Former Michigan State starter JD Duplain selected by Panthers in UFL Draft
Michigan State offensive lineman JD Duplain was selected with the sixth pick in the ninth round of the United Football League Draft by the Michigan Panthers on Tuesday afternoon.
The Panthers also selected offensive tackle Julian Pearl (Illinois), corner Dwight McGlothern (Arkansas), defensive end Isaac Ukwu (Ole Miss), offensive tackle Brian Dooley (Eastern Michigan), quarterback Rocky Lombardi (Northern Illinois), wide receiver Dayton Wade (Ole Miss), safety Beau Brade (Maryland), and center Andrew Meyer (UTEP) before selecting Duplain.
Duplain and Lombardi played together briefly at Michigan State, with Duplain joining the program two recruiting classes after the Northern Illinois quarterback. Other former Spartans on the Panthers’ roster include offensive tackle Jarrett Horst, a first-round draft pick in the UFL Draft, quarterback Brian Lewerke, and defensive end Kenny Willekes.
Duplain, a five-year letter-winner for the Spartans, closed out his college football career by making 42 consecutive starts at left guard for Michigan State.
Duplain played 3,007 snaps in five seasons for the Spartans. His 47 career starts rank as second most for an offensive lineman in program history. Joel Foreman, a Mark Dantonio era standout, is the only offensive lineman at Michigan State to start more games for the Spartans than Duplain.
Duplain’s streak of 42 consecutive starts at left guard is the second longest in program history. That streak fell two short of tying Shane Hannah (1991-94) for the longest consecutive starting streak for an offensive lineman in program history.
An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection as a graduate senior in 2023, Duplain started all 12 games for the Spartans at left guard last season. He played every offensive snap in seven games for Michigan State in 2023 and logged a team-high 744 snaps during his finale season at Michigan State.
Duplain served as a game captain for the Spartans eight times during his final year at Michigan State.
