A Homecoming For Smith, Jackson and Welcher
June 19, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league announced WR/DB Vernon Smith, rookie WR Ruben Jackson and rookie OL/DL Will Welcher (WELL-ker) have been assigned by the af2 league office.
The Lightning also announced the following roster transactions: ÂÅ Nashville Dyer (DB) placed on re-assignment ÂÅ Daniel Grossi (OL/DL) placed on recallable re-assignment ÂÅ Robert Henson (WR) placed on re-assignment ÂÅ Warren Tauanuu (DL) placed on recallable re-assignment ÂÅ Carl Walker (LB) activated off injured reserve
Welcher, Smith (12) and Jackson (2) are expected to suit-up and be available to play Saturday when the Lightning face the Boise Burn at Stockton Arena, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Smith, 27, returns for his second stint in a Lightning uniform after appearing in three games with Stockton last season, tallying nine catches for 75 yards and one touchdown reception. The 6-foot-1, 175 pounder split his four-year (2001-04) between the University of Montana (NCAA) and Eastern Oregon University (NAIA), earning first-team all-Big Sky defense and preseason All-American defensive second team honors as a 2002 sophomore. Smith helped guide the Grizzlies to an NCAA Division I-AA national championship as a 2001 freshman.
Jackson, weighing in at 5-11, 197 pounds and a product of StocktonÂfs Edison high school, split his four year college career (2003-2006) between San Francisco Community College (2003-2004), and Oregon State University (2005-2006), earning 2004 Junior College Athletic Bureau California Community College first team All-American., first team all-region, and was rated as one of the top 150 junior college players in the nation.
While at Oregon State, Jackson was used in a versatile role, tallying 27 catches and 455 receiving yards in 20 career games along with two touchdowns, and 137 career rushing yards. He added four returns for 67 kick-return yards as a 2005 junior.
Welcher joins the Lightning after a brief hiatus from the game and returns to the local Northern California area after splitting four years of his college football career at the University of Mary (N.D.), Morningside College (Kan.) and American River (Sacramento, Calif.) Junior College.
The Lightning return to play with a Week 13 home matchup against the Boise Burn, beginning at 7:00 from Stockton Arena on Saturday, June 21. The game be heard on radio at 1420-AM KSTN and viewed online, free-of-charge, through www.stocktonlightning.com (courtesy of NifTy Online TV).
Group tickets and individual tickets for the 2008 Lightning regular season are on sale now. For more information on season tickets, merchandise, or other information, please call the Lightning at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonlightning.com.
ECHL Stories from June 19, 2008
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