L.A. Avengers sign free agent defensive specialist Traco Rachal
Published on October 19, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- Traco Rachal, who was selected as the 2004 arenafootball2 "ADT Defensive Player of the Year" in August, has signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League, head coach Ed Hodgkiss announced today.
Rachal (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) was a defensive specialist for the Laredo Law last season, which was his first in af2 (the developmental league established by the AFL in 1999). While playing in all 16 games, he led the Law with 75 tackles (57 unassisted), broke up 15 passes and tied for the league lead with 10 interceptions. Rachal, who was named to the All-af2 first team, also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, blocked a field goal and recorded half a sack.
"We're very excited to sign Traco," said Hodgkiss, who has led the Avengers to the playoffs in each of his three years at the helm. "We feel he can be a very good field corner for us. Both on film and in our workout, he seemed to be one of those players who makes a lot of plays. Traco plays the football well in the air and with his good size, he should upgrade our toughness on defense."
Before playing in af2, Rachal was an outside linebacker with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League in 2001 and 2002.
Rachal played one season at Texas A&M University-Commerce. In 1997, he was an All-Lone Star Conference second-team selection as a cornerback after intercepting four passes and returned one of them for a score. Rachal also ranked among the NCAA Division II leaders in kickoff returns for the Lions. He began his collegiate career with three years at Fresno City College, where he was an All-Valley Conference pick in 1996.
At Carson (Calif.) High School, Rachal was a standout strong safety and helped lead the Colts to the 1993 L.A. City Section championship. In addition, he was the captain of Carson's track & field team.
Born in Los Angeles on Dec. 18, 1975, Rachal currently resides in Long Beach, Calif., with his wife, Tiffany, and their daughter, Kayla. In the offseason, he teaches fourth and fifth graders at Joseph Arnold Elementary School in Torrance, Calif., for a before-and-after-school YMCA program.
A lifelong lover of music, Rachal is also a member of the group Dangerously Gifted, which has a compilation CD due out at the end of the year.
"It's such a blessing to sign with the Avengers," Rachal said. "I haven't played at home since high school, so now I have an opportunity to be around my wife and daughter and play before a home crowd. I couldn't have asked for a better situation."
The Avengers went 9-7 this past season and qualified for the ArenaBowl Playoffs for the third consecutive year. The Avengers led the AFL in scoring (56.5 points per game) and averaged 12,590 fans at their eight home games at STAPLES Center.
Fifty dollar deposits for 2005 Avenger season tickets are now being accepted at 1-888-AVENGERS or online at www.laavengers.com.
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