WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Former William & Mary All-America safety Jerome Couplin III was selected by the Los Angeles Wildcats in the eighth round (fourth pick) of the Defensive Backfield Phase of the inaugural XFL Draft on Wednesday.
Couplin becomes the second former Tribe player selected in the XFL Draft, as former All-America wide receiver Tre McBride was chosen by the DC Defenders on Tuesday.
After a standout career at W&M, Couplin signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions in 2014. Following a brief stint with the Buffalo Bills later that season, he returned to the Lions before being signed by the Philadelphia Eagles in December of 2014. He earned a spot on the Eagles active roster the following season before being placed on Injured Reserve after suffering a shoulder injury in late November. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 2016 before stints with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) and the Orlando Apollos (AAF).
One of the nation's elite defensive backs for the Tribe, Couplin earned first-team All-America honors by the Associated Press, the Sports Network and the Walter Camp Football Foundation as a senior. Additionally, the first-team all-conference selection was chosen as a finalist for the Buchanan Award, which honors the nation's best Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) defensive player each season.
Couplin, a team captain, led the Colonial Athletic Association and ranked 10th nationally with 5.8 solo tackles per game in 2013. Additionally, the Upper Marlboro, Md., native ranked third in the CAA with 9.4 tackles per game – a figure that led the league among defensive backs.
In addition to leading the team with 113 tackles (70 solo) during his final season in Williamsburg, the two-time All-CAA honoree recorded two forced fumbles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, six PBU's and two forced fumbles as a senior. Couplin also returned a fumble 51 yards for a touchdown in the win at Delaware en route to earning CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors.
A three-year starter, Couplin finished his career with 257 total tackles (158 solo), five interceptions, 21 passes defended, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 4.5 tackles for a loss.
