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Crudup, B'Jay Jones Return For '08

December 12, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league have been assigned QB Derrick Crudup and WR/DB B'Jay Jones from the af2 League Office, Lightning head coach Doug Murray announced today.

Crudup spent the 2007 af2 season backing up quarterback Evan Gray and appeared in seven games, completing 71 passes for 732 yards. He finished the season throwing for 11 touchdowns and had a passer rating of 85.13. Additionally, Crudup had 18 rushing attempts for 92 yards and a touchdown.

"We're looking for Derrick to come in and vie for several starting positions," said Murray. "He can play in the secondary, at receiver and he won't be ruled out for the starting quarterback position. But the most important thing he brings back is leadership and a quality attitude for our franchise."

Crudup is entering his second season with the Lightning and third season overall in arenafootball2. In his af2 debut with the Spokane Shock in 2006, Crudup completed two of three passes, one for a touchdown. Crudup was a member of the Shock's ArenaCup championship team and was assigned to the Lightning for the 2007 season. During his two seasons in af2, Crudup has completed 74 passes for 750 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Deerfield Beach, Florida native previously played four years (2001-04) of college football at the University of Miami (NCAA), earning a roster spot as a 2001 redshirt freshman on a loaded Hurricanes program that won a national championship, and advanced to the Bowl Championship Series national championship game as a 2002 sophomore.

Crudup appeared in 26 games during his career at Miami, completing 66-of-118 passes for 805 yards and six touchdowns. His most active season came as a 2003 junior, appearing in seven games while completing 34 of 57 attempts for 377 yards and three touchdowns, tallying a career-high 59.6 completion percentage and 53.9 yards per game. Crudup beat out Berlin for the starting quarterback job against Syracuse in a 17-10 win on November 15, 2003 and appeared in the January 2003 Fiesta Bowl national championship game against Ohio State, completing an eight-yard pass in overtime.

Additionally, Crudup's 2003 season included a career-high 29 carries for 75 yards, averaging 10.7 yards per game. He scored on his first rushing attempt of his college career, a 24-yard scramble against Rutgers as a 2001 freshman.

Crudup competed at Deerfield Beach (Fla.) High where he received SuperPrep All-American and USA Today Honorable Mention All-American honors, throwing for over 1,800 yards, 26 touchdowns, and a 60 percent pass-completion rate as a senior. His father, Derrick Sr. played in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Raiders from 1989-91.

Jones was the fourth leading receiver on the Lightning last year, catching 41 passes for 589 yards. He caught 13 touchdown passes during his 2007 campaign, and averaged just shy of 60 yards receiving per game.

Jones played in all 16 games with the Laredo Law as an af2 rookie in 2004, catching 40 passes for 678 yards and 13 touchdowns and doubled-up on the defensive side, recording 20 tackles, one sack and one interception. He had career nights during a three-week span in the summer of 2004, where on June 19 he totaled a career-best 138 receiving yards, and followed that up two weeks later by catching three touchdown passes against the Tulsa Talons.

Jones began his college football career at Grambling State University, but transferred to Langston University where he excelled as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track.

"We're looking for B'Jay to have a coming-out party this year and establish himself as a bona-fide receiver in this league," said Murray.

Crudup and Jones return for their second season on a Lightning team that averaged over 50 points per game during the 2007 season.

Details on the Lightning 2008 regular season schedule will be announced soon.

An af2 league-high tying six Lightning players were chosen for the All-af2 team in 2007. Lightning 2008 season tickets 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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