Desperados Sign Second Open Tryout Participant, Three Players With Local Ties
December 16, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
The Dallas Desperados today signed defensive specialist Michael Hawkins, one of the almost 440 participants that went through drills at the club's open tryout in early November. Hawkins â a native of Carrollton, Tex., - is the second open tryout participant the Desperados have signed in the last month, joining WR/LB Sparky Hamilton.
Hawkins earned SuperPrep all-America and all-district honors and was considered one of the top 10 cornerbacks in the nation following his senior season at R.L.Turner High School in Carrollton, Tex. As a senior, he recorded 51 tackles, 12 pass deflections, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a tackle for a loss. Following his final prep season, Hawkins attended the University of Oklahoma, where he totaled five tackles and an interception â which he returned 45 yards for a touchdown â in five games as a freshman in 2002. He left the football team to take care of his family following his freshman year and has been out of football since.
Also adding local flavor to the Desperados roster is OL/DL Kevin Aldridge, a product of Southern Methodist University and Jacksonville, Tex., High School. Aldridge was an All-WAC selection as a senior at SMU after earning honorable mention All-WAC honors as a junior. Following his collegiate career, he signed with the Tennessee Titans as a rookie free agent and spent most of the 2002 season on the Titans practice squad. He was on Tennessee's 2002 active roster long enough to see action in six games, totaling 13 tackles. He was allocated to the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe last spring and recorded 26 tackles, a forced fumble and half a sack in seven games.
Another Desperados signing with a local twist is former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Colston Weatherington. Weatherington was a seventh round draft choice of the Cowboys in 2001, and he spent his first season on the Cowboys practice squad. He made Dallas' active roster in 2002, seeing action in three games and posting a tackle and a quarterback pressure. He was a Division II All-America at Central Missouri State before joining the Cowboys.
In further transactions, Dallas traded OL/DL Patrick Scott to the Philadelphia Soul for OL/DL Jeff Chase. Chase made his AFL debut last spring with the Colorado Crush, then was selected by Philadelphia in the 2004 AFL Expansion Draft. He has also spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. Scott was a key contributor to the success of the Desperados during their first two seasons in the league, posting 19 tackles and four sacks on defense and carrying the ball nine times for 30 yards and a touchdown while catching four passes for 29 yards in his two seasons in Dallas.
The Desperados also lost a player over the last week, with offensive specialist Cedric Bonner being moved to the club's Reserve/Exempt list after signing with the Buffalo Bills of the NFL.
The Dallas Desperados will begin preparations for their third indoor season in early January, 2004 when they open training camp in Dallas. They kick off the 2004 season on Feb. 8 by hosting the Carolina Cobras at the American Airlines Center. Season ticket packages are available by calling the Desperados ticket office at 972-785-4900 or by visiting the Desperados official website at www.dallasdesperados.com.
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