Blitz Roster at 12 with Four More Additions

Published on February 25, 2005 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Bakersfield Blitz News Release


Bakersfield, Calif. – The defending West Division Champion Bakersfield Blitz were assigned four more players to their 2005 roster by the af2 office. With just over a month of operation under their belts, the Blitz coaching staff has secured 12 of the 35 players that will come to camp on March 16th. The first day on the field will be the 17th.

WR/DB Ronshay Jenkins, 24, enters his second af2 season, making his professional debut last season with Rio Grande Valley. In nine games with the Dorados he caught 26 passes for 421 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had one rushing touchdown. Jenkins had 14 kickoff returns as well with a pair of scores and an average of 23 yards per return. Defensively, he had four interceptions with one returned for a touchdown and made 11 unassisted tackles.

Jenkins played four years at New Mexico State, pulling in 86 catches for over 1,400 yards during his tenure. He had 57 catches for 928 yards and four touchdowns in his senior season and also compiled over 370 return yards on punts and kickoffs.

OS Mike Wakefield, 27, also emerged from the New Mexico State program and is in his second season in the af2. Last year with the Laredo Law, Wakefield appeared in seven games, recording over 250 yards receiving on 22 catches with three touchdowns. He also averaged 22.2 yards per kick return with one touchdown. Born in Atlanta, Wakefield grew up in San Diego and attended Lincoln Prep High School where he was an All-City selection in both football and track.

OL/DL Chris Bochen, 25, enters his first season in the pro ranks, after completing his college career at the University of Manitoba. At 6-2, 295-lbs., Bochen hails from Winnipeg and participated in draft evaluation camps and combines for the Canadian Football League. He was a three year starter with the Bisons.

DS Kharee Shorter, 23, is also entering his rookie season in the af2. Last year, he spent time with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers but did not see game action. He played four years with Division I-AA Wagner College, where he recorded over 170 tackles (102 solo), including 13 tackles for a loss, as well as nine interceptions, three touchdowns and 749 all-purpose yards. A Philadelphia native, Shorter graduated from Cheltenham High School in 1999, playing eight different positions and earning three varsity letters.

The Blitz 2005 schedule includes eight games at home and eight on the road, starting with Opening Night on Saturday, April 2nd against Central Valley. Friday Night Football will hit the Rabobank Arena this season, as the remainder of the home schedule will consist of Friday night match-ups. The Blitz will compete in the National Conference West Division along with the Central Valley (Fresno) Coyotes, Rio Grande Valley Dorados, San Diego Riptide and the Tulsa Talons.

Season tickets and group outings for the Blitz are on sale now by contacting the Blitz office at 716-BLITZ (2548) or by stopping by the Bakersfield Sports Entertainment office located at Centennial Garden. For up-to-date information on the Blitz, log onto www.bakersfieldblitz.com and sign up for the Blitz e-mail notification list.

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