Jeremy Staat signs with Los Angeles Avengers

January 7, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release


LOS ANGELES -- Jeremy Staat, who played for the St. Louis Rams this season and was a second-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League, head coach Ed Hodgkiss announced today.

Staat (6-foot-5, 300 pounds) will be an offensive/defensive lineman with the Avengers after signing a one-year contract. Playing on both sides of the football will not be entirely foreign to him, since he did some of that in college and the NFL on a limited basis.

After the Steelers used the 41st selection in the 1998 NFL Draft on him, Staat played in 29 games from 1988 to 2000. Playing primarily at nose tackle, he recorded 20 tackles, including one for a loss.

In 2001 and 2002, Staat participated in training camps with the Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders, but was released prior to the start of the regular season each time.

After playing defensive end for the Rams in two games this season, Staat was released on Dec. 3.

"Jeremy Staat is a top-notch lineman with great credentials," said Hodgkiss, who is beginning his third season at the helm of the Avengers. "I first saw him two years ago, when the Raiders had him in camp as an offensive lineman. So, we've had our eye on him for a while. Fortunately, when he became free last month and we had a spot for him on our roster. He's a big athletic guy and is a perfect fit for the AFL game."

In two seasons at Arizona State University (1996-97), Staat finished with 84 tackles (20 for losses of 87 yards), 9.5 quarterback sacks. In addition to begin selected to the Football Writers Association's All-America first team in 1997, he was honored with "The Morris Trophy," which is presented annually to the Pacific-10 Conference's top lineman.

Staat was an offensive tackle and blocking tight end at Bakersfield (Calif.) College before transferring to Arizona State. He also competed on the Renegade track & field team. Staat was the first person in the history of the Southern California Meet of Champions to win three events in the same year, when he took the shot put, discuss and hammer titles as a sophomore in 1995.

Staat was a four-year letterman at Bakersfield High School and an All-Area and All-South Yosemite League first-team selection. The Yosemite League and The Bakersfield Californian named him the 1993 "Lineman of the Year."

Born Oct. 10, 1976, Staat currently resides in Phoenix, where he will make his AFL debut when the Avengers kick off their 2004 season against the Arizona Rattlers on Sunday, Feb. 8, at America West Arena. Game time is set for noon (Pacific) and the contest will be televised live on KNBC Channel 4.

Following another road game on Valentine's Day against the Las Vegas Gladiators, the Avengers will play their home opener at STAPLES Center on Sunday, Feb. 22, versus the San Jose SaberCats.

Nine-game season ticket packages are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 1-888-AVENGERS or online at www.laavengers.com.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 7, 2004


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