Being 'relevant' is Kurtis Drummond's goal as Alliance of American Football kicks off

Former Michigan State safety and All-American Kurtis Drummond is still pursuing another opportunity to play in the NFL. 

He hopes his newest move gets him a step closer to that goal.

Currently, Drummond is settling in with the San Antonio Commanders of the newly formed Alliance of American Football, the newest professional league in the United States, which begins its inaugural season on Saturday.

The league's first game will air at 8 p.m. Saturday night on CBS between San Diego and San Antonio and will feature the former MSU standout in the Commanders' secondary.

Drummond is the only Spartan in the eight-team league, which features 52 players on each roster. 

"First, obviously, I want to win, being a competitor," Drummond said. "For my personal goals, I want to showcase my different abilities at safety, show that I'm versatile in and out of the box and show that I can cover in man and zone coverage."

The safety has played 24 games in the NFL over two seasons, appearing in 15 games with the Houston Texans in 2017, recording nine tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss. In 2015, Drummond played in name games, finishing with four tackles and a forced fumble after signing with the Texans as an undrafted free agent. 

Drummond was on injured reserve for the 2016 season. 

Since he was released by the Texans in September 2018, Drummond has still received workouts from a handful of NFL teams, including the Texans, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins.

"Everything happens for a reason," Drummond said. "I know I'm a good player. I deserve to be in the league. Everyone has to take different routes, different journeys. I'm definitely looking forward to this."

While Drummond is far from the only former NFL player looking for his NFL shot, he hopes to use this new league and primetime showcase as a way to keep on NFL teams' radars for the 2019 season. 

The fact that the AAF is treating itself as a spring league, and not a director competitor to the NFL, unlike the upcoming XFL, should help. 

"Me and my agent talked about it and thought there was a good chance to get some film and kind of become relevant again," Drummond said. "Get a chance to showcase the things I can do at safety."

There are some familiar names on both Drummond's team and in the league. Former Dallas Cowboys fullback and three-time Super Bowl winner Daryl "Moose" Johnston is San Antonio's general manager. The team is coached by Mike Riley, who was the San Diego Chargers' head coach from 1999-01 and has also been the head coach collegiately of Oregon State and Nebraska, leaving the latter position in 2017.

"(Daryl) always wants to know what things can be better or things that we don't like," Drummond said. "He always communicates with us, keeps it a two-way street as far as communication and getting to know him. He does a tremendous job being around all the time. He's just as excited about it as we are."

Former Pittsburgh Steelers standouts Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu are on the league's executive board, as is Pro Football Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian.

Each team will play 10 regular-season games, with four teams making the playoffs and the title game is set for the end of April.

A three-star recruit coming out of high school, Drummond had a stellar Michigan State career. He was named a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of American and Phil Steele in 2014.

Drummond was also a two-time first-team all-Big Ten pick in 2013 and 2014 and was named the league's Defensive Back of the Year in 2014. He finished his MSU career with 12 interceptions, tied for seventh all-time in program history.

Over the past four years, Drummond says he's kept tabs on the MSU football team and coach Mark Dantonio. Drummond was a junior starter on the 2013 team that won the Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl.

"You're gonna have some good seasons and some bad seasons," Drummond said. "Coach D has done a good job of bringing in the right type of people and building a team. As long as they keep growing, it's going to pay off."

AAF Rules That Differ From NFL

All teams must attempt 2-point conversions after each touchdown

No kickoffs; each possession will begin on the 25-yard line

35-second play clock

Two coach's challenges per team, no replays

Overtime: high school football rules - one possession from the 10-yard line

More MSU Football:

• City councilmen, MSU football players, dreamers: Inside the Lansing Ignite open tryout
• MSU captain Demetrious Cox leading like Kurtis Drummond
• 'Who wore it best' at Michigan State: No. 27

Contact digital sports producer Phil Friend at 517-377-1220 or pfriend@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend.