Kats Ink Seven Free Agents
October 5, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
NASHVILLE (Oct. 5, 2004) â The Nashville Kats announced the signing of seven free agents, including five with ties to the Middle Tennessee area, at a press conference on Tuesday. Kats head coach Pat Sperduto made the announcement, introducing quarterbacks Leon Murray and Bill Whittemore, wide receiver/defensive back Jarrick Hillery and linemen Anthony Herron, Benedict Ibisi, Wes Stephens and Henry Taylor as the newest members of the team.
"This is a big day for this organization," said Sperduto. "These are all guys who will help us win football games, and they are proven winners who we can build this team around. I give my staff a lot of credit in evaluating and identifying the players we want to lead this team."
The group of signees includes three players who starred locally at Tennessee State. Quarterback Leon Murray (6'3, 212), who led the Tigers to consecutive OVC titles in 1998 and 1999 and was named OVC Offensive Player of the Year as a senior, returns to Nashville after spending the last two seasons as starting quarterback of the Georgia Force. He has thrown for 5,384 yards and 93 touchdowns, while running for 252 yards and 15 scores in his two years with the Force. Murray joins Benedict Ibisi (6'0, 299), a lineman who served as captain of TSU's 2001 squad and has played the last two years in the CFL, and wide receiver/defensive back Jarrick Hillery (5'10, 200) as former Tigers on the Kats roster.
Hillery, who was a standout performer for the Kats in the team's ArenaBowl seasons of 2000 and 2001, comes back to the Music City after spending the 2004 season with the Carolina Cobras and the two previous years with the Force. He has caught 231 passes and has run up more than 2,700 all-purpose yards in his five years in arena football. Hillery, who has made a name for himself as one of the top two-way players in the game, has also registered 186.5 total tackles in his career.
In addition to the former TSU stars, Nashville also signed two more local products in Bill Whittemore and Wes Stephens. Whittemore (6'0, 205) prepped at Brentwood High School before moving on to have a sterling college career at Kansas, where he set a Jayhawks record by tossing 18 TD passes as a senior in 2003. He was named third-team All-Big 12 by the league's coaches last season. Stephens (6'4, 265) hails from Nashville and played at McGavock High School. He was a standout defensive lineman at Middle Tennessee State from 1997-2001, racking up seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss in his career for the Blue Raiders. He was named arenafootball2 Lineman of the Year in 2003 while playing for the Tennessee Valley Vipers, and he had 9.5 tackles and two sacks in his AFL rookie season for Carolina last year.
The Kats also signed a pair of veteran pass rushers in Anthony Herron and Henry Taylor. Herron (6'3, 280) played last season for the Indiana Firebirds after playing with the NFL's Detroit Lions. He played collegiately at Iowa, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a senior. Taylor (6'2, 300) is a five-year NFL veteran who has played the past two years in arena football, accumulating 6.5 sacks while with Dallas and New Orleans. Taylor was a star pass rusher for South Carolina in college, earning accolades as the Gamecocks' Most Outstanding Down Lineman in his junior and senior seasons.
"This is just the beginning," said Sperduto. "We will be adding several more guys in the next week or two who we expect to make a big impact for us. But when you add these guys to James Baron and the guys we got in the expansion draft last week, I think we're well on our way to putting a team on the field that will compete and give us an opportunity to win football games."
Arena football teams began contacting free agents on September 1, and could begin signing them on October 1. The Kats added eight players to their roster last week when they drafted seven players in the AFL expansion draft and traded 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.
Anthony Herron
OL/DL College: Iowa Height: 6-3 Weight: 280
AFL Experience: 1 year Birth: 9/24/79
Acquired: FA (10/4/04)
AFL NOTES: Joins the Kats as a free agent after playing one season with the Indiana Firebirds.
2004: Played in eight games for Indiana, making seven total tackles, including one behind the line. He also broke up one pass and had eight quarterback hurries as a rookie.
OTHER PRO EXPERIENCE: Spent portions of three season with the Detroit Lions, signing as a free agent with the team in 2001. He spent the entire 2002 season with the Lions, but did not play. He was also in camp with Detroit in 2003.
COLLEGE: Two-year starter at the University of Iowa... Had 172 tackles, 19 for loss, 10 sacks and one blocked kick with the Hawkeyes... Named honorable mention All-Big Ten as a senior, after totaling 64 stops, five for a loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles... Had 65 tackles and four sacks as a junior.
PERSONAL: First-team all-state in Illinois as a senior... Listed on Blue Chip All-Midwest team, PrepStar All-Big Ten Region team, Prep Football Report All-Midland Team... Won conference championship in shot put in high school.
Jarrick Hillery
WR/DB College: Tennessee State Height: 5-10 Weight: 200
AFL Experience: 5 years Birth: 3/29/76
Acquired: FA (10/1/04)
AFL Notes: Returns to the Kats after spending two years at Georgia and last season with Carolina...Named First Team All-Arena in 2001...Earned All-Rookie Team recognition in 2000...In 2000, became only the fourth player in league history to compile 400 yards receiving and 100 yards rushing in the same season.
2004: Caught 38 passes for 386 yards and five TD's, while also rushing 11 times for 24 yards and a score with Carolina... Averaged 24.3 yards on three missed field goal returns... Finished second on the team with 42 tackles... Picked off a pass and broke up two more... Forced and recovered one fumble on the year.
2003: Named Team Captain and Ironman of the Year by the Georgia Force players and coaches...Ranked third on team with 57 receptions for 607 yards and nine touchdowns...Added 44 tackles and seven passes defended on defense, while also returning 35 kickoffs for 688 yards... Named Game MVP and AFL Ironman of the Week after reeling in nine receptions for 102 yards and three touchdowns in Georgia's 49-45 playoff victory over Dallas in the first round (5/24).
2002: Completed the season ranked among team leaders with 60 receptions (3rd) for 742 yards (2nd) and 14 touchdowns (2nd) with the Georgia Force... Also ranked fourth on the team in rushing yards (34) and tackles (34.0)...Posted a single-game team record of 138 yards and four touchdowns receiving at Chicago (5/18.
2001: Named First Team All-Arena with the Kats...Ranked among the league leaders with 126 rushing yards (7th) and 12 rushing touchdowns (1st)...Also ranked among the team leaders with 39 receptions (3rd) for 390 yards (3rd) and 35.5 tackles (4th) on defense... Played in ArenaBowl XV with Nashville.
2000: Named to AFL All-Rookie Team in helping Kats to a 9-5 mark...Produced a strong all-around season, ranking among the team leaders with 107 rushing yards (3rd), 43 receptions (3rd), 403 receiving yards (4th), 31.5 tackles (5th) and seven passes defended (3rd)...Named AFL Ironman of the Week following victory at Carolina (5/26) ...Gained 15 yards on two receptions and added three tackles, including one for a loss, in ArenaBowl XIV loss at Orlando.
OTHER PRO EXPERIENCE: Worked out with the Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL) prior to the 2000 season.
COLLEGE: Played running back and safety while at Tennessee State (1995-1998)...Completed career with 988 yards rushing and seven touchdowns...Added 126 tackles and seven interceptions on defense...First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection as a safety following his senior season...Led the Tigers to a conference title during the 1998 campaign, recording 65 tackles and four interceptions...Named OVC Specialist of the Week on two occasions in his final collegiate season...Blocked a Murray State field goal attempt in the season's final game to secure a victory and the conference title...Also returned 32 punts for a 11.9 yards per return average...Named Honorable Mention All-OVC in his junior season...Switched to defense for the season, finished the year third on the team with 61 tackles...Ranked third in the conference with a 8.2 yards per punt return average...Started all 11 games as a sophomore at tailback...Carried the ball 109 times for 344 yards and two scores...Added 28 receptions for 243 yards and two touchdowns...Started in 10 of 11 games during his freshman season, registering 644 yards rushing and five touchdowns...Redshirted during the 1994 campaign.
PERSONAL: Computer Science major...Prepped at Brunswick (GA) High School...Participated in football and basketball as a prep...Has a son and a daughter, Jarrick II and Jaslyn...Works as a computer operations technician during the offseason.
Benedict Ibisi
OL/DL College: Tennessee State Height: 6-0 Weight: 288
AFL Experience: Rookie Birth: 2/21/79
Acquired: FA (10/1/04)
AFL Notes: Signed a rookie contract with the Kats after playing the last two seasons in the Canadian Football League.
OTHER PRO EXPERIENCE: Solid blocker on offensive line for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL... Had two tackles in the 2002 season.
COLLEGE: Four-year letterman and team captain for 2001 Tennessee State team which posted an 8-3 record and finished 25th ranked nationally...The 2001 TSU offense was ranked first in the Ohio Valley Conference and sixth nationally in total offense and first in the OVC and third nationally in passing offense.
PERSONAL: Born in Nigeria.
Leon Murray
QB College: Tennessee State Height: 6-3 Weight: 212
AFL Experience: 2 years Birth: 1/10/77
Acquired: FA (10/1/04)
AFL NOTES: Comes to the Kats after spending two seasons with the Georgia Force... Was named to the AFL's All-Rookie team and voted the Georgia Force's Co-Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in 2003...Established new team single game records for passing yards (354) and touchdowns (8) in 2003.
2004: Played in all 16 games for Georgia, completing 291-of-486 passes for 3,645 yards, 60 TD's and 13 INT's in 2004... Finished as the AFL's sixth-leading rusher, gaining 215 yards on 50 carries for 13 TD's and an average of 4.3 yards per carry...
2003: Burst on to the Arena Football League scene after starting the season as the Force's third string quarterback...Despite only playing in eight games, finished the regular season ranked seventh in the league in passer rating with a 115.9 rating and ranked ninth in the AFL in pass completion percentage at 62.1...Led the Force to their first-ever postseason appearance and victory over of the Dallas Desperados on the road...Was named to the AFL's All-Rookie team...Was voted the Force's Co-Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year by the players and coaches...Established new team single game records for passing yards and touchdowns.
OTHER PRO EXPERIENCE: Spent time on the roster of the Washington Redskins in 2000 and the New York Giants in 2001...Was allocated by the Giants to the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe in 2001.
COLLEGE: Compiled 7,201 passing yards during his career at TSU...As a senior in 1999, he started all 12 games, averaged 284.5 passing yards a game and was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Year...He took over as starting quarterback in the second game of the 1998 season, completing 53.3%, 144-269 passing for 2,207 yards and 16 touchdown...Missed the 1997 season due to transfer from Pitt...Majored in communications.
PERSONAL: Broke his school record for career passing at Byrd High... Hobbies include playing video games, reading, going to the movies...Lists the biggest influence on career as is father, Leon...Favorite sport outside of football is basketball... Born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Wes Stephens
OL/DL College: Middle Tenn. St. Height: 6-4 Weight: 265
AFL Experience: 1 year Birth: 9/22/79
Acquired: FA (10/1/04)
AFL NOTES: Signs with Nashville after spending one year with the Carolina Cobras. He also played two seasons in af2.
2004: Played in six games for Carolina, making 9.5 total tackles, including two behind the line, and two sacks. He also had two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble as a rookie.
OTHER PRO EXPERIENCE: Spent two seasons with the Tennessee Valley Vipers of af2 (2002-03)... Honored as the af2 Lineman of the Year and all-af2 American Conference in 2003... Posted team records of 11.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles in leading the Vipers to a league-best 14-2 record... Added 23.5 tackles, 24 QB hurries and three passes defended... Named ADT Defensive Player of the Game three times in 2003... Recorded seven tackles and four sacks in 2002.
COLLEGE: Compiled 75 tackles, seven sacks and 16 tackles for loss in four-year career at MTSU (1998-2001) while seeing time at defensive end and linebacker... Ranked second on team with four sacks as a senior, helping to lead the Blue Raiders to Sun Belt title.
PERSONAL: Played at McGavock High School in Nashville, where he was voted all-region, all-metro and second team all-state as a senior... Also lettered in wrestling in high school.
Henry Taylor
OL/DL College: South Carolina Height: 6-2 Weight: 300
AFL Experience: 2 years Birth: 11/29/75
Acquired: FA (10/4/04)
AFL NOTES: Signs as a free agent with Nashville after playing the majority of the past two seasons with the Dallas Desperados. He was traded to New Orleans late in the 2004 season, and finished the year with the Voodoo.
2004: Played in 12 games with Dallas, making 20 tackles, 4.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks. He also forced one fumble... Traded to New Orleans late in the season and played two games with the Voodoo, registering one stop.
2003: After missing the first few games of his rookie season with an injury, he went on to total 8.5 tackles, two sacks, three quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and fumble recovery for Dallas.
OTHER PRO EXPERIENCE: Played five seasons in the NFL, seeing action with five different teams... Signed as an undrafted free agent with San Diego in 1998, but was waived at the end of training camp... Signed with Detroit, where he bounced between the Lions' practice squad and the active roster, appearing in one game and making two tackles... Spent the 1999 season with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe after being allocated by Detroit. Returned and spent the NFL season on the Lions' practice squad... After playing with the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe, Taylor played in five games with the Atlanta Falcons in 2000, recording six tackles... Played in one game with the Chicago Bears in 2001, before being released and signing with the Miami Dolphins for the final three games of that season... Released by Miami prior to the 2003 season.
COLLEGE: Named South Carolina's Most Outstanding Down lineman in his junior and senior seasons... Had 46 tackles, 10 QB pressures, 5.5 sacks and three tackles for loss as a senior in 1997... Had 50 stops, including three behind the line, 3.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries as a junior... Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll as a sophomore, also registering 26 tackles, including three for loss and 2.5 sacks... Started two games a freshman for the Gamecocks in 1994.
PERSONAL: Standout defensive tackle and tight end at Barnwell (SC) High School, earning all-state, all-region and class AA Lineman of the Year honors in 1993... Has worked with Habitat for Humanity.
Bill Whittemore
QB College: Kansas Height: 6-0 Weight: 205
AFL Experience: Rookie Birth: 1/14/81
Acquired: FA (10/1/04)
AFL NOTES: Brentwood native will play his rookie season in the AFL with the Kats.
OTHER PRO EXPERIENCE: In training camp with the Atlanta Falcons in 2004.
COLLEGE: Played two seasons at Kansas after transferring from Fort Scott Community College... Finished sixth all-time at Kansas in career passing yards (4,051), sixth in career pass completions (568), third in career TD passes (29), second in touchdown runs by a quarterback (21) and fourth in career total offensive yards (5,134)... Set Kansas single-season record for TD passes by throwing 18 as a senior... Ranked ninth nationally with a 154.65 passing efficiency... Named third-team All-Big 12 by the coaches and honorable mention All-Big 12 by AP as a senior... Selected as Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year as a junior.
PERSONAL: Attended Brentwood High School, where he lettered in football, basketball and soccer... Majored in psychology at Kansas.
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