Nine Former CAA Football Standouts Selected In USFL Draft

2/24/2022 3:31:16 PM

Rob Washburn

RICHMOND, Va. (February 24, 2022) – Nine former CAA Football standouts were selected in the United State Football League (USFL) Draft this week.

The nine players came from seven different CAA Football programs and were chosen by five of the USFL’s eight squads.

Picked in the USFL draft were Richmond quarterback Kyle Lauletta and offensive tackle John Yarbrough, Maine cornerback Manny Patterson, Villanova offensive tackle Brandon Hitner, Stony Brook wide receiver Ray Bolden, Delaware wide receiver Vinny Papale and Towson linebacker Diondre Wallace. Two other players who began their careers at CAA schools before transferring to FBS teams were also selected: Maine offensive lineman Liam Dobson and Rhode Island offensive lineman Tyler Catalina.

The USFL, which ceased operations in 1986, returns in April. Eight teams in the new USFL will be split into North and South Divisions. Each team plays a 10-game schedule, with teams in the same division playing each other twice and teams in the other division once.

The top two teams in each division will play against each other in the semifinals followed a week later by the championship game. All regular season games will be played in Birmingham, Ala., with the championship game set for Canton, Ohio.

The 35-round USFL Draft went by position, with quarterbacks going in the first round, followed by edge rushers/defensive ends in Rounds 2-4, offensive tackles in Rounds 5-7, cornerbacks in Rounds 8-11 before returning to quarterbacks in Round 12 to close out Tuesday. On Wednesday, the draft continued with the selection of wide receivers (Rounds 13-17), safeties (Rounds 18-19), centers (Round 20), inside linebackers (Round 21), offensive guards (Rounds 22-23), defensive tackles (Rounds 24-26), running backs (Rounds 27-28), outside linebackers (Rounds 29-31), kickers (Round 32), punters (Round 33), tight ends/H-backs (Round 34) and long snappers (Round 35).

Kyle Lauletta, QB, Richmond                       1^st round              Pittsburgh Maulers
Brandon Hitner, OT, Villanova                     5^th round             Houston Gamblers
Tyler Catalina, OT, Rhode Island                 5^th round             Tampa Bay Bandits
John Yarbrough, OT, Richmond                 7^th round             Houston Gamblers
Manny Patterson, CB, Maine                       10^th round           New Orleans Breakers
Ray Bolden, WR, Stony Brook                      16^th round           Michigan Panthers
Vinny Papale, WR, Delaware                       17^th round           Tampa Bay Bandits
Liam Dobson, OG, Maine                              23^rd round           New Orleans Breakers
Diondre Wallace, LB, Towson                      29^th round           New Orleans Breakers