Sports stats



2011 Season Kickoff Countdown: 7 Days

September 8, 2011 - United Football League (UFL 1) News Release


JACKSONVILLE, FL - Thursday, September 8, 2011 - Seven days from today the United Football League kicks off its third season when the Omaha Nighthawks welcome the Virginia Destroyers to TD Ameritrade Park at 7pm CT / 8pm ET on Thursday, September 15. Two days later in Sacramento, the Mountain Lions host the defending champion Las Vegas Locomotives at Hornet Stadium at 10.30pm PT / 7.30pm ET.

The UFL will count down daily to the season opener, featuring facts, stats, notes and quotes and beginning with a look at the players whose careers are poised to flourish in Las Vegas, Omaha, Sacramento and Virginia.

The United Football League is a league of opportunity...

The rookies

There are many players fresh out of college who are looking for their first shot at professional regular-season football in the United Football League.

Omaha Nighthawks defensive end CHRISTIAN ANTHONY put up ridiculous numbers as a junior for Grambling - a team-high five interceptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns, 76 total tackles (second on the team) and team-highs in sacks (eight), tackles for loss (15), forced fumbles (five) and fumble recoveries (three). He then missed his entire 2010 senior season due to a blockage in one of the ventricles in his heart following a hit to the chest in practice.

Sacramento Mountain Lions linebacker VICTOR AIYEWA could be the 2011 version of safety ANDREW SENDEJO. Aiyewa, who spent some time in camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had his best season at Washington as a senior, posting 83 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and 4.5 sacks.

The UFL is rife with stories like this - youngsters who are looking to make their first professional impression as positive one here before potentially moving on to the next level.

Those looking for a second chance

Ask Mountain Lions running back CORY ROSS about how the UFL provides opportunities. After running the ball just 12 times and not catching a pass in the regular season in two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Ross is the UFL's all-time leader in rushing yards (897) and receptions (71).

Who are those looking to make an impact in the UFL and have a breakout season in 2011' How about running backs J.J. ARRINGTON and P.J. HILL and linebacker BEAU BELL in Las Vegas' Wide receivers CHAD JACKSON and CHRIS DAVIS in Omaha, quarterback JORDAN PALMER in Sacramento and wide receiver DEXTER JACKSON and cornerback AHMAD CARROLL in Virginia.

The former high draft picks getting back on the field

Being draft high in the NFL doesn't guarantee success. Some last in the NFL for more than a decade. Some seek alternative routes to success.

Mountain Lions wide receiver REGGIE WILLIAMS, a first-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2004, caught 189 passes in five seasons with the Jags, and is looking to play for the first time in three years. Carroll was a first-round choice of the Green Bay Packers seven years ago, has played 57 games in the NFL and is looking to return to the field for the first time since 2009. Both Chad Jackson (New England, 2006) and Dexter Jackson (Tampa Bay, 2008) were second-round choices by their respective teams, as was Arrington by the Arizona Cardinals in 2005.

As for quarterbacks, Las Vegas' BRIAN BROHM was a second-round pick by the Packers in 2008, and has played in three regular-season NFL games, while Omaha quarterback ERIC CROUCH was a third-round selection of the St. Louis Rams in 2002 as a wide receiver, and has not played professionally in five years.

These players, and dozens more, will make up the fabric of the 2011 UFL season. They will work to prove they are productive professional football players - as so many others have done in the UFL in the past two seasons.



United Football League Stories from September 8, 2011


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central