Austin MacGinnis among former Kentucky football players selected in USFL Draft

The USFL is back, and so is Austin MacGinnis.

The former Kentucky placekicker was one of three former Wildcats selected in this week’s USFL draft. In other words, Austin is this generation’s Herschel Walker.

MacGinnis was taken by the New Orleans Breakers with the 6th pick in the 32nd round, the round reserved for placekickers. He will share a sideline with former Western Kentucky wide receiver and Pleasure Ridge Park product Taywan Taylor. MacGinnis, Kentucky’s all-time leading scorer, has played in each of the recent spring league start-ups. He kicked for the Memphis Express in the Alliance of American Football and the Dallas Renegades of the XFL, putting enough on tape to spend a season or two on the Rams’ practice squad.

Former UK wide receiver Jeff Badet was a teammate of Austin’s on the Renegades, who were coached by Bob Stoops and Hal Mumme. The XFL had a solid season, but COVID-19 crippled the league. The Rock is attempting to revive it in the near future. Badet was selected in the USFL draft by the Michigan Panthers, taken with the 6th pick in the 15th round. He will be team up with former Kentucky defensive lineman T.J. Carter, who was selected by Michigan with the first pick of the 24th round.

A few other notable names from the USFL draft, former Louisville and Steelers WR Eli Rogers will split reps on the Tampa Bay Bandits with Last Chance U star John Franklin III, a QB from season one that has since transitioned to wide receiver. More familiar names could join the league when the USFL holds a 10-round supplemental draft March 10.

About the New USFL

The United States Football League is the most successful spring football league in American history, running for three seasons in the mid-80s. Its demise was winning an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, but only receiving $3.76 in damages. (There’s much more to it than that. Jeff Pearlman eloquently explains it in Football For A Buck.)

Fox Sports has committed $150-200 million over three years to resurrect the league with eight teams, set to start training camps March 21. Even though MacGinnis is playing for the New Orleans Breakers, all eight teams will play at two different stadiums in Birmingham, Legion Field and Protective Stadium, the new home of UAB football. The first game will air Saturday, April 16 on Fox and NBC.

There will be a 10-week season with games played each weekend on either Fox, NBC, USA Network and FS1. It’s scheduled to reach a conclusion July 3. Pick a team and let’s have some fun this spring.

The first 8 #USFLDraft picks are SET 🔒

The countdown to the inaugural Draft starts now! ⏰ pic.twitter.com/jDTS9Ke8ua

— USFL (@USFL) February 17, 2022