2010 Defensive Player of the Year DL Gabe Nyenhuis Returns to SaberCats
November 7, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - The SaberCats today announced 2010 Defensive Player of the Year DL Gabe Nyenhuis will return to the SaberCats for his second season with the team in 2012.
"Gabe is one of the best defensive linemen in the AFL," said Owner/Head Coach Darren Arbet. "Pairing him with Tim McGill will give us a tremendous combination on the defensive line and we are looking forward to seeing it on the field in 2012."
Nyenhuis (6-3, 265, Colorado) played in 10 games for San Jose, totaling 14.0 tackles, 4.0 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception returned for a touchdown, two passes defensed and one blocked kick despite being limited with an injury early in the season.
The 2012 season will mark his fifth in the AFL and second with the SaberCats. For his career, he has totaled 86.5 tackles, 32 sacks, 17 forced fumbles and nine passes defensed in 58 games. In 2010, Nyenhuis led the league in sacks (15.5) and forced fumbles (9) en route to earning the AFL's highest defensive honor for the Tulsa Talons. He was also named first-team All-Arena.
A two-time All-Arena selection at defensive lineman, Nyenhuis spent two seasons with the Philadelphia Soul (2007-08), helping them to an ArenaBowl championship in 2008 against the SaberCats. During their championship run, Nyenhuis led the team in sacks (9.5), tackles for loss (12.5) and forced fumbles (5). He also led the team with two sacks while forcing a fumble during the 2008 postseason.
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks in 2004, he has served stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2004), Indianapolis Colts (2006) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (2009) of the Canadian Football League.
Prior to his professional career, he spent four years at the University of Colorado after transferring from Northwestern. In 25 games for the Buffaloes, he recorded 85 tackles (63 solo) with eight sacks, 24 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback pressures, a fumble recovery, two forced fumbles and 10 passes defensed.
A native of St. Charles, IL, he attended St. Charles High School where he was named a SuperPrep All-American, Chicago Sun-Times first-team all-area and all-state and Chicago Tribune first-team all-state selection as a junior and senior. In his final year at St. Charles, Nyenhuis recorded 76 tackles, 31 for loss, six forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two passes defensed his senior season.
The SaberCats roster now stands at 27 players with eight returning from 2011.
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