Which former Ohio State football players are on USFL rosters at the start of 2023 season?
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The United States Football League is back for another season.
After returning for the first time since 1985 in 2022, the Birmingham Stallions, Houston Gamblers, Memphis Showboats, Michigan Panthers, New Jersey Generals, New Orleans Breakers, Philadelphia Stars and Pittsburgh Maulers returned for 2023, kicking off the season April 15.
Ohio State fans will see three former Buckeyes on USFL roster heading into Week 2 of the regular season: wide receiver Johnnie Dixon, tight end Marcus Baugh and offensive lineman Matthew Burrell Jr.
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Here's a look at each of their paths to the USFL.
Johnnie Dixon — New Orleans Breakers wide receiver
Dixon spent a lot of time in an Ohio State uniform.
Across five seasons from 2014-18, Dixon recorded 67 catches for 1,146 yards and 17 touchdowns, most of which came from the 2017 and 2018 seasons, where he recorded eight touchdown receptions in each campaign.
Dixon bounced around in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys after being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Texans in 2019, but never saw playing time.
After Dixon was selected in the 14th round of the 2022 USFL draft by the New Orleans Breakers, Dixon was the team's leading receiver, bringing in 38 catches for 362 yards last season with four touchdowns.
In the Breakers' first win against the Pittsburgh Maulers to begin the 2023 season, Dixon brought in three receptions on a team-leading 11 targets for 44 yards.
Marcus Baugh — Michigan Panthers tight end
![Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Marcus Baugh (85) catches the game-winning 16-yard touchdown behind Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Manny Bowen (43) and safety Troy Apke (28) during the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Oct. 28, 2017. Ohio State won 39-38. [Adam Cairns/Dispatch]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/9meRiF4bRUUZWZX57GCIWg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-columbus-dispatch/ba621671bc68a230259d58a456a5e007)
After four seasons with Ohio State, Baugh is now playing football in Michigan
Baugh brought in 607 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 55 catches from 2014-17 with the Buckeyes. After he signed with the Oakland Raiders after the 2018 NFL draft, Baugh had stops with the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Football Team, where he recorded his first NFL catch for two yards.
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Baugh was drafted by the Michigan Panthers in 2022, finishing last season with 101 receiving yards and a touchdown on 12 catches.
In the Michigan Panthers' first game of the 2023 season Baugh got on the board, scoring the team's first touchdown of the year on a 22-yard reception from quarterback Josh Love. Baugh finished with two catches for 28 yards on three targets.
Matthew Burrell Jr. — Memphis Showboats offensive lineman
Coming into Ohio State's 2015 class as a four-star guard out of Woodbridge, Virginia, Burrell played three seasons for the Buckeyes. After redshirting 2015, he played in 25 of 27 games for Ohio State in 2016-17.
Burrell transferred to Sam Houston State University in 2018.
Burrell joined the Memphis Showboats in 2022.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Three Ohio State football players are on USFL rosters in 2023 season
