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IFL Iowa Barnstormers

Iowa Barnstormers Roster Roundup

March 5, 2024 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Iowa Barnstormers News Release


DES MOINES - With just under two weeks remaining until the start of the Indoor Football season, the Iowa Barnstormers have been hard at work to recruit a talented roster. Head Coach Dave Mogensen has announced the signing of 33 players who will be attending the team's 2024 Training Camp.

"We have brought together a large group of really talented players, with a large group of them being rookies," said Head Coach Dave Mogensen. "We will need to see those rookies transition and prove they can perform against this higher level of competition while we need the veterans to continue to show they belong at this level. We expect this to be a highly competitive training camp, especially at wide receiver, defensive back, and defensive lineman. We have some incredible rookies coming in the competition so the final roster should be fierce."

Of the 33 players signed, eight will be returning from last season's roster. Leading the defense, linebacker Ian McBorrough returns for his third season with the team. He is joined by veteran defensive back Tyrell Pearson and defensive back Phillip Russell, along with defensive lineman Ronald Cherry. Kicker Gabriel Rui is returning for his fourth season with the Barnstormers. Offensively, linemen Joe Bastante and Toryque Bateman make their return and fans will also recognize wide receiver Eric Thomas who is returning after appearing on the team's roster in 2022.

Finally, quarterback Darius James Peterson is making his comeback following an injury that ended his 2023 season just as it began.

"Darius was one of the most dynamic players in the IFL in 2022," said Coach Mogensen. "He passed over two thousand yards and led the league with nine hundred rushing yards. We were expecting him to have an MVP jump in 2023, he started fast with over two hundred yards passing and ninety yards rushing in week one, before the injury shut him down. He worked tirelessly to get healthy and is currently in the best shape of his life and fully cleared. I expect Darius to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league, he is going to wow people in camp and I guarantee every single defensive coordinator we play is going to spend their week prepping for how to stop DJP."

A trio of veterans will make their debut with the Iowa Barnstormers this season as wide receiver Tre Long, defensive back Victor Hampton, and linebacker Christian Russell join the team.

The Barnstormers 2024 Training Camp roster will also feature a number of fresh faces to the team and to the Indoor Football League (IFL).

"With the large amount of roster turnover, we need guys to come together quickly," said Coach Mogensen. "Our expectation is that they will be consummate professionals from day one. I've talked to every player on this roster about why they are coming here. The goals are very clear and the pathway to those goals is clear. Hard work and dedication lead the way and we expect the guys coming to training camp to live that motto."

Defensive back Simeon Gatling joins the 2024 Barnstormers camp with a year of IFL experience under his belt after spending last season with the Arizona Rattlers.

Rounding up the current roster is a group of athletes who will be entering their rookie season in the Indoor Football League.

"We failed in 2023, ultimately nobody cares about the causes of the failure they only care that we failed and that forced us to revamp some things, the roster being one of them," said Coach Mogensen. "The IFL is a rookie driven league, the drive of rookies has fueled nearly every IFL Champion over the last five years. We were able to secure the services of a number of players with high pedigrees, we have multiple rookies coming in who were in NFL camps last summer as well as a handful who were in CFL or UFL camps. Our goal in building the roster was to bring in the best players we could find both in a physical and mental capacity."

Local rookie defensive back Austin Fest who earned his contract after impressing Coach Mogensen at the team's 2024 Open Tryout in October is entering the team's Training Camp. Joining him on the defense will be defensive backs J'Von France, Jefferson Fritz, Rodney Owens, and Robbie Williamson along with defensive linemen Kaleb Brewer, Chuckwumeka Manning, Jason Mercier, Sayrend Musgrove, Dylon Ross, and Ty Tate. Offensively, former Iowa State wide receiver Darren Wilson will enter his rookie season alongside wide receivers Bernard McCall, Deion McShane, and Quian Williams; running backs Taeyler Porter and Robert Washington; and offensive linemen Richard Gaskins and Kristopher Stroughter.

Rookie quarterback Kyle King has also joined the roster.

"We did bring in some stiff camp competition at quarterback with rookie Kyle King," said Coach Mogensen. I expect Kyle to push hard for the job in training camp and regardless of how that competition ends up, Kyle will play a big role on our team in 2024."

So how would Coach Mogensen describe this year's Training Camp roster?

"If I had to describe this group in one word, it would be hungry. This group has shown so far to be a highly motivated group with chips on their shoulders. Guys who has something to prove individually that plan to use the team success in synergy with their own success to get them higher league opportunities."

More detailed information about all player signings can be found on the Iowa Barnstormers official website www.theiowabarnstormers.com.

The Iowa Barnstormers 2024 Training Camp is presented by MVP DSM, AmericInn by Wyndham, and Montana Mike's Steakhouse.

Season Tickets for the Iowa Barnstormers 2024 season are on sale now for as low as $128 per seat. Don't miss a minute of the action! For more information, call the Barnstormers at (515) 633-2255 or log on to www.theiowabarnstormers.com.



Indoor Football League Stories from March 5, 2024


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.

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