The most memorable name from each USFL roster

Michigan: QB Paxton Lynch

Lynch gained football fame as a three-year starter at Memphis, notably guiding the program to its first 10-win season in nearly eight decades in 2015. Such endeavors caused him to forego his senior season and enter the subsequent draft. He was chosen 26th overall by the Denver Broncos, the third thrower behind the opening tandem of Jared Goff and Carson Wentz.

Though envisioned as the successor to Peyton Manning in Denver's franchise quarterback role, injuries and consistency prematurely ended his time as an NFL starter. Lynch struggled to wrangle the Broncos' starting duties away from names like Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, and Case Keenum. During the 2018 preseason, Lynch was demoted to the third-string spot behind Keenum and Chad "Mr. Irrelevant" Kelly. Though he lingered in Seattle and Pittsburgh's systems, Lynch hadn't appeared in an NFL regular-season game since 2017, though he's only one of the 16 quarterbacks chosen in the USFL's original draft to have started a game at the highest level (four in Denver).

Other notable Panthers: WR Lance Lenior, QB Shea Patterson, OT Teton Saltes

New Jersey: S Shalom Luani

Beyond American borders, Luani is likely better-known for his skills in a different kind of football, the sport that some refer to as soccer. The American Samoa native developed a strong career on the pitch and even repped his country's national team during an ultimately futile quest to reach the 2014 World Cup. Nonetheless, Luani did earn a historic goal for Samoa in the qualification process, notable earning the winning goal in a 2-1 win over Tonga in the 2011 Pacific Games, the team's first win in a FIFA-sanctioned event.

Luani would then make a name for himself on the community college circuit, which drew the attention of Washington State. He would earn 157 tackles and eight interceptions as a Cougar, leading to first-team All-Pac-12 honors at the end of the 2016 season and an NFL calling from the Oakland Raiders, who chose him in the seventh round of the following year's draft. Luani has appeared in 31 NFL regular-season games, the most recent three coming with Seattle in 2019.

Other notable Generals: CB De'Vante Bausby, WR J'Mon Moore, WR Darrius Shepherd.