Sports stats



Arizona Rattlers

2017 United Bowl MVP Shirk Returns to Rattlers; Add WR/QB Lowe

January 21, 2020 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


Arizona Rattlers LB Justin Shirk
Arizona Rattlers LB Justin Shirk
(Arizona Rattlers)

PHOENIX - The six-time world champion Arizona Rattlers announced today that they have signed the 2017 United Bowl MVP LB Justin Shirk, along with WR/QB Jaylen Lowe.

LB Shirk (6'0, 240, Bloomsburg) will be entering his third season with Arizona. Shirk made an instant impact on the defense in 2017, ranking fourth on the team in tackles (53.5) and second in sacks (7.5) after only joining the team mid-season. He also had three pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. Shirk was named the United Bowl MVP after recording three tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a pass breakup to help the Rattlers win their sixth world title.

Prior to joining the Rattlers, Shirk signed with the National Football League's (NFL) Indianapolis Colts in 2015, and spent all of training camp with the team.

The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania native attended Bloomsburg University where he earned two All-American honors in his senior season after recording 120 tackles, 21.5 of them for a loss, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pick. He was also named to the All-PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference) team all four years (second team his freshman and sophomore seasons; first team his junior and senior seasons).

WR/QB Lowe (6'0, 210, Langston) enters his first season with the Rattlers and the IFL.

Lowe attended Langston University where he holds the school records for most passing yards in a season (3,040), most passing touchdowns in a season (31), and most passing touchdowns in a game (7). In 2018 he led the NAIA in total offense yards per game with an average of 369.6 yards per game and finishing third in total offense (3,696), third in passing yards per game (304.0), and fifth in passing efficiency (168.7). He also rushed for 656 yards and 12 touchdowns that year.

Lowe earned the 2018 Offensive Player of the Year honors and was first-team all-conference at quarterback, and three SAC (Sooner Athletic Conference) offensive player of the week awards. He was also named to the 2018 AP NAIA All-America Team (second team) and was the Oklahoma College Football Player of the Year.

The Collinsville, Oklahoma native attended Owasso High School where he was a multi-sport athlete who was named All-Metro first team in both football and basketball in 2013. On October 12, 2019, Lowe was inducted into the Owasso Athletic Hall of Fame.




Images from this story

Arizona Rattlers LB Justin Shirk
Arizona Rattlers LB Justin Shirk
 Arizona Rattlers LB Justin Shirk
Arizona Rattlers LB Justin Shirk
 Arizona Rattlers LB Justin Shirk
Arizona Rattlers LB Justin Shirk

• Discuss this story on the Indoor Football League message board...

Indoor Football League Stories from January 21, 2020


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