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Xplorers hit trifecta with assignment of former Hawkeye, Wolfpack, and Red Raider stars

December 2, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS --- The Memphis Xplorers of the af2 announced today that the team has been assigned three more players by the league office. The three assignments are WR/DB Maurice Brown from Iowa, DS Greg Golden from North Carolina State and OL/DL Ryan Hoffman from Shippensburg.

The six-foot-two, 210 pound Brown finished his four years at Iowa in 2003 13th on the Hawkeye's all-time receiving yards list with 1515 and 18th on the receptions list with 84. Following his senior season, he was selected to play in the Senior Bowl and Gridiron Classic. His 11 touchdown receptions in 2002 broke the school record and his 966 receiving yards that season rank fourth on the school's all-time list. The Fort Lauderdale, FL native also ranked fourth nationally in 2002 with a 20.2 yards per reception average.

He was named honorable mention All-Big Ten following the 2002 season.

"Maurice Brown is a player that we have been chasing for the past two years," Xplorers Head Coach Danton Barto said. "We are really excited to having him join the Xplorers for the upcoming season. Maurice was a dominating player at a big time university and we believe that he will be a special player for us this upcoming season. Iowa was the last Big Ten school that we had yet to open the pipeline to. We are pleased that we are starting to attract players from a winning football tradition like Iowa."

"You could probably count on one hand the number of players who have played in the senior bowl that have worn an af2 jersey," Xplorers Director of Player Personnel Chris Bauer said. "Maurice, coming from a winning program like Iowa, should have an easy transition to an ArenaCup champion."

Golden, another Fort Lauderdale native, played corner back primarily in his three year career at N.C. State, but he also showed his versatility on special teams and by starting four games at tailback in 2002. Golden, five-foot-11, 189 pounds, finished his three year career with the Wolfpack with three interceptions and 78 total tackles.

"Greg Golden is also a player that we tried to get last year after watching him in the preseason in the CFL," Barto said. "We believe that Greg will fit it our system and be an impact player from day one."

"Coach Barto and I were shocked that Golden was available," Bauer said. "This kid has the total package!"

The six-foot-five, 280 pound Hoffman played his college ball at Division II Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. Hoffman was an All-American, a two-time all Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference selection and played in the Cactus Bowl, the Division II all-star game, where he collected six tackles.

In his senior season, he finished with 50 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

"Ryan Hoffman is my type of football player," Barto said. "He is a guy that can get after the passer and has a non-stop motor. We look for him to come in and help us form one of the most dominating lines in af2 this year."

"We are always more than happy to sign a player from the Keystone State with the ability and intensity of a Ryan Hoffman," Bauer added.

The Xplorers now have been assigned 17 players for the 2006 season.

The Memphis Xplorers...2005 ArenaCup Champions

The Xplorers will defend their Arena Cup Championship in 2006 and you can be in on the action. The season begins on April 1 at Tennessee Valley with the home opener on April 8 versus the Florida Firecats.

Season Tickets are available now and begin as low as $56. Don't miss all the action of the "50-Yard Indoor War." For season ticket information call the Xplorers office at 662-342-1755.

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