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AFL Jacksonville Sharks

Sharks Add Graves, Scaccia in Free Agency

October 4, 2013 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Jacksonville Sharks News Release


JACKSONVILLE - The 2013 South Division Champion Jacksonville Sharks announced Friday that wide receiver Shamar Graves will return to the team, while veteran kicker Fabrizio Scaccia has also been assigned to the Jacksonville roster. Both Graves and Scaccia have agreed to two-year contracts. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 26-year-old Graves (6'3", 230) returned to the Sharks toward the end of the 2013 season, catching 13 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in Jacksonville's regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Storm. Graves also scored a rushing touchdown in that game, and went on to see action in each of the Sharks' two playoff contests, totaling five receptions for 40 yards in the postseason.

"Shamar is a physical receiver who is relentless with the ball in his hands," Sharks head coach Les Moss said. "When he returned to Jacksonville at the end of this past season, he was able to step into our system and contribute right away. We are excited to work with Shamar over the next two years as he continues to develop in this league."

Graves began the 2013 season with the Pittsburgh Power. Battling through injuries during his time in Pittsburgh, Graves caught 19 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns in three games with that team. He first broke into the Arena Football League with the Sharks in 2012, logging five starts in 14 total appearances. During his first stint in Jacksonville, Graves finished the season as the team's fifth-leading receiver, totaling 361 yards and seven touchdowns on his 29 receptions.

Before beginning his professional career, Graves played at Rutgers University from 2006-09. During his four-year career with the Scarlet Knights, Graves worked primarily at tight end, totaling 33 receptions for 407 yards and five touchdowns. Graves is a native of Woodbridge, New Jersey.

Scaccia, 29, is entering his fifth season in the Arena Football League, as he most recently spent time with the Iowa Barnstormers this past season. With Iowa, Scaccia (6'1", 205) connected on 53 of his 57 point-after attempts, equating to an impressive conversion rate of 93 percent.

"Fabrizio is an established kicker in this league, and we are fortunate that he was available this offseason," Moss said. "He has demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout his AFL career, and we are glad to have him in Jacksonville for the next two years."

Before joining the Barnstormers, Scaccia kicked for the Philadelphia Soul during the 2012 postseason, connecting on 14 of 16 extra points during the Soul's playoff run. He also played for the Arizona Rattlers in both 2010 and 2011, earning Second Team All-Arena honors after making 101 of his 113 extra points in the latter season. For his career, Scaccia has connected on 91.2 percent of his point-after attempts (218 of 239) during the regular season, adding four field goals on 18 attempts.

Scaccia has also contributed on kick coverage, logging 11.5 total tackles (10 solo) during his professional career.

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