Destroyers sign five free agents

November 20, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The 2007 National Conference champion Columbus Destroyers, presented by Germain, signed free agent defensive lineman Winfield Garnett, wide receiver/linebacker Jason Shelley, wide receiver/defensive back Charles Pauley, wide receiver/linebacker Tremaine Neal and defensive back Nick Ward, Head Coach Doug Kay announced today. As is club policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Garnett (6-6, 320, The Ohio State University) spent his last two seasons with the Grand Rapids Rampage (2006-07) and now makes his return to the "Buckeye State." The former Buckeye has played four Arena Football League seasons with the Rampage and Philadelphia Soul (2004-05). The Harvey, Ill. native, has accumulated 58.0 tackles (38UT-38AT), 15.0 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks and five forced fumbles in his AFL career. At Ohio State (1994-97), he started in 25-of-42 career games on the defensive front and served as team captain during his senior season.

Shelley (6-2, 192, Central State-Ohio) returns for his second year with Columbus and seventh AFL season. In his career, he has caught 311 passes for 3,688 yards and 67 touchdowns with the Dallas Desperados (2002-06), Nashville Kats (2007) and Destroyers (2007). Before graduating from Central State, he transferred from the University of Washington, where in 1993 he caught a touchdown pass against the University of Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Pauley (5-10, 165, San Jose State) will be playing in his fifth AFL season in 2008. As a member of the Philadelphia Soul in 2007, he set a franchise record with 1,473 receiving yards on 104 catches with 27 touchdowns. His reception and touchdown totals were the second-highest in team history. In his four seasons, he has hauled in 181 passes for 2,463 yards and 41 touchdowns, an average of 13.6 yards per catch. The Duarte, Calif. native is also a threat on special teams as he has returned 67 kickoffs for 1,306 yards and two touchdowns, an average of 19.5 yards per return. A member of the 2005 ArenaBowl Champion Chicago Rush, Pauley has also played for the San Jose SaberCats (2004, 2006).

Neal (6-3, 215, Valdosta State) will be entering his fifth season in the AFL after playing for the New Orleans VooDoo (2004-05, 2007) and the Kansas City Brigade (2006). As a linebacker, the Baltimore, Md. native has accumulated 62.0 tackles (47UT-30AT), eight passes defended, four fumble recoveries, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. On offense, he has hauled in 54 passes for 436 yards and four touchdowns. He is also president and one of the founding members of "Three Sixty Five, Inc." a non-profit organization of AFL players that enhances educational opportunities for at-risk children in the New Orleans, La. area. The group provides funds and assistance to existing after school programs that include tutoring, mentoring, career training, computer education and access to sports programs.

Ward (6-0, 195, Miami-FL) will be entering his eighth season in the AFL. In 68 games played, the Dallas, Tex. native has accumulated 164.0 tackles (146UT-36AT), eight interceptions, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. A member of the 2005 National Conference champion Georgia Force, he will be reunited with former Force teammates and current Destroyers quarterback Matt Nagy and wide receiver Derek Lee.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from November 20, 2007


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