Brigade Bolster Training Camp Roster
March 23, 2018 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Baltimore Brigade News Release
BALTIMORE, MD - The Baltimore Brigade announced today the signings of 23 players to the team's training camp roster, including linebacker Dexter Jackson, defensive linemen Justin Lawrence and Terrance Taylor, fullback Rory Nixon and wide receiver Quentin Sims.
Jackson has played for five teams in his seven-year Arena Football League career, most recently the Tampa Bay Storm in 2017. The Jacksonville native was named Second Team All-Arena playing for his hometown Sharks in 2016. Jackson has tallied 21 sacks in his career and at least three in three of the last four seasons.
Lawrence has played six seasons in the AFL and his last three with the Philadelphia Soul. In 2017, the Morgan State alumnus was named First Team All-Arena after recording a career-high 6.5 sacks. Lawrence has amassed 68 solo tackles, four forced fumbles and one interception in his career.
Taylor started six games for the Brigade last season. The former Michigan Wolverine has registered 58 solo tackles, 23 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and two interceptions in his seven-year AFL career.
"During the offseason, a major priority for us was to improve our defense," Brigade Head Coach Omarr Smith said. "These signings represent a major step toward getting that done. The ability to make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable while maintaining tight coverage down the field is imperative for our defense to be successful. I am confident these guys will do that."
Nixon started at fullback for the Brigade in all 14 games last season, registering 164 all-purpose yards and 10 total touchdowns. Nixon scored a career-high 10 rushing touchdowns in 2016 with the LA Kiss.
Sims appeared in nine games last season, all with the Cleveland Gladiators, leading the AFL with 119.0 receiving yards per game and ranking second with 2.7 touchdowns per game. In just three seasons, Sims has totaled 174 receptions, 2,193 receiving yards and 53 touchdowns.
These additions join Randy Hippeard, Kendrick Ings, Virgil Gray and former University of Maryland Terrapins Daniel Adams and Andre Monroe, whose signings were announced earlier this week.
Below is a full breakdown of players added to the Brigade training camp roster this week:
NAME POS. COLLEGE AFL EXP.
Daniel Adams WR Maryland R
Qumain Black DB East Central Oklahoma 2
Shane Boyd QB Kentucky 8
Lamark Brown WR Minnesota State 3
Cory Butler-Byrd WR Utah R
Ruben Carter OL Toledo R
Rodney Fritz DL Tennessee State 3
Virgil Gray DB Rhode Island 6
Miles Grooms DL Hampton R
Randy Hippeard QB Virginia Wise 5
Kendrick Ings WR N/A 3
Dexter Jackson LB Bethune-Cookman 7
Justin Lawrence DL Morgan State 6
Mark Lewis K Florida International 13
Monte Lewis DL Jacksonville State 2
Jordan McCray OL Central Florida 2
Andre Monroe DL Maryland R
Kendall Montgomery DL Bowling Green State 1
Rory Nixon FB St. Augustine 4
Fred Obi DB San Diego 3
Joe Powell DB Globe Tech 1
Dominique Reed WR Arkansas R
Kyron Samuels OL Jacksonville State R
Quentin Sims WR Tennessee Martin 3
Terrance Taylor DL Michigan 7
Milton Williams WR Delaware State 1
Rykeem Yates DL Nevada R
Zach Voytech OL New Haven R
The 2018 Brigade regular season, presented by MedStar Health, kicks off in Baltimore, Md., on Fri., April 13, when the Brigade host the Washington Valor at 7 p.m. at Royal Farms Arena. Following their season opener, the Brigade travel to Philadelphia on Sat., April 21 for a Week 2 matchup with the defending-champion Soul, a rematch of last season's semifinal matchup.
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Arena Football League Stories from March 23, 2018
- "Money" on the Mind - Philadelphia Soul
- Valor Sign Veteran TT Toliver, 12 Others for Training Camp - Washington Valor
- Brigade Bolster Training Camp Roster - Baltimore Brigade
- Albany Empire to Begin Training Camp Monday - Albany Empire
- Albany Empire Add Two More to Training Camp Roster - Albany Empire
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