Hammers Sign Former Vipers Star DB Derico
January 28, 2011 - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)
Alabama Hammers News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Alabama Hammers defensive secondary just got even better.
Arena football veteran defensive back Demetrius Derico - a former Viper and All-af2 selection- has signed to play for the Hammers during their inaugural 2011 Southern Indoor Football League season.
Derico coached defensive backs for the Arena Football League's Alabama Vipers last season after leading the af2's Vipers in tackles during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
"Demetrius will bring a veteran presence to the secondary and we'll basically have a coach on the field - because he was a coach last season,'' Hammers coach Marty Hammond said. "We should be pretty solid on the back end with Travis Blanchard back there also. It will be very helpful having a combo like that. Our opponents are going to have something to think about when it comes to challenging those guys."
Derico (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) came off a standout career at Alabama State and posted 44.5 tackles for the New Orleans Voodoo of the AFL in 2007. He joined the Tennessee Valley Vipers in 2008 and was a mainstay on defense, pacing the team with 85 tackles and 10 interceptions en route to the Arena Cup championship with a 56-55 overtime victory at Spokane.
In 2009, the Montgomery native posted 94 tackles and a pair of interceptions for the Vipers. Derico signed to play for the AFL's Alabama Vipers last season, but ended up serving as defensive backs coach instead.
An employee of the United States Post Office, Derico will juggle his full-time job with his life-long passion for football.
"This is a great opportunity for me to continue to play in a city that has a great arena football history,'' Derico said. "There is a tradition in this venue and I'm ready to help keep it going."
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Southern Indoor Football League Stories from January 28, 2011
- Former Bulldog Moland becomes Hammers first signee from tryout - Alabama Hammers
- Hammers Sign Former Vipers Star DB Derico - Alabama Hammers
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