Kats 2007 Training Camp In/Outs and News/Notes
February 17, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
Indoor Football to AFL Contracts
When the AFL was launched in 1981 by George Foster, it is feasible to assume that he never envisioned indoor football to grow into what it is today. The AFL spawned a plethora of leagues not only around America, but around the world. With the influx of those leagues, it has allowed football players to get valuable experience that has ultimately landed them on an AFL roster. The Kats have eight rookie AFL players on the team that have accumulated indoor football experience.
QB Matt Kohn- Played in the United Indoor Professional Football League (UIFL) most recently, the Ohio Valley Greyhounds where he was named the (UIFL) Offensive Player of the Year for 2006.
WR Kenny Higgins- Played with the Memphis Explorers of af2 in 2006 where he recorded 93 catches for 1,428 yards and 28 touchdowns.
WR Wendall Williams- Played with the Manchester Wolves of af2 in 2006 where he had 56 receptions for 647 yards and 17 touchdowns in 11 games played.
OL/DL Clay Harrell- Registered seven sacks with the af2 Everett Hawks in 2006.
DL Demoine Adams- In 2006, played with the Evansville BlueCats of the United Indoor Football League (UIFL).
DB Carlos Campbell- Earned First-Team American Indoor Football League (AIFL) honors with the Johnstown Riverhawks in 2006.
DB Otheese Wells- Started his professional career with the Odessa Roughnecks of the Intense Football League (IFL) from 2004-2005 before playing with the Lakeland Thunderbolts of the American Indoor Football League (AIFL) in 2006.
LB Brenden Givan- played in the American Indoor Football League (AIFL) with the Lakeland Thunderbolts in 2006.
Local College Love
The Mid-South, particularly Tennessee has always had good, quality players for coaches to choose from. The Nashville Kats have taken advantage of the influx of talent by adding these local college players to the roster:
WR/DB Dominique Morris, Vanderbilt- Amassed 145 tackles, five interceptions, five forced fumbles and 17 pass breakups during his career at Vanderbilt (2001-2004). As a junior, received the team's postseason Defensive Back MVP Award after recording 58 tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions (of which one was returned for a touchdown, three forced fumbles and a sack while starting in all 12 games ....Morris was also a standout punt returner, averaging 7.5 yards per return... In Morris' sophomore campaign, he started eleven games at cornerback notching 49 tackles, three interceptions, eight pass breakups and the team's Defensive Back MVP Award... Finished the season as the team leader in interceptions (3) and passes defensed (8)... Morris started six games during his redshirt freshman season logging 38 tackles, one forced fumble and six pass breakups. Human organizational development major at Vanderbilt.
WR Alonzo Nix, UT-Chattanooga- Spent two seasons at Tennessee-Chattanooga after transferring from Jones County (Ellisville, Miss.) Junior College... During career at Chattanooga, totaled 150 receptions for 1,879 yards and 14 touchdowns... As senior, recorded 60 receptions for 819 yards and seven touchdowns, earning first-team All-Southern Conference and second-team All-American for second consecutive season... As junior, set a school and conference record with 90 receptions for a league-leading 1,060 yards and seven touchdowns. Majored in physical education.
DB Keon Raymond, Midd. Tenn. State- Played two seasons at Middle Tennessee State University after transferring from Highland (Kansas) Community College. As a senior at MTSU, started all 11 games at right cornerback while setting a career high in tackles with 50...added two interceptions, seven passes defensed, 2.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.... Played in 10 games (one start) as a junior. Majored in business management at MTSU.
WR/DB Eric Joyce, Tenn. State-Started 35 of 38 games while at Tennessee State, finishing with 108 tackles, four interceptions and 30 pass deflections... Helped TSU claim back-to-back OVC titles in 1998 and 1999... All-OVC selection as a senior in 2001. Majored in computer science at TSU.
OL Lawrence Smith, Tenn. State- Four - year starter at Tennessee State University (1997-2001) who earned All-Ohio Valley Conference second-team honors both his junior and senior season... In his senior campaign, Smith lined up at strongside tackle where he posted 86 key blocks/knockdowns, anchoring an offensive line that generated 5,112 yards and 52 touchdowns and an average of 464.7 yards per game...During Smith's tenure at Tenn. State, he averaged 72 key blocks/knockdowns a season and the team averaged 439.8 yards per season. Business administration major with a minor in arts and sciences while at TSU.
WR/KR Carlos Wright, Tenn. State- Starred at Tennessee State University where he saw action at wide receiver, running back and defensive back while handling kick and punt return duties...Primarily a receiver for the Tigers, amassed 66 receptions for 944 yards and 11 touchdowns through out his career....recorded 20 receptions for 349 yards and rushed 49 times for 230 yards his senior year...Earned First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors as a freshman after averaging 21.4 yards per return .Majored in Mass Communications at TSU.
AFL Playoff Experience
With team chemistry and continuity being as important as ever in the world of sports when it comes to winning, luckily, the Kats have 17 players that have played in the AFL's biggest games: the AFL postseason. Here are eight of those players:
OL/DL James Baron- Has played in 16 career AFL playoff games including back-to-back XIV and XV ArenaBowl trips (ArenaBowl 15 and 16 respectively).
FB/LB Rupert Grant- Has played in 11 career AFL playoff games including back-to-back XIV and XV ArenaBowl trips (ArenaBowl 15 and 16 respectively)
OL Charlie Morris- Has played in 14 career AFL playoff games including three consecutive ArenaBowl appearances (2002-2004) while a member of the Arizona Rattlers.
DL Hugh Hunter-Has played in 10 career playoff games with the highlight being capturing an ArenaBowl championship in 2005 while a member of the Colorado Crush.
WR/KR Carlos Wright- In just his third AFL season, has already played in three career playoff games and captured an ArenaBowl championship while a member of the Chicago Rush (2006).
WR Jason Shelley-Has played in four career AFL playoff contests, registering 17 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns...all being with the Dallas Desperados.
§ DB Monty Montgomery- Has played in two career playoff games. While a member New Orleans VooDoo in 2004, helped the VooDoo advance to the quarterfinals of the AFL playoffs where the club lost to the Colorado Crush.
WR Cornelius Bonner- Has played in six career playoff games, amassing 14 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
Sack Masters
The Nashville Kats have led the AFL the past two seasons in sacks (23 in 2006 and 24 in 2005) due to their outstanding ability to get to the quarterback. In 2007, the Kats look to once again get to the quarterback behind the sack master abilities of these defensive linemen:
James Baron- The 11-year veteran is the Kats all-time leader in sacks (32.5) and sacks in a single season (7) and looks to add to his totals with a strong campaign in 2007.
Joe Minucci- The three-year veteran led the Kats in sacks in 2005 (5.0) and in 2006 (5.5) en route to garnering All-AFL Rookie honors in 2005 and second-team All-AFL honors in 2006 for his constant pressure on the quarterback.
Aaron McConnell- The high-motor defensive lineman has shown his versatility by playing in every game since joining the club in 2005. Has amassed 7.5 sacks for -46 yards in just two seasons played.
Anthony Herron- In his first season with the Kats, the 6'3 280lb lineman registered 4.0 sacks in 14 games played. Looks to add to that total in 2007.
Hugh Hunter- The 10-year veteran enters his first season with the Kats in 2007 after amassing 28.5 career sacks with the Colorado Crush, Indiana Firebirds, Milwaukee Mustangs and the Nashville Kats (98-99).
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 17, 2007
- Former ASU Receiver Re-Signs with Rattlers - Arizona Rattlers
- Kats 2007 Training Camp In/Outs and News/Notes - Nashville Kats
- Nashville Kats Training Camp Report - Nashville Kats
- Georgia Force Training Camp Report - Georgia Force
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.
