An Xplorers assignee is selected in NFL Europe draft for second straight year
February 2, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release
SOUTHAVEN --- The successful progression of players from the af2's Memphis Xplorers to higher leagues continued last week when OL/DL Ryan Hoffman was selected in the NFL Europe Free Agent Draft. Hoffman, a rookie, was assigned to the defending ArenaCup champions in late November and joins OL/DL Greg Taplin as Xplorers that have been drafted into the NFL's overseas developmental league in the last two seasons.
"We are very excited for Ryan Hoffman," Xplorers Head Coach Danton Barto said. "This is the second consecutive year that we have had a player drafted and signed by NFL Europe. It reaffirms that (Xplorers Director of Player Personnel) Chris Bauer and I are recruiting the right type of impact players for the Memphis Xplorers."
Bauer commented on the number of assigned players that have moved from the Xplorers to a higher league.
"It is unprecedented in af2," Bauer said. "This kind of movement from our roster should be very encouraging to current and potential Xplorers players. It also should signal to the fans the quality of players that we are getting to come to play for Memphis."
The six-foot-five, 280 pound Hoffman was selected by the Cologne Centurions in the ninth round of the draft held last Friday. Hoffman played his college ball at Division II Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. He was an All-American, a two-time All Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference selection and played in the Cactus Bowl, the Division II all-star game.
Taplin was selected by the Berlin Thunder in the 2005 NFL Europe Free Agent Draft and has since been signed by and is on the roster of the Tampa Bay Storm of the AFL.
The Memphis Xplorers...2005 ArenaCup Champions
The Xplorers will defend their Arena Cup Championship in 2006 and you can be in on the action. The season begins on April 1 at Tennessee Valley with the home opener on April 8 versus the Florida Firecats.
Season Tickets are available now and begin as low as $64. Don't miss all the action of the "50-Yard Indoor War." For season ticket information call the Xplorers office at 662-342-1755.
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