L.A. Avengers sign lineman Isaac Hilton

December 8, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release


LOS ANGELES -- Isaac Hilton, a defensive lineman with experience in both the NFL and NFL Europe, has signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Avengers, head coach Ed Hodgkiss announced today.

Hilton (6-foot-4, 265 pounds) will compete for a spot as an offensive/defensive lineman when training camp opens on Jan. 3.

"Isaac is a guy who we've been tracking for the past couple years," said Hodgkiss, who has guided the Avengers into the playoffs in each of his previous four seasons at the helm. "After seeing him in camp with the Carolina Panthers, we invited him out here to workout for us and were very impressed. He's a player with a ‘high motor' and could be a great pass rusher for us. He had a lot of success in NFL Europe and has some good NFL experience as well."

Hilton was drafted in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the New York Giants (253rd overall selection). He was waived by the Giants prior to the start of the 2004 regular season, but was quickly signed to the practice squad of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hilton eventually finished the season on the practice squad of the Carolina Panthers, who allocated him to the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe.

This past summer, he led the Thunder with five quarterback sacks, helping the team advance all the way to World Bowl XIII. Following that experience overseas, Hilton returned to participate in the Carolina Panthers' training camp, but was released just prior to the start of the current NFL season.

A four-year letterman at Hampton (Va.) University, Hilton played in 39 games with 32 starts at defensive end. He finished his Pirate career with 205 tackles, 24 quarterback sacks, eight batted down passes, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks. Regarded as one of the quickest pass rushers in college football at the time, Hilton registered a school-record six sacks in a game against Bowie State in 2002.

Following a senior season in which he had 19 tackles for behind the line of scrimmage for losses of 90 yards, Hilton was selected to the All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team for the second consecutive year and invited to play in the 2004 Hula Bowl.

Hilton, who was once clocked at 4.49 in the 40-yard dash, also competed in the decathlon and shot put for the Hampton track & field team, winning the MEAC shot put title two times.

Born on Feb. 26, 1981, in Long Beach, Calif., Hilton attended St. Andrews Parish High School (Charleston, S.C.), where he was a standout on the football, basketball and track & field team.

Hilton, who currently resides in John's Island, S.C., majored in business management at Hampton.

The Avengers will kick off their seventh season in the 20-year-old AFL at STAPLES Center on Sunday, Jan. 29, versus the Arizona Rattlers. Nine-game season ticket packages are on sale now. Please call 1-888-AVENGERS for more information or visit the team's official Website at www.laavengers.com.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from December 8, 2005


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