The Defending Champs Add Another Weapon
The second season of the revived United States Football League (USFL) is right around the corner as the defending USFL champion Birmingham Stallions will host the New Jersey Generals on Saturday. Just before the team's season debut, the champs added former LSU tight end Thaddeus Moss to its roster.
The son of NFL Hall of Famer Randy Moss grew up in Charlotte, NC., and played high school football for the Mallard Creek Mavericks. Even though he was the son of arguably the greatest wide receiver of all time, Moss was only a three-star recruit in the Class of 2016. Multiple schools, including Georgia, Alabama, USC, and Oklahoma, offered the 6-foot-2 tight end a scholarship, but in the end, Moss decided to stay close to home and committed to the NC State Wolfpack.
In one season with the Wolfpack, he played all 13 games and recorded six receptions, 49 yards, and one touchdown. Moss transferred to LSU the following season.
After suffering a devastating leg injury that sidelined him from the 2017-18 season, Moss would make his impact known the following year. Led by 2019 Heisman Trophy winner, Joe Burrow, the 2019 LSU Tigers went down as arguably the greatest offense ever. Even though Burrow was often time throwing to two future All-Pros Jamar Chase and Justin Jefferson, Moss was the safety blanket to make the Tiger's offense even better. In the Tigers national championship season, Moss caught 47 receptions for 570 yards and four touchdowns.
Following a historic season, Moss entered the 2020 NFL Draft. Unlike most of his other teammates, Moss went undrafted but was later signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Washington Commanders, however never saw any time on the field.
After getting cut by the Commanders, Moss rejoined Burrow and Chase with the Cincinnati Bengals but never got any playing time. In a last-ditch effort after being waived by the Bengals practice squad, Moss decided to join the revival USFL.
The USFL gives players another chance to show off their talents and put more film on for NFL teams. Last year, multiple USFL players including Pro Bowl returner Kavontae Turpin, were signed by NFL teams because of the talents shown in the USFL.
With the likes of Stallions quarterback J'Mar Smith and running back Bo Scarborough, Moss looks to help Birmingham repeat as USFL Champions while also putting out exceptional tape to show NFL scouts what he can do.