Georgia Force Inks Six More Free Agents for Training Camp Roster
December 17, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release
ATLANTA, GA. â The Georgia Force, of the Arena Football League, announced today the signing of six free agents as the team prepares for their 2004 training camp scheduled to open in early January. These signings bring the Force's roster total up to 34 players. AFL rules allow teams to bring 37 players into training camp. The Force has reached contract agreements with the following individuals:
Wide Receiver/ Defensive Back- Jayson Bray Defensive Specialist- Cliff Green Quarterback- Chris Hixson Offensive Specialist- Arnold Jackson Offensive/ Defensive Lineman- Cullen Jenkins Offensive/ Defensive Lineman- Marcus Spriggs
"With training camp rapidly approaching, I am pleased with the way our roster is filling out," explained Head Coach Marty Lowe. "These late additions to our team bring a high quality of both AFL and NFL experience to the table and will make for a very competitive training camp. We are also glad to be returning Cliff Green, who has been a big part in our defense over the last three seasons. He has worked hard to put himself back into a position to be the type of player that we have known and hopefully he will respond well from his injury."
BRAY (5-9, 185, Auburn) returns home to the state of Georgia and rejoins the Force after playing in one game with the team during their inaugural season. In 2002 after being activated from Injured Reserve, he played at Chicago and recorded a fumble recovery against the Rush. That following week, Bray was placed on the team's roster exempt list while he spent the remainder of 2002 and the 2003 seasons playing for Calgary, Edmonton and B.C. in the CFL. Bray was a two-time 5-A All-State selection at defensive back at LaGrange High School in LaGrange, Georgia.
GREEN (5-8, 185, Tennessee State) comes back to the Force for a third season and will look to return to form after suffering a season ending injury in the third game of 2003. Last season, he led the team in tackles with 12 and interceptions with three before rupturing his left Achilles tendon in the Force's home opener against San Jose. As one of the Force's all-time defensive leaders, Green had a career season in 2002 recording career-highs in tackles with 80.5, interceptions with six and passes defended with 16 and was named the AFL Defensive Player of the Month for June. By re-signing with the Force, Green stays close to home where he attended Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur, Georgia.
HIXSON (6-3, 215, Rhode Island) is a two-year AFL veteran who has spent his entire career with the Arizona Rattlers. Over the last two seasons, he has proven to be a solid and capable backup for All-Arena quarterback Sherdrick Bonner in helping the Ratters reach back-to-back ArenaBowl Championship games in 2002 and 2003. Hixson has played in 14 games for his career completing 82-of-138 passes for 948 yards and 17 touchdowns. Following his collegiate career at Rhode Island, he finished as the school's all-time leading passer with 8,407 yards, a .586 completion percentage, and 691 completions.
JENKINS (6-3, 292, Central Michigan) will enter his first season in the AFL after attended training camp with the Green Bay Packers in 2003. A four-year letter winner at Central Michigan, Jenkins registered 137 tackles and 7.5 sacks over his career. His brother, Kris, plays defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers and played in the 2002 Pro Bowl.
JACKSON (5-8, 173, Louisville) brings his talents over to the game of Arena Football after two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and one year with the CFL's Ottawa Renegades. In 2001, he led all NFL rookies with 11.5-yard punt-return average, good for fifth in the NFC, and was the only regular NFL punt returner without a fair catch on the season. Regarded as the University of Louisville's most explosive offensive weapon, he left as the school's most prolific pass catcher. Jackson established a new NCAA Division 1-A record with 300 receptions and gained a Louisville and Conference-USA career record 3,670 yards receiving. His 31 touchdown catches are two shy of the school's all-time record of 33 and he also gained a Louisville career-record 972 yards with a touchdown on 100 punt returns during his time in a Cardinals' uniform. Jackson was recently honored by the College Football Hall of Fame, who will proudly display the gloves he wore in the 2000 Army game, when he set a new collegiate pass catching record. He is the only player in school history to catch at least 60 passes in a season three times during a career.
SPRIGGS (6-4, 314, Troy State) is a former sixth round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in 1999, who played in 18 games over his three years with the club. This past summer, Spriggs went to training camp with the Houston Texans. He began collegiate career at Ohio State before transferring to Troy State. Spriggs as named All-Southland first-team both years at Troy State in 1997 and 1998.
The Georgia Force will open their third season of play in the AFL when they kickoff the 2004 season on Sunday, February 8th at 3:00 p.m. against the New York Dragons in the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The league continues to grow in its 18th season, recently adding New Orleans, Philadelphia and Austin to the 16 teams that competed last season. A network-TV sport, the AFL will celebrate its 2nd season on NBC in 2004. Georgia Force season tickets are on sale now and can be reserved with most major credit cards by calling (770) 813-7610 or visit: www.georgiaforce.com.
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from December 17, 2003
- Georgia Force Inks Six More Free Agents for Training Camp Roster - Georgia Force
- Detroit Fury Single Game Tickets on Sale Today - Detroit Fury
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
