A few former Michigan State football players are advancing to the professional leagues.
Former offensive lineman JD Duplain was drafted in the ninth round by the Michigan Panthers on Wednesday afternoon. He will join ex-Spartan quarterback Rocky Lombardi, who was picked in the fifth round by the same team.
The draft in question chose players who went undrafted in the NFL draft this past spring. Duplain, who started over 40 games for the Spartans, was hoping to be selected in the NFL draft but was ultimately not chosen.
Similarly, Rocky Lombardi, who played quarterback at Northern Illinois from 2021-23, was also left out of the NFL draft. He’s not the only former Spartan quarterback joining the Panthers; Brian Lewerke was a backup for the team last season.
Out of the 10 players selected by Michigan, 20% are former Michigan State players, and a third could potentially join the roster when the season resumes next spring.
Although this wasn’t the career trajectory Duplain envisioned when he started for Michigan State, it presents an opportunity to showcase his skills. There have been numerous examples of players transitioning from leagues like the XFL and USFL (now the UFL) to the NFL, and Duplain could be the next success story.
Given his consistent performance on the offensive line for the past few years, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Duplain make an impact with Michigan and possibly secure a spot in the two-deep roster. And let’s not forget Rocky Lombardi’s memorable performance against Michigan in 2020, which makes it easy to cheer for both players as they move to the next level.
