L.A. Avengers add two quarterbacks to roster
November 19, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- Improving an already strong position, the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League have signed quarterbacks Ryan Helming and Jack Hawley, head coach Ed Hodgkiss announced today.
When training camp for the 2003 season opens on Jan. 5, Helming and Hawley will compete with returning starter Tony Graziani, who passed for 3,568 yards and 67 touchdowns last year, and backup quarterback Matthew Sauk.
Helming (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) battled Marc Bulger earlier this year for the third-string spot with the St. Louis Rams. Bulger eventually beat Helming out in the preseason and due to injuries to Kurt Warner and Jamie Martin, he went on to become St. Louis' starter and won his first five games at the helm of the Rams. In 2001, Helming participated in training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Like Warner, who blossomed as an AFL quarterback before becoming an NFL M.V.P. and Super Bowl champion with the Rams, Helming played collegiate football at the University of Northern Iowa. As a senior in 1999, he completed 219-of-380 for 3,145 yards and 30 touchdowns, earning Division I-AA All-America honors. In his career with the Panthers, Helming played in 42 games (30 starts), passing for 6,259 yards and 77 scores.
Hawley (6-2, 215) is a quarterback with a strong background in southern California. He was an all-star football and baseball player at El Segundo High School, before setting records at Los Angeles Harbor College. Then, Hawley moved on to play at San Diego State University, where he passed for 1,942 yards as a junior in 1999. Unfortunately, his senior season was cut short due to a neck injury.
He signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills prior to the 2000 season, but was released late in the preseason. In the 2002 NFL Europe free agent draft, the Frankfurt Galaxy selected Hawley in the ninth round. He also played in one game this past season for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.
"Helming and Hawley both have the potential to be great players in the Arena Football League," said Hodgkiss, who led the Avengers to an 8-6 record and No. 5 seed in the AFL playoffs last season in his first year with the club. "We took a look at both of them in private workouts and each demonstrated some tremendous ability. I'm looking forward to some spirited competition when training camp opens in several weeks."
Avenger season tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 1-888-AVENGERS or online at www.laavengers.com. The 2003 season kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 2, at STAPLES Center versus the New Jersey Gladiators.
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