PRO SPARTANS

Two former Michigan State football players drafted to the UFL

It’s always great to see MSU players take their talents to the next level, regardless of league.

Published

1 year ago

July 17, 2024

MSUMan

Michigan State football players Rocky Lombardi and JD Duplain slap hands during the Michigan game in 2020.

A couple of former Michigan State football players were just selected in the UFL Draft. Where did Rocky Lombardi and JD Duplain go?

On Wednesday, two former Michigan State football players were selected in the UFL draft and will continue their careers after college. Going in the fifth round, quarterback Rocky Lombardi was drafted by the Michigan Panthers.

We're excited for this one 👏

Our fifth pick of the 2024 UFL College Draft is QB Rocky Lombardi 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kdvQDQtVvR

— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) July 17, 2024

Four rounds later, his former teammate, offensive lineman JD Duplain, was drafted with the team’s ninth pick joining him on the Panthers.

Michigan stays home for @jd_duplain 🤩

We've selected OL J.D. Duplain with our ninth pick of the 2024 UFL College Draft 🔥 #LetsHunt🐾 pic.twitter.com/IyKx9unvjY

— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) July 17, 2024

The UFL is a high-level minor football league which starts its season in March and fills the ‘spring void’ when the NFL is in the middle of its offseason. The league was the result of the merger between the XFL and the USFL to meet marketplace demand for spring ball.

Rocky Lombardi is not the first former Spartan quarterback to join the UFL’s Michigan Panthers. After a short stint in the NFL with the New England Patriots and New York Giants, Brian Lewerke joined the Panthers for the 2023 season. Best known for his elite performance against Michigan in 2020, Lombardi hit the transfer portal following the season ultimately landing at Northern Illinois.

Joining him is former Spartan left guard JD Duplain, who has the second-most career starts by a Michigan State offensive lineman at 47. During his time at MSU, Duplain amassed three honorable mention All-Big Ten selections and was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Duplain was one of the only constants for the football program in East Lansing between the years of 2019-2023.

Both players hold a special place not only in my heart, but many other Michigan State football fans — Lombardi for leading former head coach Mel Tucker to his first win over rival Michigan and Duplain as a beacon of consistency through the roller-coaster we’ve all experienced the last five years.

I wish them success at the next level.