After finishing with the worst record in the USFL’s rebirth season in 2022, the Pittsburgh Maulers decided to take an unconventional approach to this year’s college draft.

On the heels of 1-9 season, what did they have to lose?

And so it was that while other USFL teams primarily selected players from Division I programs — players perhaps reluctant to sign contracts while awaiting potential NFL offers later this spring — the Maulers focused on securing prospects from the lower levels of college football.

The result of the 10-round draft that took place Tuesday was the Maulers taking eight players from FCS programs, one from the Division II level and just one from the traditional Division I ranks.

“One of the other GMs said our team was a wild-card team because they didn’t know what we were going to do,” Maulers defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Jarren Horton said. “We wanted to pick smaller-school guys and give them an opportunity rather than go the traditional Power 5 route. I’m proud that we did that.”

The Maulers selected two players apiece from Incarnate Word and Southeastern Louisiana, programs that compete in the Southland Conference. The trend started when they drafted UIW quarterback Lindsey Scott with the No. 2 overall pick.

The 5-foot-11, 212-pound Scott put up video game-like numbers in his senior year, passing for 4,657 yards and 60 touchdowns against just eight interceptions.

“We hope he can showcase his abilities and take our offense to the next level,” said Horton, son of Maulers head coach Ray Horton, the former Steelers assistant. “Being dynamic on offense and spreading the ball around, we hope he can get the ball to our guys in space and let them go.”

One of those players will be Scott’s college teammate, wide receiver Taylor Grimes, who was taken in the seventh round. In his final two seasons at the school, Grimes caught 170 passes for 2,366 yards and 30 touchdowns.

From Southeastern Louisiana, the Maulers added defensive back Ferlando Jordan and wide receiver C.J. Turner. Jarren Horton was familiar with both players from the year he spent on the Southeastern Louisiana staff in 2018.

Five of the players selected by the Maulers on Tuesday were taken to provide help in the trenches. In the second round, the Maulers selected defensive end/edge rusher Malik Hamm of Lafayette of the Patriot League. In the fifth, they added Florida A&M’s Isaiah Land, who will transition to an outside linebacker in the Maulers’ 3-4 defensive scheme.

In the third, they added guard/tackle Tre’Quan Dorsey from St. Francis (Pa.) of the Northeast Conference.

The USFL fields a 40-man roster on game days, so Horton said the Maulers coveted the versatility Dorsey brings by being able to dress at tackle or guard.

“Positions that are always hard to get at any level are quarterback, offensive line and edge rusher,” Horton said. “Those were three points of emphasis, and that’s why we took those guys high.”

Another offensive lineman who can play inside or outside was added in the sixth round when the Maulers selected Nash Jensen from FCS power North Dakota State. In the ninth round, the Maulers took a flier on defensive lineman Jacob Slade of Michigan State. Slade made 26 starts in four years with the Spartans and projects to be a nose tackle with the Maulers.

“We’re not sure if he will come right away … but we think we have a good shot of getting him,” Horton said. “The unique thing for these 2023 class guys is they can get drafted by us, come to camp, play in the first two or three games and then if they get drafted by the NFL, they can go to there and go to rookie minicamp. By signing with the USFL, they may improve their draft stock.”

The final player drafted by the Maulers was punter Ethan Evans of Division II Wingate.

The Maulers begin training camp March 20, and the season opener is set for April 16 in Canton, Ohio. After the USFL Draft, the Maulers have 68 players on the roster, which must be trimmed to 50. Horton thinks many of the players taken Tuesday can make the cut.

“If I could show you our draft board, the top guys at every position we were able to get,” Horton said. “We feel good about who we picked and the opportunities these young men will have.”

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