Kats Add Former Titans
Published on October 7, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
NASHVILLE (Oct. 7, 2004) â The Nashville Kats announced the signing of five more free agents at a press conference on Thursday, all of whom once played with the Tennessee Titans. Kats head coach Pat Sperduto made the announcement, introducing fullbacks/linebackers Dan Alexander and Mike Green, defensive specialists Rober' Freeman and DeRon Jenkins and wide receiver/defensive back Jermaine Lewis as the newest additions to the squad.
"We are really excited about adding these guys," said Sperduto. "These are all guys who have played in the NFL and have played with the Titans. They are familiar with this city and we are familiar with the talents and qualities they bring to the table. These guys are not only the types of players we want on the field, but the types of leaders we want in the locker room and the types of citizens we want in the community. They are all very good additions to this team."
Of the group, only DeRon Jenkins (5'11, 192) has played arena football, playing last season with the Austin Wranglers. He had an outstanding season in 2004, ranking second on the squad with 64.5 tackles and two interceptions. He led the Wranglers in passes defended with 15. Jenkins, who was an All-SEC cornerback at Tennessee in 1995, played six seasons in the NFL. He was with the Titans in 2001, starting five games and accumulating 39 tackles and one forced fumble.
Dan Alexander (6-0, 250) played three seasons as a fullback in the NFL, including the 2001 campaign with Tennessee after being drafted in the sixth round that year by the Titans. He was active for the last seven games of the '01 season, playing primarily on special teams. Alexander played the 2002 season with Jacksonville and the 2003 campaign with St. Louis. He was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist and a first-team All-Big 12 running back at Nebraska, finishing his college career ranked 10th on the Huskers' all-time rushing list.
Alexander joins fellow fullback/linebacker Mike Green (6'0, 250) on the roster. Green played three seasons with the Titans as a running back and fullback, gaining 142 yards on 36 carries over the 2001 and 2002 seasons. He also caught 19 passes for 115 yards and two scores in his NFL career. Green was an All-Conference USA fullback at Houston, totaling 1,273 yards rushing on 243 carries and 11 touchdowns in two years with the Cougars.
Jermaine Lewis (6-4, 209) will begin his first season as a two-way player after spending portions of the past two seasons as a wide receiver with four different NFL clubs. Lewis, who was an all-conference defensive back at Western Michigan before moving to offense as a senior, last played with the Houston Texans. He finished the 2003 season with the Titans after being signed by the club in December. Lewis started 34 consecutive games in college, and caught 38 passes for a team-leading 654 yards and four TD's for the Broncos in his senior season.
The Kats also signed defensive specialist Rober' Freeman (5'9, 182), who was with the Titans in training camp in 2003. Freeman spent the '03 season with the Houston Texans and played in NFL Europe with the Rhein Fire last summer. He was a four-year starter at Clark Atlanta and he picked off 16 passes in his college career.
"We are very fortunate to add these five guys," said Sperduto. "Like the other players we've brought into the fold in the last few days, these are guys who can help us win right away. I'm anxious to get them out on the field."
Arena football teams began contacting free agents on September 1, and could begin signing them on October 1. The Kats announced the signing of seven free agents on Tuesday, and they added eight more players to the roster last week, drafting seven players in the AFL expansion draft and trading other expansion draft picks to the Chicago Rush for veteran lineman James Baron.
The Nashville Kats begin play in the Arena Football League's Eastern Division in January 2005. The expansion franchise, owned by Tennessee Titans owner K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr., will keep the name and identity of the previous Nashville Kats arena football franchise, which played in the AFL from 1997-2001. Tickets are available by phone at 615-565-4700, or through Katsonline.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 7, 2004
- Rattlers Keep Bo Kelly - Arizona Rattlers
- Georgia Force complete coaching staff - Georgia Force
- Gladiators sign additional five for 2005 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Storm sign AFL veteran Hall and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Elpheage - Tampa Bay Storm
- Kats Add Former Titans - Nashville Kats
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.
