NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Lightning Assigned Bugg, Bruhn, Garcia and McBroom

March 12, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league have been assigned WR Ryan Bugg and WR/DB Tyler Bruhn, WR/DB Joe Garcia and WR/LB Troy McBroom by the af2 league office, Head Coach Doug Murray announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

"We were very lucky to have Ryan available and we're excited to add a player of his ability level and skill," said Murray. "He's already drawn the nickname ‘Wes Welker' around here and he's already been recognized how much of a calm, cool and collected player he is."

Bugg, 23, enters his first season of pro football after a four-year college football career split between the University of Tulsa and Allan Hancock Junior College. The 6-foot, 195-pound receiver garnered a career-high 45 receptions, 617 receiving yards and four touchdown catches as a 2006 senior and tallied 52 receptions, 678 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions in his tenure for the Golden Hurricane.

The Atascadero, Calif. native previously spent two seasons at Allan Hancock Junior College where he was a second-team all-Western States Conference selection and was named the team's Offensive Most Valuable Player. Bugg spent his high school playing career at Atascadero (Calif.) High, where he garnered all-county honors twice, tallying 49 receptions for 795 yards and rushing for 732 yards in his career.

Bruhn, 20, enters his first season with the Lightning after appearing in eight games last season as an af2 rookie with the Boise Burn, ranking third on the team with 45 tackles and posting three interceptions and seven pass breakups. The 6-foot-1, 195 previously spent a year at Butte (Ida.) College, where he started 10 games at the safety position and played his high school football career at Woodland (Calif.) High, registering six interceptions in 11 games in 2004.

"Tyler is a very heady, smart and polished player," said Murray. "We're happy that he chose Stockton from all of his options this past offseason."

McBroom, 25, enters his first season of af2 experience after splitting a college football career between McPherson (Kan.) College (NAIA), St. Mary's College (NCAA) and local San Joaquin Delta (Calif.) College. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound receiver was an NAIA All-American as a 2005 senior at McPherson, leading the KCAC Conference in 2005 with 56 pass receptions. McBroom had 659 receiving yards which ranked third in the conference and his six touchdown catches tied for second among KCAC receivers.

As a senior, McBroom's six receiving touchdowns led McPherson, and his 36 points scored tied for third among the Bulldogs. A product of local Manteca (Calif.) High School, McBroom concluded his two-year, McPherson College career with 84 receptions, good for 996 yards and nine touchdowns.

"Troy is a very tall receiver and has good numbers coming out of college," said Murray. "He's a local guy who can be very valuable to filling the receiver position with Sale' Key moving onto the Arena Football League."

Garcia, 23, enters his professional football rookie season after a college football career split between the University of Nevada-Reno (NCAA) and Long Beach Community College, garnering first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors as a 2005 junior and 2006 senior at Nevada while tallying 10 career interceptions and 123 tackles in his final two years.

The 6-foot, 182-pound receiver ranked fourth on the Wolfpack with 51 tackles in 13 games at the cornerback position as a 2006 senior, leading the team with six interceptions (tied for 11th in the nation) and seven pass break-ups.

"We're excited to bring in a player of Joe's abilities," said Murray. "He was looking for a place to play and his coaches at Nevada, who I know pretty well, gave me very flattering remarks about his ability."

Currently underway with training camp for their third season in Stockton, the Lightning start the 2008 campaign beginning March 28, taking the road against the Tri-Cities Fever. The 2008 Lightning home opener is Saturday, April 12 against the Boise Burn, beginning at 7:00 p.m. from Stockton Arena.

• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...

arenafootball2 Stories from March 12, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central