New Predators Head Coach Making Immediate Impact
January 28, 2010 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Seattle Timberwolves News Release
Kent, WA: Head Coach William McCarthy wasted no time adding to his roster for the 2010 season after being announced as the first Coach in team history last week. The group of six players includes a record setting collegiate Quarterback, a 2009 IFL Offensive Player of the Week, a collegiate All-Conference team member, an imposing wide receiver, and two hybrid offensive/defensive linemen.
The group of men signed adds to an already impressive crop of players who were signed last month after the teams first open tryout. With 21 players now signed, the coaching staff will look towards evaluating last weekend's final open tryout to add to their training camp roster. The tryout occured on Sunday, January 24th, from 1pm-5pm at the Showare Center. Players were evaluated in the 40 yard dash, 20 yard shuttle, four cone drill, standing broad jump, various agility drills, and position specific 7 on 7 drills. For more information on this tryout or any Predators news, log on to www.kentpredators.com or call the team office at 253-239-3254. Joining the Predators for the 2010 season are:
Greg Mangan- QB Oberlin College
Mangan is a 2009 graduate of Oberlin College, where he was a three-year starter at quarterback for the Yeomen. Over the course of his college career, Mangan became the most prolific passer in school history, compiling all time school records with his 7,002 passing yards, 48 touchdown passes and overall 63.3% completion percentage. As a senior, he was an offensive team captain and recipient of the Andrews Family Award for academic, athletic and leadership excellence. A two-time All-Conference player in the North Coast Athletic Conference Mangan holds a total of 9 all time Oberlin College records.
Eric Taylor- WR Odessa Roughnecks (IFL)/BC Lions (CFL)
Taylor comes to the Predators as a veteran of the Indoor Football League, playing the 2009 season as a member of the Odessa Roughnecks. Taylor finished last season with 56 catches for 754 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also ran for two scores as well, and was among the league leaders in kick return average. He was named the IFL Offensive Player of the Week for the Week of May 16th. Prior to coming to the IFL, Taylor played Wide Receiver for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.
Nick Paris-DE/LB Florida Atlantic University
Paris was a four year starter under head coach Howard Schnellenberger at Florida Atlantic University. He played center for an offensive line that was ranked in the top 15 nationally in 2007 and 2008. During his time at FAU, Paris played against many top twenty five teams in the BCS and was selected to the all-conference team in the Sun-Belt Conference during his senior year. After college, He cut weight to make a transition to the defensive side of the ball to play defensive end/linebacker, where he hopes to use his explosiveness and knowledge of how an offense runs to his advantage.
Eric Marshall-WR Delta State University
Standing at 6 foot 3 inches tall, Marshall brings size and speed to an already impressive group of Wide Receivers headed to training camp. While at Delta State, he hauled in 17 career touchdown receptions to go along with over 1,400 yards in his two years there. Marshall has also held previous workouts at the Regional NFL Scouting Combine and with the Indianapolis Colts and will look to bring an intensity to the Predator offensive unit.
Lavon Ward-OL/DL Texas Copperheads (AF2)/Rio Grande Valley Dorados (AF2)
Another player with previous Indoor Football experience is Lavon Ward. Ward played the 2008 season for two different franchises in the Arena Football League 2 in the Texas Copperheads and Rio Grande Valley Dorados. The American International College graduate projects to play on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Predators.
Jermaine Thomas-OL/DL Stillman College/Ottawa University
A run-stopping defensive lineman, Thomas comes to Kent to play both sides of the ball along the line. In three seasons of collegiate football, at both Stillman College and Ottawa University, he accumulated 51 total tackles, 2.5 for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and three blocked kicks. In 2009 he coached an Ottawa University defensive line that led the NAIA in sacks and finished with an 11-1 record.
These six individuals, along with the rest of the Kent Predators head into next month's training in anticipation of their first game against the defending IFL Champion Billings Outlaws on February 28th. "We have a lot of work to do from now until then, but I have confidence that Coach McCarthy will have these guys ready to play," stated Co-Owner and General Manager Chris Kokalis. "It is our hope to show the rest of the IFL that an expansion franchise can produce wins on the field."
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