2023 USFL College Draft: Three Players From Mountain West Selected
A trio of former Mountain West football players were selected from the USFL college draft pool, ahead of the spring league’s second year.
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Spring football is back once again.
The USFL College Draft took place today and, from a pool of roughly 3,000 athletes, the Mountain West Conference got some love from the league once again with three selections among 80 altogether.
Utah State offensive tackle Alfred Edwards III was the Mountain West’s first selection, tabbed by the Philadelphia Stars with the sixth overall pick in the first round. Edwards III earned a first-team all-conference nod in 2022 and finished his Aggies career with a program-record 53 starts.
With the 6th pick of the 2023 USFL College Draft we select OT @aedwards723 🤩 pic.twitter.com/xpjUdTH4Xy
— Philadelphia Stars (@USFLStars) February 21, 2023
The Mountain West’s next selection came in the fourth round courtesy of the Houston Gamblers, who selected Boise State defensive tackle Scott Matlock 26th overall. Matlock twice earned second-team all-Mountain West honors, in 2021 and 2022, while also occasionally contributing on offense in goal-line situations as part of the “Clydesdale” play package.
With the 26th overall pick of the 2023 USFL College Draft, we select DT Scott Matlock from Boise State#ALLIN🎲🎰 | @Scott_Matlock28 pic.twitter.com/SCt7U1ymww
— Houston Gamblers (@USFLGamblers) February 21, 2023
San Jose State cornerback Nehemiah Shelton got selected in the seventh round, with the 51st overall pick, by the Memphis Showboats. Last season, Shelton was one of only 11 Mountain West defenders to post at least ten passes defended and he finished 2022 with 49 total tackles, earning an all-conference honorable mention for the second straight year.
🙌🙌🙌
With the 51st pick of the 2023 USFL College Draft, we select Nehemiah Shelton 🚤 pic.twitter.com/jXaFvD6dxL
— Memphis Showboats (@USFLShowboats) February 21, 2023
Former Wyoming defensive lineman Victor Jones also heard his name called during the event, going 31st overall to the New Jersey Generals. Jones spent 2022 with Akron and picked up 9.5 tackles for loss and three sacks for the Zips.
Though it will now have to compete for attention with the revived XFL, the 2023 USFL season will kick off on April 15. Games are set to be broadcast on Fox and NBC.
