All-af2 Linebacker Hunt Among Four Assigned

Published on February 20, 2009 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league have been assigned WR/DB Alan Flemming, OL/DL Braeden Gates, FB/LB Jason Hunt and DB Diamond Francies by the af2 League Office, Lightning head coach Chad Carlson announced today.

"We're excited about our growing roster that includes a mix of talent, experience and potential," said Carlson. "Jason brings a wealth of experience as our career sack leader and we're looking for big things from him this year."

MODESTO NATIVE, SACK LEADER JASON HUNT BACK FOR THIRD YEAR

Hunt returns for his third season with the Lightning and have strong Northern California-area ties, with Hunt playing his high school football at Modesto High School and Francies spending a portion of his college career at Sacramento State University (NCAA).

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound linebacker returns as the franchise leader with 17.5 sacks and posted six last season, finishing second on the Lightning with 60 tackles (49 solo) last season and was second on the team with 11 pass breakups.

Hunt was one of six (af2 league-high tying) Lightning players named to the All-af2 team in 2007 after leading the Lightning with 11.5 sacks, breaking the single-season team record previously set by Aubrey Dorisme (8.0 sacks, set in 2006). The Modesto, Calif. native led the Lightning with 13.5 tackles for loss, ranking eighth in the af2 and registered 52.5 tackles, placing fourth on the team.

Hunt attended school and played college football at University of Cincinnati (OH) and began college playing career at Sacramento City College where he garnered Second Team All-American honors amid a productive senior season in 2002, in which he had 75 tackles in 14 games.

Following his collegiate career, Hunt spent the 2003 National Football League training camp period with the Miami Dolphins.

FRANCIES RETURNS TO LIGHTNING SECONDARY FOR THIRD SEASON

Francies, whose legal first name is "Carlos," returns for his third season in a Lightning uniform looking to bounce back from an injury shortened season. In just two games, Francies registered three tackles and one interception before suffering a season-ending knee injury on April 5 at Spokane.

In his 2007 rookie campaign, Francies was second on the Lightning with 60 total tackles, 49 solo, one tackle for loss and was second on the team with 11 pass breakups. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound defensive back spent his college football career at local Sacramento State University (NCAA) before transferring for his 2006 senior campaign at NCAA Division-II Humboldt State, helping guide the program to a 9-1 record.

As a 2006 senior, Francies ranked seventh on the Jacks with 37 tackles and was second on the team with six pass breakups. Francies' college career started locally with a one-year stint at American River College and was an all-league selection.

Expected to add depth to a bulky and experienced frontline which includes former USC Trojan Travis Tofi, returning 6-foot-5, 335-pound giant Stephen Bell and ex-New York Giant Manuel Wright, the 6-foot-3, 330-pound Gates enters his first season of pro football after finishing his college football with Dixie State College (NAIA).

Gates was part of a protective scheme for the Red Storm that enabled quarterback Dexter Hill to throw for 2,344 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Flemming enters his first season of pro football expected to spell an athletic set of Lightning in the receiver and defensive back position, most recently competed with Shasta (Calif.) Junior College in Redding, Calif, racking up 13 tackles, one sack and two pass breakups in eight games as a 2006 freshman. An all-league selection and all-CIF honoree for Paradise (Calif.) High School, the 6-foot-1, 197 signed a letter of intent to transfer to Kansas Wesleyan University (NAIA) but did not play.

The Lightning open the 2009 af2 regular season on Saturday, March 28 against the Central Valley Coyotes with a Week One road matchup at Selland Arena, starting at 7:30 p.m. Both teams face a Week Four rematch in the Lightning home opener on Saturday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m. at Stockton Arena.

Season tickets for the 2009 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.

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