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Arena Football One

AFL Central Division Preview

January 16, 2024 - Arena Football One (AF1) News Release


The Arena Football League is back in Mid-America. With three teams in Kansas and one in Iowa, the AFL's central division includes a powerhouse team in Salina, KS as well as an independent that went undefeated last year in Wichita, KS. They all come together for the reboot of the AFL in 2024 and should make for a competitive division.

Iowa Rampage

Location: Council Bluffs, IA

Arena Name and Capacity: Mid-America Center, 6,793

Head Coach: TBA

Key Signings

Chris Elmore - FB/LB Syracuse - The two-way player will make his professional football debut after being a six-year letterman and appearing in 53 games in his time at Syracuse. Listed at 6-1 and 280 lbs, Elmore is the definition of a "bigger back". His 280 lb frame should transition well to playing both ways in the Arena Football League as a linebacker as well as fullback.

Quandreko Statham - WR/DB Dodge City Community College - Quandreko, or Dreko, Statham has a wealth of Arena Football experience. He spent last season with the Bismarck Bucks of the IFL. Before his stop in the IFL, Statham also played a season with the Southwest Storm of the Champions Indoor Football League. His real value may be on the defensive side of the ball where he has ball-hawking tendencies.

Marquis Burks - OL/DL Auburn - Iowa added legitimate SEC size with the signing of the 6-3, 314lbs Marquis Burks. Burks, who played DT in college at Auburn and was a three-year letterman at the position accumulating three career sacks and 4.5 career tackles for loss, will also be presented with the challenge of playing both ways now in the Arena Football League.

Franchise History

The Arena Football League's 2024 relaunch won't be without a franchise in a state that is known for Arena Football. The Iowa Rampage of Council Bluffs, IA makes their debut as an AFL franchise in the AFL 2024 reboot.

Salina Liberty

Location: Salina, KS

Arena Name and Capacity: Tony's Pizza Events Center, 7,583

Head Coach: Heron O'Neal

Salina will be captained by a proven Arena Football winner with the retention of head coach Heron O'Neal who held the same position as the head coach of the Salina Liberty. Last year he guided the Salina Liberty to a 2022 CIF championship. That championship run capped a stretch of four straight CIF championship games as well as earning O'Neal CIF Coach of the Year honors.

Key Signings

Javin Kligo - QB Midwestern State University - The biggest signing for the Salina Liberty may have been the re-signing of signal caller Javin Kilgo. Kilgo won a championship with Heron O'Neal for Salina in the 2022 IFL season. In his time playing professional arena football Kilgo has proven to be a very accurate passer.

Henry Kellog - FB/LB College of Dupage - The Salina Liberty brings in Arena Football experience from the IFL with FB/LB Henry Kellog. Kellog, who spent last year with the Tulsa Drillers of the IFL shines most on defense, and coach Heron O'Neal may count on Kellog to be a game wrecker from the linebacker position.

Tyarise Stevenson - OL/DL Tulsa - After a six-year career at the University of Tulsa where he amassed 109 total tackles and 3.5 sacks in his career, Stevenson spent the 2022 season on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. He brings NFL experience and NFL size to the Salina roster. His size makes him a physical fit to play both ways and play offensive line as well as defensive line.

Franchise History

The Salina Liberty were originally formed in 2016 in the CIF (Champions Indoor Football League). Their 2016 season was a rocky start, but Salina enjoyed multiple successful seasons in the league including conference championships and a CIF title. In 2023 they announced their move to the AFL.

Southwest Kansas Storm

Location: Dodge City, KS

Arena Name and Capacity: United Wireless Arena, 5,300

Head Coach: Gary Thomas

The Southwest Kansas Storm installed a local as their head coach in the form of Gary Thomas. Thomas, who was the head coach of Dodge City Community College, held that position for five years (2013-2018) where he garnered multiple coach of the year honors in the Jayhawk Conference. He stepped away from the game in 2018 and returns in 2023 for his first attempt at the arena league.

Key Signings

Chris Ferguson - OL/DL Cincinnati - As of now the Southwest Kansas Storm are lighter across the board from a weight standpoint than their counterparts in the Central Division of the AFL. Chris Ferguson adds some needed size to the offensive line. The 6'6" 320 lbs Ferguson has the size and length that might anchor the offensive line.

Todd Sibley Jr. - RB Pitt/Albany - After being buried on Pitt's depth chart, Todd Sibley took advantage of transfer rules and moved to FCS Albany after appearing in 30 games in 5 years at Pitt. In his time at Albany, he showed his ability to be a feature back and ran for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final year of collegiate football.

Lashard Durr - DB Mississippi State - SEC and pro football experience arrives in Southwest Kansas in the form of defensive back Lashard Durr. Durr played in 24 games at Miss State racking up 36 tackles and one interception in his time in Starkville. After two seasons at Mississippi State, Durr found himself in camp with the Indianapolis Colts in 2018 and accumulated tackles in preseason action. After a stop in the CFL with the Ottawa Redblacks, Durr now tries his hand at the Arena game.

Franchise History

The Southwest Kansas Storm were announced as a CIF expansion team in 2021 and now make the transition to the AFL.

Wichita Regulators

Location: Park City, KS

Arena Name and Capacity: Hartman Arena, 5,000

Head Coach: Clinton Solomon

The Wichita Regulators will have a wealth of Arena Football experience on their side with coach Clinton Solomon. Solomon, who himself is a former arena football player, transitions from being on the field to coaching. In 2017 Solomon was the CIF Offensive Player of the Year in addition to winning a CIF championship.

Key Signings

Dalvin Stuckey - OL/DL West Georgia University - Stuckey has the size to anchor an offensive or defensive line at 6'4 330lbs. He also brings valuable experience after playing the last few seasons in the APDFL and with the Jacksonville Sharks of the NAL. Stuckey was a highly regarded recruit out of Defuniak Springs, FL, and originally committed to Florida State before going the JUCO route and being rated the #8 JUCO transfer in the country per ESPN in 2014.

Prince Shonola - WR Rocky Mountain College - What Shonola may lack in stature he more than makes up for in speed. His highlight tape from his time at the Orlando Predators shows a legitimate home run threat that can take the top off of a secondary.

Anthony Howard Jr. - LB/DL - Howard has the versatility to rush from the edge or play in the middle of the defense at LB and his highlight tape shows a nose for the football. In his last season in the IFL, he racked up four sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception, and two safeties.

Franchise History

In 2022, The Regulators played their inaugural season as an independent not belonging to any league. They played a five-game schedule going 5-0 in those games. So, as a franchise, they are currently undefeated. They join the AFL in their second year of existence and likely hope to keep their undefeated streak that they started as an Independent alive.

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