to BIR
Jalen White	RB	Georgia Southern
Mykel Williams	Edge	Georgia

Los Angeles Express

Eddie Czaplicki	P	USC
Korey Foreman	Edge	USC/Fresno State	Accrued time USC
Logan Loya	WR	UCLA
Anthony Lucas	DE	USC
Woody Marks	RB	USC
Jonah Monheim	T	USC
Elijah Ponder	Edge	Cal Poly
Emmanuel Pregnon	OL	USC
Kamari Ramsey	S	USC
Ja’Seem Reed	WR	San Diego
Luke Schuermann	DL	John Hopkins/UCLA	Accrued time UCLA; concession pick to BALT
Jamar Sekona	DL	USC/Hawaii	Accrued time USC
J Michael Sturdivant	WR	UCLA
Jay Toia	DL	UCLA
Jude Wolfe	TE	San Diego State

Memphis Showboats

Terrell Allen	DE	Tennessee State/Tulane	Accrued time TSU
Blake Delacruz	RB	Harding
Javonnie Gibson	WR	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Darius Hale	RB	Central Arkansas
Landon Jackson	DE/Edge	Arkansas
Nate Martey	DL	Arkansas State
Cooper Mays	C	Tennessee
James Pearce	DE	Tennessee
Quincy Riley	CB	Middle Tennessee State/Louisville	Accrued time Middle Tennessee State
Rahiem Sanders	RB	Arkansas/South Carolina	Accrued time Arkansas
Eli Stowers	TE	Vanderbilt
Khordae Syndor	LB	Purdue/Vanderbilt	Accrued time Vandy; concession pick to CHI
David Walker	DE/Edge	Central Arkansas
Tamurion Wilson	S	Central Arkansas
Squirrel White	WR	Tennessee

Michigan Panthers

Donovan Edwards	RB	Michigan
Devon Frenchko	WR	Alma College
Mason Graham	DT	Michigan
Kenneth Grant	DL	Michigan
Derrick Harmon	DT	Michigan State/Oregon	Accrued time Michigan State
Will Johnson	CB	Michigan
Ian Kennelly	S	Grand Valley State
Dontae Kent	CB	Central Michigan
Colston Loveland	TE	Michigan
Derrick Moore	DE	Michigan
Rod Moore	S	Michigan
Kalel Mullings	RB	Michigan
Josaiah Stewart	DE	Michigan
Isaac TeSlaa	WR	Hillsdale/Arkansas	Accrued time Hillsdale
Jack Velling	TE	Michigan State

New Jersey Generals

Damien Alford	WR	Syracuse/Utah	Accrued time Syracuse
Wesley Bailey	DL	Rutgers
Denzel Burke	CB	Ohio State
Luke Colella	WR	Princeton
Emeka Egbuka	WR	Ohio State
Jordan Hancock	CB	Ohio State
TreyVon Henderson	RB	Ohio State
Oronde Gadsden II	TE	Syracuse
Derek Robinson	QB	Monmouth
Jack Sawyer	DE	Ohio State
Cody Simon	LB	Ohio State
JT Tuimoloau	Edge	Ohio State

Oklahoma Outlaws

Nic Anderson	WR	Oklahoma
Billy Bowman	S	Oklahoma
Jalon Daniels	QB	Kansas
Mello Dotson	CB	Kansas
Bryan Foster	C	Kansas
Ollie Gordon	RB	Oklahoma State
Tyler Kahmann	WR	Emporia State
Dasan McCullough	LB	Indiana/Oklahoma	Accrued time Oklahoma; concession pick to CHI
Nick Martin	LB	Oklahoma State
Devin Neal	RB	Kansas
Will Huggins	TE	Kansas/Pittsburg State
Colin Oliver	LB	Oklahoma State
De’zahun Stribling	WR	Washington State/Oklahoma State
Danny Stutsman	LB	Oklahoma
Theo Wease Jr	WR	Oklahoma/Missouri	Accrued time Oklahoma

Oakland Invaders

Elic Ayomanor	WR	Stanford
David Bailey	LB	Stanford
Kavie Bains	CB	UC Davis
Jeffrey Bassa	LB	Oregon
Josh Conerly Jr.	OT	Oregon
Ajani Cornelius	OT	Rhode Island/Oregon	Accrued time Oregon
Lan Larison	RB	UC Davis
Jacob Mangun-Ferrar	Edge	Stanford/Indiana	Accrued time Stanford
Nick Nash	WR	San Jose State
Jaydn Ott	RB	UC Davis/Cal
Cam Ward	QB	UTSA/Washington State/Miami	Rights trade w/TB (2025 and 2026 1st round Open Draft picks, three 2025 territorial picks; 2026 territorial pick)
Ben Yurosek	TE	Stanford/Georgia	Accrued time Stanford

Pittsburgh Maulers

Drew Allar	QB	Penn State
Gavin Bartholomew	TE	Pittsburgh
Aubrey Burks	S	West Virginia
Abdul Carter	DE	Penn State
Dani Dennis-Sutton	Edge	Penn State
Zane Durant	DT	Penn State
Julian Fleming	WR	Penn State
Ty French	LB	West Virginia
Idris Lawrence Jr.	RB	Notre Dame College (OH) Slippery Rock	Accrued time Slippery Rock
Brayden Long	QB	Slippery Rock
Sean Martin	Edge	West Virginia
Nicholas Singleton	RB	Penn State
Wyatt Milum	OT	West Virginia
Tyler Warren	TE	Penn State
Kevin Winston	S	Penn State

San Antonio Gunslingers

Kelvin Banks	OL	Texas
Jahade Barron	S	Texas
Tahj Brooks	RB	Texas Tech
Kayvon Britten	RB	Tarleton State
De’Corian Clark	WR	UTSA
Devynn Cromwell	CB	Texas Tech
Noah Daniels	CB	TCU
Denver Harris	CB	UTSA
Jake Majors	C	Texas
Trey Moore	LB	UTSA/Texas
Andrew Mukuba	S	Texas
Elijah Roberts	DE	SMU
Preston Stone	QB	SMU
Cam Williams	OT	Texas
Savion Williams	WR	TCU

Tampa Bay Bandits

Tyler Baron Jr.	DE	Tennessee/Miami	Accrued time Miami; concession pick to MEM
Kendall Bohler	CB	Florida A&M
Samuel Brown	WR	Houston/Miami	Accrued time Miami; concession pick to HOU
Ryan Fitzgerald	K	Florida State
Dillon Gabriel	QB	UCF/Oklahoma/Oregon	Rights trade w/OAK (2025 and 2026 1st round Open Draft picks, three 2025 territorial picks; 2026 territorial pick); concession pick to Okla
Aric Horne	OLB	Florida A&M
Kobe Hudson	WR	UCF
Lee Hunter	DL	UCF
Darrell Jackson Jr.	DT	Florida State
Jordan James	RB	Oregon	Rights acquired via Cam Ward trade (see above)
Amari Knight	OT	UCF
Damien Martinez	RB	Oregon State/Miami
Akem Mesidor	DL	Miami
Patrick Payton	Edge	Florida State
Xavier Restrepo	WR	Miami
Jackson Slater	LG	Sacramento State	Rights acquired via Cam Ward trade (see above)

Washington Federals

Jada Byers	RB	Virginia Union
DeMonte Capehart	DL	Clemson
Barret Carter	LB	Clemson
Jasheen Davis	DE/Edge	Wake Forest
Nick Emmanwori	S	South Carolina
Kenny Gallop Jr	DB	Howard
Omarion Hampton	RB	North Carolina	Trade w/Balt (4th, 7th, and 19th round '25 Open Draft picks, two territorial picks, 1st, 3rd, and 4th round picks ‘26)
Tonka Hemingway	DT	South Carolina
Jason Henderson	LB	Old Dominion
Phil Mafah	RB	Clemson
Blake Miller	T	Clemson
Tristan Rankin	DB	Mars Hill
Shavon Revell	CB	East Carolina
TJ Sanders	DT	South Carolina
Eric Schon	OT	Duke
Juice Wells	WR	Ole Miss/South Carolina	Accrued time South Carolina