Conquest ink 10 players
Published on February 17, 2005 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release
Albany, N.Y., Feb. 17, 2005 â The Albany Conquest of arenafootball2 announced today the assignment of ten players to the club for the 2005 season.
Quarterback D. Bryant heads a list of Albany Conquest returnees that also includes Jeff Higgins (WR/LB) and Terrell Black (OL/DL). Second year af2 veterans Donté Wells (DS) and Ricardo Dyson (OL/DL) have also been assigned. In addition, rookies David Dean (OL/DL), Tim Frost (OL/DL), Oby Arah (OL/DL), Unri Thomas (WR/DB), and Earl Morris (OS) were assigned.
"We are excited for the opportunity to have such talented additions to our team this season," said Albany Conquest Head Coach Richard Davis. "This group possesses exceptional talent and the tools to help us field a smart, tough, and well-prepared team this season."
Bryant, 6-3, 210-pounds, was ranked tenth in af2 during the 2004 season with 2,953 yards passing and 52 touchdowns. He was also second on the Conquest with 101 yards rushing, including six rushing touchdowns. As a dual sport athlete at Duke University he played football and basketball before transferring to Iowa Wesleyan in 2001. He passed for 2,454 yards and 11 touchdowns at Duke and was a member of the Men's Division I Basketball team that fell just short in the 1999 NCAA title game. He also boasts on his football resume an invite to the 2003 NFL Combine and a tryout with the Buffalo Bills this past summer.
Higgins, a five-year af2 veteran, was the team's second leading receiver in 2004 with 50 receptions for 560 yards and five touchdowns. He also averaged 18.5 yards per kickoff return with one for a TD. He had 37 tackles with three for a loss and two interceptions. The Glens Falls native was a two-time Division III All-American at Ithaca College. He currently is the Head Football Coach at Corinth H.S.
Black, a former Murray State University standout, totaled 23 tackles with five for a loss and 1.5 sacks in 14 games for the Conquest last season.
Donté Wells and Ricardo Dyson, who both played with the Rio Grand Valley Dorados in 2004, are entering their second af2 seasons. Wells, a 6-0, 190-pounder, recorded 19 tackles and caught 21 passes for 230 yards with three touchdowns last season. He totaled 112 tackles, four sacks, and one interception over two seasons at Mid Western State University. Dyson, 6-4, 383-pounds, recorded 11 tackles with two sacks for the Dorados during the 2004 season. He was the Coast Conference leader in sacks (19) and Defensive Player of the Year at Monterey Peninsula College before heading to Mid Western State where he recorded 18 tackles and one sack.
David Dean, 6-6, 300-pounds, was 1st Team All-PSAC at East Stroudsburg University in 2003 and was an NCAA division II qualifier in the Javelin. He totaled 131 tackles, six sacks, and one interception as a four-year starter for ESU.
Tim Frost, 6-4, 285-pounds, was a starter at tight end for the University of West Virginia in 2000 and 2001. He received All-Academic honors in both years after transferring to Youngstown State University in 2002.
Oby Arah, 6-4, 275-pounds, joins the Conquest after playing with the St. Louis Believers of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) in 2004. The all-time sack leader at Howard University also started for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2002 and 2003 and went to training camp with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001.
Unri Thomas, a 6-1, 207-pound speedster played at Bethune-Cookman College where he excelled in football and track. He has been timed at 10.49 in the 100-meter dash and 20.9 in the 200-meters.
Earl Morris, 6-4, 205-pounds, was a 1st Team All-America at East Texas Baptist University from the South West Conference in 2003 and 2004. He ranks second all-time in receptions (117) and receiving yards (2,075), while holding a career record with 20 touchdowns at ETBU.
The Albany Conquest, a proud member of the Arena Football family, are entering their fourth arenafootball2 season. The Conquest play their home opener against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers on April 15 in a 7:30pm start at Pepsi Arena. Season tickets are on sale now by calling the Albany Conquest offices at (518) 487-2222 or by visiting www.albanyconquest.com for more information.
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