Michal Menet drafted by XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons

By Mike Drago Last updated Nov 17, 2022

Michal Menet was a three-year starter at Penn State. (Penn State University/Mark Selders)

Exeter grad Michal Menet was selected in a pro football draft for the second time Wednesday when the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL took him with the 14th pick of the second round.

Menet was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the NFL draft in the spring of 2021.

The former Penn State center signed with the Green Bay Packers last December before being released by them on the final day of cuts in August.

The eight-team XFL held its draft over three days this week.

The XFL was first founded in 2001 by Vince McMahon and lasted one season. The league relaunched in 2020 but was canceled at midseason by the COVID pandemic. After filing for bankruptcy, McMahon sold the league to a group that includs Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia. The new season begins in February.

Seattle selected Alabama’s Chris Owens with its first pick in the offensive-line grouping before taking Menet.

“I’ve known (Michal) for a long time,” Sea Dragons head coach Jim Haslett told the Seattle Times. “He can play center (or) guard. If he plays 10 games with us, he’ll go back to the NFL. That’s what kind of athlete he is; he is a good football player.”

Menet reportedly worked out for both the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots earlier this month.

The XFL Draft concludes today as teams select long snappers, punters, and kickers, followed by open rounds where teams can pick players at any position.

Menet was a three-year starter at center for Penn State, starting 34 straight games. He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior. He was also a two-time team captain.

The Nittany Lions struggled at the outset of his final season, losing their first five games. They rebounded to win their final four and ended up ranked second in the Big Ten in total offense.

Menet arrived at Penn State as one of the top-rated high school linemen in the nation. He was a rare three-time first-team All-State lineman at Exeter, where he led the Eagles to the Berks Football League Section 1 title as a senior in 2015.