Sports stats



Albany Firebirds

Albany Firebirds Set 2024 Roster

April 26, 2024 - Arena Football One (AF1)
Albany Firebirds News Release


The Firebirds roster in finalized. Check out this exciting group of football players!

Quarterback

First Name Last Name Position Height (ft) Weight (lbs) College

Will Arndt QB 6'5 215 W. Connecticut

Jake Medlock QB 6'3 210 FIU

Albany will trot out two highly experienced quarterbacks, Will Arndt and Jake Medlock. Arndt is a former CFL quarterback turned assistant coach. Arndt spent parts of four CFL seasons with three clubs in either a player or coaching capacity. The former Western Connecticut State product aims to provide a veteran presence in the huddle. Medlock is no stranger to professional football, either. The six-foot-three gunslinger has played professionally in Europe, the CFL, and IFL since 2016. Medlock most recently served as the Quarterbacks coach for Missouri Southern University in 2022. Regardless of who Head Coach Damon Ware chooses as his starter week in and week out, his quarterbacks will play a smart brand of football with limited turnovers. This Firebirds QB room projects as one of the best across the landscape of the Arena Football League.

Specialists (OS/DS)

First Name Last Name Position Height (ft) Weight (lbs) College

Arhthur Hobbs DB 5'10 190 Nebraska-Kearney

Markus Smith DB 6'2 205 Nevada

David Tolentino Jr. DB 5'11 185 Grand View

Darius Prince WR 6'2 195 Penn State Beavers

The Firebirds acquired perhaps the most talented and certainly most accomplished Arena player in the league in Wide Receiver Darius Prince. The former Indoor, NFL, NAL, and AFL veteran will anchor the Offensive Specialist role this season in Albany. With stops in several different professional leagues, this man knows how to catch passes, make plays in space, and score touchdowns regardless of down and distance. The former National Arena League MVP will be a matchup nightmare all season long for opposing defenses. If it is possible to be an MVP front-runner without taking a regular-season snap, Prince is on the shortlist heading into week one.

Linebacker Nick Haag is slated to serve as the Defensive Specialist for Defensive Coordinator Dwayne Hollis in 2024. The former Assumption College, NFL, AFL, and NFL stud enters the season looking to carve out a prominent role on defense. Haag's familiarity with the Albany coaching staff, coupled with his tenacious pass-rushing abilities, should put him in a fantastic position to succeed this year. The collective efforts of these two special players will be key to the success of this Albany squad this season.

Wide Receiver/Defensive Back

First Name Last Name Position Height (ft) Weight (lbs) College

Phillip Barnett WR/DB 6'3 220 Toledo

Byron Edwards WR/DB 5'10 185 Texas Southern

DaQuan Patten WR/DB 5'8 175 Western Carolina

Farean Toney WR/DB 5'9 185 Miss. Valley State

Darien Twonsend WR/DB 5'10 180 Youngstown State

Marquel Wade WR/DB 5'11 170 Arkansas

Jalen Wilson WR/DB 6'5 205 Kentucky Wesleyan

Albany carries an impressive set of pass-catchers and secondary players heading into the season. Led by the trio of Phillip Barnett, DaQuan Patten, and Marquel Wade, this group features a great mix of veteran leadership and playmaking prowess. The 33-year-old Barnett touts a professional football resume, unlike most others in the AFL. The Ohio native will occupy plenty of space on offense and will use every bit of his six-foot-three, 215-pound frame to his advantage in Albany.

The burner of the group is Patten. Following in his father David Patten's footsteps in Albany, defenses are going to be well aware of where the former Western Carolina star is on the field every single down. Wade is yet another NAL veteran looking to continue his successful career in Albany after being reunited with Coach Ware. Wade will provide valuable minutes on both sides of the ball this year. Big play ability from Byron Edwards, Darien Townsend, Jalen Wilson, and Farean Toney will provide additional sparks on offense.

Expect the defensive back trio of Arthur Hobbs, David Tolentino Jr., and Markus Smith to come up clutch all season long. With a star-studded room of athletes, the Firebirds have a plethora of explosive playmakers ready to roll on both sides of the ball in 2024.

Fullback/Linebacker

First Name Last Name Position Height (ft) Weight (lbs) College

Kevin Voyles FB/LB 6'4 250 Methodist

Jake Molinich FB/LB 6'3 255 Buffalo

Trevon Shorts FB/LB 6'1 220 Fairmont St.

Nick Haag LB 6'3 240 Assumption

Albany has brought back a familiar face to anchor the linebacker and fullback role this season. Former Fairmont State University and NAL Ironman of the Year Award winner Trevon Shorts will assume a similar role akin the one he had in 2022 under Coach Ware. Playing at both Mack and Jack Linebacker, as well as taking snaps at Fullback, Shorts will become a household name to Firebirds fans this year. With his background as both a player and an assistant coach in the college ranks, Shorts looks more motivated than ever.

Next, former University at Buffalo athlete Jake Molinich will line up in a similar role with Albany. With professional contracts signed in both the NFL and XFL, this two-way player will provide quality depth in a litany of roles for Albany. Molinich will line up at Fullback, Tight End, and Linebacker for Coach Ware in 2024. The third prospect for the Firebirds suited to fill the receiver / fullback / linebacker role will be former Kevin Voyles. A great athlete out of Methodist University, Voyles Jr. excelled as a Defensive End for the Monarchs. Voyles played professional football via the NAL's with the Carolina Cobras in 2022. Voyles Jr. will provide solid depth on both sides of the ball to round out this impressive trio of Ironmen.

Linemen

First Name Last Name Position Height (ft) Weight (lbs) College

Dejon Walden DL 6'0 230 Shorter

Bamnjo Bannavti OL/DL 6'1 290 Delaware Valley

Sean Brown OL/DL 6'5 320 Miss. Valley State

Darrell Davis Jr. OL/DL 6'3 315 IUPUI

O'Bryan Goodson OL/DL 6'1 295 Memphis

Jamall Hickbottom OL/DL 6'2 305 South Alabama

Melvin Hollins OL/DL 6'1 310 Jackson State

Shawn Lockett OL/DL 6'1 315 American International

Albany's trenches will be manned by experienced linemen on both sides of the ball. Led by an impressive group that is set to include Sean Brown, Shawn Lockett, and O'Bryan Goodson, a stout offensive line will be paramount. Brown is a former AAF, TSL, and USFL lineman who will protect his quarterback to the fullest. Lockett is an AFL and IFL veteran who also has previous O-Line coaching experience. Goodson is a newcomer to professional football but brings a ton of upside with him. The former University of Memphis Defensive Lineman looks to showcase proper technique and hand placement alongside two veterans in Brown and Lockett.

Solid depth in the likes of Darell Davis Jr. and Banjo Bannavti will be crucial for Albany's offense staying on schedule. With Ironman rules in effect, Firebirds fans can expect to see most of these names lining up defensively as well. Defensive End Dejon Walden should provide excellent pass-rushing capabilities for Coach Hollis' defense this year. With Ironman rules in effect, Firebirds fans can expect to see many of these names lining up defensively. Hickbottom was a fantastic Defensive Linemen during his career at South Alabama. He will lean on those skills learned as well as the presence of his peers to carve out a role on both sides of the ball. Collectively, this group features plenty of talent and depth to compete with any of the fifteen squads in the AFL.

Kicker

First Name Last Name Position Height (ft) Weight (lbs) College

Marc Orozco K 5'9 170 Grambling

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football One message board...

Arena Football One Stories from April 26, 2024


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.

Other Recent Albany Firebirds Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central