af2 Alumni on Every AFL Roster

Published on January 31, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

CHICAGO - With the Arena Football League's 17th season set to kick off on NBC this Sunday, final rosters have been set, and for the first time ever there is at least one former af2 player listed on each AFL team roster, the af2 League office announced today. A total of 52 players who participated in af2's 2002 season have made the final roster, practice squad or reserve list of an AFL squad for 2003.

Among the 52 players on AFL teams, 32 will begin the 2003 season on active rosters, while 20 will start the campaign on practice squads, injured reserve or exempt lists. In 2002, 28 af2 players made final AFL rosters, while 32 made the jump in 2001.

"The fact that more af2 players than ever before have made AFL rosters proves that af2 is serving its purpose as a developmental football league," said af2 Executive Director Jay Marcus. "It also speaks volumes of the talent in af2 as these guys are not only making AFL squads, but also making an impact with their teams."

Some of the more notable graduates include Orlando's E.J. Burt (formerly with Cape Fear) who obliterated the af2 single season sack record with 27.5 in 2002 and earned af2 Lineman of the Year honors. Kelly Snell (now with Detroit) set an af2 benchmark with 15 interceptions last season for the Tennessee Valley Vipers and was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Year.

Augusta led the pack of af2 teams sending players to the AFL as six former Stallions made the final training camp cuts in the AFL. The 2002 ArenaCup Champion Peoria Pirates sent five players to the AFL. The Carolina Cobras, led by former af2 head coach Mike Hold, recruited the most af2 talent of any other AFL team with 10 players. Ron Selesky (2002 af2 Head Coach of the Year) signed eight af2 players to his Buffalo Destroyers roster.

About af2 Entering its fourth season, af2 serves as a grassroots, developmental indoor football league for players, coaches and officials with teams in small- to mid-size markets throughout the United States. af2 operates under the same Mission Statement and Fans' Bill of Rights as the AFL, which kicks off its 17th season and first with NBC on Sunday, February 2, 2003. NBC will provide the AFL with unprecedented exposure by televising up to 70 games, including all playoff contests and ArenaBowl XVII on June 22.

The following is the list (as of 1/30/03) of 2002 af2 players who made final 2003 AFL rosters:

Name 2003 AFL Team 2002 af2 Team
1) Bryan Henderson Arizona Wichita
2) Larry Nixon Arizona Bossier City**
3) Olen Rosehill Arizona Hawaii**
4) Will Sullivan Arizona Wichita**
5) Frank Trentadue Arizona Quad City*
6) Ken Bouie Buffalo Peoria
7) Eddie Diaz Buffalo Augusta*
8) Demond Gibson Buffalo Peoria
9) Mike Guazzo Buffalo Albany
10) Alex Houston Buffalo Albany
11) Mike Moser Buffalo Louisville
12) Anthony Payton Buffalo Louisville
13) Jose White Buffalo Roanoke*
14) Gabe Amey Carolina Macon
15) Dunstan Anderson Carolina Florida
16) Ben Bronson Carolina Augusta
17) Tim Dumas Carolina Augusta
18) Decorye Hampton Carolina Memphis
19) Richard Holland Carolina Roanoke
20) Deryl Lane Carolina Florida
21) Blaine Mensch Carolina Augusta**
22) Tim McGill Carolina Quad City
23) Glen Mitts Carolina Augusta
24) Lincoln Dupree Chicago Peoria*
25) Keith Gispert Chicago Augusta
26) Kane Claunch Colorado San Diego**
27) Bobby Pesavento Colorado Cape Fear
28) Darnell Small Colorado Arkansas
29) Will Pettis Dallas Pensacola
30) Richard Jones Detroit Florida*
31) Mario Kelso Detroit Roanoke
32) Todd Latourette Detroit Tennessee Valley
33) Richard McCleskey Detroit Tulsa
34) John Rayborn Detroit Macon
35) Ernest Ross Detroit Birmingham
36) Kelly Snell Detroit Tennessee Valley
37) Adesola Badon Georgia Tallahassee***
38) Titcus Pettigrew Grand Rapids Peoria**
39) Teto Simpson Grand Rapids Cape Fear**
40) Jeff Welsh Grand Rapids Columbus**
41) Kohei Satomi Indiana Hawaii**
42) Russel Newman Las Vegas Richmond***
43) Ramon Richardson Las Vegas Tulsa**
44) Iosefa Pua'Auli Los Angeles Cape Fear**
45) Chris Anthony New York Quad City
46) Walter Church New York Peoria
47) Jimmy Kibble New York
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
48) Kerry Taylor New York New Haven Ninjas
49) E.J. Burt Orlando Cape Fear
50) Bob Bees San Jose Richmond
51) Brent Browner Tampa Bay Quad City**
52) Anthony Buich Tampa Bay Tulsa**

* Injured Reserve
** Practice Squad
*** Exempt (NFL)

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