By Anthony McClean, Editor-In-Chief Emeritus

When the original United States Football League (USFL) began back in 1983, former HBCU standouts like Boston’s Johnnie Walton (Elizabeth City State), Chicago’s Trumaine Johnson (Grambling State), and Tampa Bay’s Eric Truvillion (Florida A&M) were among some of the initial stars of the league.

Nearly four decades later as the league begins to play again this weekend, several HBCU players are looking to make the same mark and then some. On Saturday, April 16th, the Birmingham Stallions will meet the New Jersey Generals in Birmingham (7:30 PM ET) as the league’s reboot begins on FOX and NBC.

Today, BASN takes a peek at the rosters of the new teams highlighting the former HBCU standouts who are looking to further their pro careers.

BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS

WR Manasseh Bailey (Morgan State), WR Peyton Ramzy (Tuskegee), CB Bryan Mills (North Carolina Central).

HOUSTON GAMBLERS

TE Brandon Barnes (Alabama State)

MICHIGAN PANTHERS

OL Joshua Taylor (Mississippi Valley State)

NEW JERSEY GENERALS

OL Brandon Haskin (Tennessee State), OT Calvin Ashley (Florida A&M), QB De’Andre Johnson (Texas Southern), OL Robert Myers (Tennessee State), LB Tim Walton Jr. (Texas Southern)

NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS

WR Chad Williams (Grambling State), OL Toree Boyd (Howard), DE Nigel Chavis (Norfolk State)

PITTSBURGH MAULERS

OL Chidi Odeke (Tennessee State), OL Justin Evans (South Carolina State), DB Terrell Bonds (Tennessee State)

PHILADELPHIA STARS

WR Chris Rowland (Tennessee State), OL Sean Brown (Mississippi Valley State), LB Solomon Wise (Alcorn State)

TAMPA BAY BANDITS

DE Mekhi Brown (Tennessee State)

Anthony McClean can be reached via email at anthonymcclean@basnnewsroom.com.