The USFL held its 2023 college draft today. While potentially not every pick will play, it is still important to get to know New Jersey Generals draft picks. Earlier in the week it was announced that the Generals would miss out on their first-round pick, and their others would be rearranged. The team still had the same amount of picks but in a different order. For more on why read this article here. Here is a look at the Generals draft picks.
NJ Generals Draft Picks
Adrian Martinez – QB
With the 15th pick in the USFL draft, the Generals selected Adrian Martinez, a former quarterback from Kansas State. Martinez spent just one season with Kansas State, after playing for Nebraska for four years. In five total years, Martinez passed for 9,752 yards, 51 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions, according to Sports Reference.
Kansas State had an exceptional year just this past season. The team went 10-4, ranking 14th in the final AP Poll of the season. The school ended up playing in the Sugar Bowl but lost to Alabama 45-20. Despite the loss, Kansas State put up a fight, and one of the Generals draft picks were used on quarterback Martinez to kick off their draft.
JJ Holloman – WR
In the third round, one of the Generals draft picks went to JJ Holloman, a wide receiver from Tennessee State. This was the 23rd pick in the draft. Throughout his collegiate career, Holloman was with three different teams. Holloman began with the Georgia Bulldogs, but in year one did not play much, and in the second year he had just 24 receptions, according to ESPN.
Following those two years, Holloman played for the Florida International Panthers for one year but had just eight receptions. It was not until 2022 that Holloman headed to Tennessee State where he played his final year of college football. Now Holloman will get a shot in the USFL.
Victor Jones – DL
In the fourth round of the USFL draft, one of the NJ Generals draft picks was used on Victor Jones, the defensive lineman from Akron. from 2018 to 2021, Jones played for Wyoming, before heading to Akron in 2022. In five years of playing football, Jones had 124 combined tackles, 59 being solo, and 12 sacks, according to ESPN. Jones also had six pass deflections, a forced fumble, and one interception.
His best season came from his year playing for Akron, where he had 5.5 sacks and 52 combined tackles. Now with the 31st pick, Jones can head to the New Jersey Generals to play in the USFL.
De’Jahn Warren – CB
In the fifth round, one of the New Jersey Generals draft picks went to De’Jahn Warren, a cornerback from Jackson State. Warren spent three years in Jackson State. In those three years, Warren had 15 combined tackles, 11 of which were solo, one pass deflection, and one interception, according to ESPN. Interestingly, ESPN lists Warren as having no tackles in 2020, but that was the season that he had one interception. Now Warren can get another chance at playing football with the New Jersey Generals.
Derrick Tucker – S
In the sixth round, one of the Generals draft picks were used on Derrick Tucker, a safety from Texas Southern. Tucker spent three years at Texas A&M before spending two more years at Texas Southern, according to ESPN. In five years of playing football in college, Tucker had 109 combined tackles, 69 of which were solo. He also had six pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions. One of the interceptions he returned for a touchdown while with Texas A&M. Now Tucker can get a shot to play more football in the USFL.
Jermaine McDaniel Jr – DE
In the seventh round of the USFL Draft, one of the New Jersey Generals draft picks went to Jermaine McDaniel, a defensive lineman from North Carolina A&T. McDaniel played for North Carolina A&T from 2019 to 2022, but did not play in 2020. In those three years playing, McDaniel had a total of 22 combined tackles, 16 of which were solo, according to ESPN. McDaniel also had eight sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass deflection. With limited playing time, the USFL is a great chance for McDaniel to continue playing football.
Adam Korsak – P
In the eighth round of the USFL Draft, one of the Generals draft picks was used on Adam Korsak, a punter from Rutgers. This pick may be one of the more interesting ones. Korsak has been invited to the NFL Combine. He was the only Rutgers player to be invited and expected to be picked up by an NFL team. Korsak also won the Ray Guy award and broke numerous NCAA records, such as punting yards and consecutive games without a touchback. More on Korsak’s records can be read in this article here.
Jalen Holston – RB
In the ninth round of the USFL Draft, one of the Generals draft picks went to Jalen Holston, a running back from Virginia Tech. Holston was with Virginia Tech from 2017 to 2022. In six years, Holston rushed for 1,235 yards, and 13 rushing touchdowns, according to ESPN. Although Holston did not make many receptions, he does have that ability, also scoring a touchdown off of a reception. If Holston stays with the USFL, he will be a player to watch.
Nick Zecchino – LS
In the final round of the USFL draft, one of the last New Jersey Generals draft picks went to Nick Zecchino, a long snapper from Purdue. In 2016, Zecchino spent one year with UConn before heading to Purdue. Zecchino spent many years at Purdue, and in 2021 was named Academic All-Big Ten, according to the Purdue website. Zecchino is a solid special teams addition to the Generals.
Rey Estes – DB
With the final pick of the 2023 USFL draft, the final New Jersey Generals draft pick went to Rey Estes, a defensive back from Grambling State. According to Grambling State University Athletics’ website, Estes was with the team from 2020 to 2022. In three years, Estes had 75 combined tackles, 59 of which were solo. Estes also had 16 pass deflections and two interceptions. He also ended his collegiate career with two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Many of the New Jersey Generals draft picks went to defensive players, a strong indication of what their focus will be during the 2023 season. Despite losing out on picking in the first round, the Generals were able to add new faces to their team, potentially giving them a chance to play professional football.
For More Football Content:
Check out this article on the New Jersey Generals’ loss of their first-round pick.
As for the XFL, check out this article on the DC Defenders coaches and other important staff members. Also, check out the team’s offense here and their defense here. Also, check out this article on if their Defense can keep playing at a high level.
Check out which former Penn State players will be playing in the XFL. Also, check out which former Rutgers players will be playing in the XFL. Check out which Penn State players will be participating in the 2023 NFL Combine. Also, check out which players to watch during Rutgers’ Pro Day.
