NORMAL, Ill. - Former Illinois State offensive lineman Brandon Joyce was drafted by the Las Vegas franchise in the inaugural "Premiere" Season Draft of the United Football League (UFL) on June 19.
Joyce was one of 24 players selected by the Las Vegas franchise, which will be led by former NFL head coach Jim Fassel. The UFL will play its regular season games on Thursday and Friday evenings in the fall, with the first regular season game kicking off in October and the Championship Game scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend. The league's other franchises will be located in New York, Orlando and San Francisco.
After transferring to Illinois State prior to the 2006 season from Indiana, Joyce became a vital part of the potent ISU offense. The St. Charles, Mo., native started 22 games in his Redbird career and was named a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer team in 2006. During that season, he made 11 starts and was part of the ISU offense that ranked No. 8 nationally with 397.5 yards per game and advanced to the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs.
During his senior season in 2007, Joyce started all 11 games at right tackle and was instrumental in the Redbird running game which amassed 2,194 rushing yards on the season, the seventh-highest rushing total in school history. The Redbird offense also averaged 402.8 yards of total offense per game that season.
After his collegiate playing days, Joyce signed a free-agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings on April 28, 2008. After being released by the Vikings during training camp, he was added to the roster of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) for several games last season.
Selections for each team were made from players who participated in the UFL's recent workouts in Orlando and Las Vegas along with other available prospects. The remaining openings on each team's roster will be partially filled in July with players who coaches had previously identified and "reserved". The last invites for the 60-man opening camp rosters will go to players who have been released by the NFL during training camp, with divisional/regional preferences assigned to each of the inaugural four franchises.
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