Here’s how the Houston Gamblers did in this week’s USFL draft – Chron

The USFL completed its draft Wednesday, which means the Houston Gamblers now have a roster of 35 players, including five with NFL experience.

The Gamblers look like they'll go with former Northwestern star Clayton Thorson at quarterback. Thorson was a fifth-round draft pick in the NFL, but never saw the field during the regular season.

The Gamblers appeared to do well at defensive end, getting two guys - Chris Odom and Ahmad Gooden - who played in the NFL.

There also will be some Texas flavor on the team with former University of Houston cornerback Howard Wilson and Baylor punter Drew Galitz. Kevin Sumlin, the head coach of the Gamblers, also drafted offensive guard Avery Gennesy, who played for Sumlin at Texas A&M.

The Gamblers, who are one of eight teams in the USFL, open training camp March 21 and the first regular season game is April 16. All games will be played in Birmingham, Ala., in the league's first season.

Keep scrolling to learn more about each guy drafted by the Houston Gamblers ...

Quarterback Clayton Thorson of the Philadelphia Eagles in action against the New York Jets in a preseason game at MetLife Stadium on August 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Clayton Thorson, NorthwesternKenji Bahar, Monmouth

Thorson was the fifth quarterback taken in the USFL draft behind, Shea Patterson, Jordan TaAmu, Bryan Scott and Ben Holmes. Thorsen, who led Northwestern to bowl games in all four years as a starter, was picked in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Thorson never appeared in an NFL game, but was on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad in 2019 and the New York Giants practice squad in 2020 and 2021. Bahar, who was the 12th quarterback taken in the draft, was the Big South offensive player of the year when he played at Monmouth, but went undrafted in 2020. Bahar was on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad for a week in 2020 and was on the Ravens active roster for a week in 2021, but never saw game action.

Dalyn Dawkins (28) of the Tennessee Titans runs without a helmet as Ben Jones (60) gets hit by the lid after a facemasking call against Josey Jewell (47) of the Denver Broncos during the second half of Tennessee's 16-14 win on Monday, September 14, 2020.

Dalyn Dawkins, Colorado StateMark Thompson, Florida

Dawkins, the nephew of Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins, is Colorado States third-leading rusher of all-time. He spent parts of two seasons with the Tennessee Titans, rushing for 26 yards on 11 carries in his short NFL career, including 24 yards on nine carries in a 2019 loss to the Saints. Thompson played college ball at Florida and spent time on the practice squads for the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions. Thompson has been arrested twice in the past four months one was a November incident in Gainesville, Fla., where hes facing felony assault and robbery charges and another was from October when he allegedly slapped a Gainesville parking enforcement officer.

Isaiah Zuber #19 of the New England Patriots is pursued by Michael Ojemudia #23 of the Denver Broncos during the first half at Gillette Stadium on October 18, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Isaiah Zuber, Kansas StateJojo Ward, HawaiiAnthony Ratliff-Williams, North CarolinaTyler Simmons, Georgia

Zuber, who starred at Kansas State and Mississippi State, went undrafted in the NFL butappeared in two games for the Patriots catching two passes in 2020. He spent parts of last season on the practice squad for the 49ers, Browns and Jets. The 5-foot-9 Ward, who is from Waco, starred at Hawaii and spent the 2020 season on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. Ratliff-Williams played at North Carolina and Simmons played at Georgia.

Brandon Barnes of the LA Wildcats makes a catch during the XFL game against the Tampa Bay Vipers at Dignity Health Sports Park on March 8, 2020 in Carson, California.

Brandon Barnes, Alabama StateJulian Allen, Southern Miss

Barnes, who was the first tight end taken, was one of the best tight ends in the 2020 version of the XFL, catching 12 passes in five games for the L.A. Wildcats. Allen played at Southern Miss and briefly was in training camp with the Cleveland Browns.

Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Texas A&M Aggies high fives Avery Gennesy #65 of the Texas A&M Aggies during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 21, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Brandon Hitner, VillanovaAvery Gennesy, Texas A&MJohn Yarbrough, Richmond

Gennessy was recruited to Texas A&M by Kevin Sumlin, who is the Gamblers head coach. Gennessy played for the undefeated Houston Roughnecks in the 2020 XFL season. Hitner went undrafted out of Villanova, but spent time in the Los Angeles Rams training camp in 2019. Yarbrough spent last season in the CFL.

Nick Buchanan #66 of the Florida Gators reacts following the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida.

Nick Buchanan, Florida

Buchanan was a two-year starter at Florida, but went undrafted in 2020.

Michigan State Spartans offensive lineman Tyler Higby lines up for a play during the second quarter of the Michigan State Spartans versus the Penn State Nittany Lions game on October 13, 2018, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA.

Tyler Higby, Michigan StateTerrone Prescod, NC State

Higby, who is from Houston and went to Kinkaid, started 30 games at Michigan State, including 21 at left guard and seven at left tackle. The 6-foot-5, 335-pound Prescod went undrafted out of NC State in 2019 after starting 16 games in his career at left guard and right tackle.

Kyle Allen of the Carolina Panthers reacts after his last play on offense as Washington's Chris Odom watches on during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Chris Odom, Arkansas StateAhmad Gooden, SamfordDrequan Brown, Central Oklahoma

Odom, who went to Arlington Martin High School, was undrafted out of college, but played seven games with the Packers in 2017 and four games with Washington in 2019. He recorded two sacks in a Washington win over Carolina. Gooden played three games for the Broncos in 2019. He spent a week of the 2020 season on the Buffalo Bills practice squad. Brown played his college ball at Independence Community College, Northern Illinois and Central Oklahoma.

Tomasi Laulile of the Dallas Renegades looks on before the game against the Seattle Dragons at CenturyLink Field on February 22, 2020 in Seattle, Washington.

Cory Thomas, Mississippi StateTomasi Laulile, BYUDomenique Davis, UNC-Pembroke

Thomas played in 39 games six starts in his four seasons at Mississippi State. Laulile didnt begin playing football until his junior year in high school, but went on to start three games in college and play in the XFL. He also worked out for the Texans in 2018. Davis had three sacks his senior season in college then signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent but didnt make the team.

Beniquez Brown of the Houston Roughnecks reacts to a play during the XFL game against the Dallas Renegades at Globe Life Park on March 1, 2020 in Arlington, Texas.

Beniquez Brown, Mississippi StateReggie Northrup, Florida State

Brown was one of the top linebackers in the AAF and then with the Houston Roughnecks in the XFL in 2020. After starring at Florida State, Northrup played in the AAF and XFL as well as dabbling in mixed-martial arts where hes 5-0.

Donald Payne #54 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates after a goal line stop during the fourth quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at TIAA Bank Field on December 01, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Azeem Victor, WashingtonDonald Payne, StetsonDrew Lewis, Colorado

Victor was a sixth-round draft pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2018, but he didnt make the team out of training camp. He spent part of that season on the practice squads for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks but never appeared in a game. The 27-year-old Payne is the most experienced player on the Gamblers roster, playing three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, including five starts in 2019. Lewis made 193 tackles in three seasons at Colorado.

Jamar Summers, UConnWill Likely, MarylandHoward Wilson, HoustonJerry Cantave, William Jewell College

Summers played in the AAF and was a first-round pick in the XFL, playing for the New York Guardians in 2020. Likely was an All-Big Ten first-team punt returner in college and spent time in the CFL and XFL. Wilson was a fourth-round pick out of the University of Houston, but never played a game, missing his first two seasons due to injury before being waived in 2019.

Andrew Soroh #30 of the New York Guardians looks on before the XFL game against the Dallas Renegades at Globe Life Park on March 7, 2020 in Arlington, Texas.

Andrew Soroh, Florida AtlanticManny Bunch, Tulsa

Soroh was with the Kansas City Chiefs in training camp in 2019 and 2020, but didnt make the team. He played for the New York Guardians in the XFL in 2020. Bunch started 18 games at Tulsa.

Baylor Bears punter Drew Galitz punts the ball during the first quarter of the game between the Baylor Bears and the West Virginia Mountaineers on October 25, 2018, at the Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, WV.

Drew Galitz, punter, BaylorNick Vogel, kicker, UAB

Galitz, who is from Rowlett, was a two-time All-Big 12 punter at Baylor and played for the Dallas Renegades in the XFL. Vogel kicked for the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League in 2021.

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Here's how the Houston Gamblers did in this week's USFL draft - Chron