Force Re-Sign Eight Core Players
September 26, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Georgia Force News Release
Duluth, GA (September 26, 2011) - In their first year back in Georgia, the Force came within a game of an ArenaBowl appearance. Now, the team has taken steps toward an even bigger year in 2012 by bringing back eight key members of the 2011 team, including quarterback Darnell Kennedy and wide receiver Larry Shipp.
In addition to Shipp and Kennedy, defensive linemen Jeff Littlejohn and Louis Ellis, defensive back Robert Durham, linebacker Caleb Bostic, and offensive linemen Sean Allen and Ray Norell all agreed to terms for the 2012 season.
"These players were key components to our success during the 2011 season," said Force head coach Dean Cokinos, "and their signings give us a solid base to build on heading into 2012."
Shipp, a Tennessee Tech product, led all Force receivers with 1,784 yards on 124 receptions with 29 touchdowns. Kennedy, meanwhile, took the reins at quarterback late in the season, complete 63 of his 100 passing attempts for 833 yards and 17 scores. He started the team's final three games under center, including the two playoff games. Allen and Norell anchored an offensive line that allowed the Force to amass the sixth-most passing yards in the AFL.
The defense will see the return of Durham, whose 5.8 tackles per game placed him in the league's top ten. Littlejohn was a mainstay on the line last season, and he's joined by Ellis, who spent 2011 on the exempt list as he was a member of the NFL's Carolina Panthers prior to his recent release. Bostic, a Miami (Ohio) product, will again bolster the linebacking corps.
"We expect more Force players to sign, but we're really excited to get into the free agent market this week to continue building our roster as we move forward," said Cokinos.
The restricted signing period ended on Sunday, and teams can pursue free agents from the entire league. A number of signings will be announced over the course of the coming days and weeks.
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