Dorados Weekly Release
March 21, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 21, 2005
CAMP OPENS THIS WEEK
Over 30 players will be venturing into the Rio Grande Valley this week looking to be one of 21 individuals making the Dorados roster by the final trim down date (April 3rd). The Dorados will conduct their first practice on Wednesday, March 23rd, at Verizon Wireless Sports Park (Sharyland Plantation - Mission, Tx) with a pair of practices. The two-a-day practices will run from Wednesday through Saturday with the first session lasting from 10 - 11:30 AM and the second session running from 5 - 6:30 PM (times may vary). The team will hit the Dodge Arena for the first time next Monday with single workouts from 10 - 11:30 AM through Friday. On Wednesday, March 30th, the Dorados will conduct their first Blue vs. Gold Intersquad Scrimmage during their 10 AM workout on Chase Field inside the Dodge Arena. The final training camp practice will be conducted on Saturday, April 2nd, at Hidalgo High School at 10 AM. The Dorados are allowed a roster maximum of 35 players during the beginning of training camp. It must be trimmed down to 30 by the end of Friday and then down to 21 by April 3rd (teams may carry over 21 players but additional players must be classified as international players).
THE E-WATCH
Former Dorados defensive specialist Eddie Moten is the first and only player to advance his playing career from the Dorados to the higher level and is currently the youngest member of the Arena Football League s (AFL) Philadelphia Soul. Moten, who was a rookie last season for the Dorados out of Texas A&M-Kingsville, co-led the af2 last season in interceptions with 10 and led the af2 in interception return yards with 124 yards. Each week we will keep tabs on his progress in AFL action:
Sun. March 20th vs. Tampa Bay Storm
The Philadelphia Soul picked up their first win under Head Coach James Fullers direction and improved their record to 3-5 Sunday with a 69-63 win at home over the Tampa Bay Storm. Moten returned off the injured reserve list and had his finest outing. He collected his first interception of the season and registered a game-high 11 tackles (8 solo) to earn the ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors. His game totals place him with 27.5 tackles (23-solo, 9-assisted) on the year (ranks tied for 32nd in the league) and his team leading 10 pass break-ups (passes defended) ranks tied for third in the AFL, leaving him three back from leader Rashad Floyd of Colorado.
Next for Moten: The Soul (3-5) will remain home this Sunday to host the Grand Rapids Rampage (1-6) at 2-PM, in a contest to be carried in the Detroit market (Fox Sports Net - Detroit) and Philadelphia market (Comcast Sportsnet). *(games may be viewable for Satellite television subscribers).
A REVIEW OF THIS PAST WEEKS ANNOUNCED ASSIGNMENTS
Zeb Ellison (DS) 62 205 Shelby, AL Univ. West Alabama
Ellison is a young 22 year-old native of Shelby, Alabama that just completed his college career in the fall at the University of West Alabama (Livingston, AL). He was with the Tigers program for three seasons (2002-2004) ranked second in tackles last season with 105 (42 solo) and led the team in tackles for a loss with 12. After redshirting in 2002, Ellison led the Tigers with 79 tackles (46 solo) in 2003. His two-year totals at UWA include 184 tackles (88 solo), 20 tackles for a loss, 3 forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions in 22 games. Began his college career at Bethel College, an NAIA program located in McKenzie, TN. He combined for 64 tackles (34 solo as a sophomore) in two seasons (2000-2001) at Bethel.
Julius Gant (OL/DL) 64 305 Atlanta, GA Middle Tennessee St. Univ.
Gant turns pro after playing collegiately at Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, TN), where he competed three seasons and played in 1,797 snaps, registering 121 knockdowns. He started in 25 of the 34 games he played in and was a five-time recipient of the teams Most Valuable Lineman honor issued after every game. The lineman claimed three of the honors as a senior in 2003 with top performances against Missouri, Utah State and Troy State. He had a cumulative grade performance of 82 percent during his senior season and graded out a season best 89 against Missouri and Georgia. The 23 year-old Gant grew up in Atlanta and was a member of the All-City Team while at Southside High School.
Elliott Burkes (DS) 61 185 Camilla, GA Valdosta St. Univ.
Burkes joins the Dorados after spending last season with the af2s Macon (Ga.) Knights. Despite appearing in just five games due to injury, Burkes still ranked ninth on the Knights squad in tackles with 14 (12 solo). He led the team in interception return yards with 32 yards off of two interceptions (ranked tied for third on the club) and ranked tied for third in pass breakups with 5. Burkes, who also had a tackle for a loss and a forced fumble, registered both of his interceptions against the Cape Fear Wildcats on 5/29/04. Turned pro after two seasons (2002,2003) at Valdosta St. University (Valdosta, Ga). He appeared in 26 games over the combined two seasons with the Blazers and registered 96 tackles (62 solo), 5 interceptions, 2 sacks and 21 pass breakups. The All-Gulf South Conference (GSC) selection was part of the Valdosta State squad that lost in the NCAA Div. II National Championship game to Grand Valley State 31-24 in 2002.
Curtis Jeter (OL/DL) 60 290 Montgomery, AL Univ. Alabama-Birmingham (UAB)
Jeter brings six years of professional experience to the Dorados and spent last season in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Detroit Fury. He appeared in 13 games with the Fury and had 3 tackles and a half (0.5) sack on defense. He also caught an 11-yard pass for his only offensive numbers. Jeter returns to the af2, where he played four seasons (2000-2003) with the Tennessee Valley Vipers, and returns under the guidance of head coach Kevin Guy, who coached Jeter in Tennessee Valley in 2002 and 2003. He began his Vipers tenure in 2000 after spending the 1999 season with the Mississippi Fire Dogs of the Indoor Professional Football League (IPFL) and played in six games before leaving to join the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Jeter returned in 2001 and earned Second Team All-af2 honors after collecting 23.5 tackles and ranking ninth in the league in sacks with 9.5. In 2003 with the Vipers, Jeter served as both a lineman and a fullback/linebacker and registered 36 rushing yards off 11 caries and 30 receiving yards off 2 receptions, while also collecting 16.5 tackles on defense. Jeter ranked tied for 11th in the af2 in fumbles forced (3) in his final season (2003) with the Vipers. His overall defensive numbers with Tennessee Valley included 59 tackles (48 solo) in 52 games, and he ranks amongst the Vipers all-time leaders in sacks (14.0), fumbles recovered (7) and fumbles forced (11). The 28 year-old turned pro after a college career at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB), where he was four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at nose guard. He finished his UAB career ranked second on the Blazers all-time list for games played and seventh on the all-time list for tackles. Jeter racked up 179 tackles (129 solo) at UAB and registered 36 tackles-for-loss for 131 yards (8 sacks).
WHEN DOES IT START
The Dorados kick-off their 2005 campaign April 9th at the Dodge Arena, as they host the Louisville Fire. Individual tickets for the game and all other home games are already on sale. Season ticket packages and advertising opportunities are still available by contacting the Dorados offices at 956-843-7825. Additional info can also be found by visiting the Dorados online at www.doradosfootball.com.
TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE
Wednesday, MAR 23
10 - 11:30 AM Practice (Session 1)
5 - 6:30 PM Practice (Session 2)
VERIZON WIRELESS SPORTS PARK
Thursday, MAR 24
10 - 11:30 AM Practice (Session 1)
5 - 6:30 PM Practice (Session 2)
VERIZON WIRELESS SPORTS PARK
Friday, MAR 25
10 - 11:30 AM Practice (Session 1)
5 - 6:30 PM Practice (Session 2)
VERIZON WIRELESS SPORTS PARK
Saturday, MAR 26
10 - 11:30 AM Practice (Session 1)
5 - 6:30 PM Practice (Session 2)
VERIZON WIRELESS SPORTS PARK
Sunday, MAR 27
OFF
Monday, MAR 28
10 - 11:30 AM Practice - Dodge Arena
Tuesday, MAR 29
10 - 11:30 AM Practice - Dodge Arena
Wednesday, MAR 30
10 - 11:30 AM Blue v. Gold Scrimmage
Dodge Arena
Thursday, MAR 31
10 - 11:30 AM Practice - Dodge Arena
Friday, APR 1
10 - 11:30 AM Practice - Dodge Arena
Saturday, APR 2
10 - 11:30 AM Practice - Hidalgo High School
INTERVIEWS CAN ONLY BE CONDUCTED AFTER PRACTICE
PRACTICE TIMES ARE TENTATIVE
PRACTICES MAY END EARLY OR RUN AFTER THE APPOINTED TIME
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