L.A. Avengers sign OL/DL Silas Demary
Published on October 20, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- Silas Demary, a free agent offensive/defensive lineman well known in the Arena Football League as an excellent pass rusher, has signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Avengers, head coach Ed Hodgkiss announced today.
Demary (6-foot-3, 285 pounds) played in 12 games last season for the Buffalo Destroyers, finishing with 12 ½ tackles and three quarterback sacks (for losses of 26 yards). He also led the team with four tackles for losses (No. 4 in the AFL) and two forced fumbles.
"In our opinion, Silas is one of the premier rush linemen in the league and he also has the size to pass protect on the other side of the football," said Hodgkiss, who led the Avengers to an 11-5 record and No. 4 playoff seed last season in his second year with the club. "He's had some really good games against us, so we are well aware of him. Silas is also a man of great character, who will fit in very well with our team."
Demary began his AFL career in 2001 with the Carolina Cobras and earned All-Rookie honors for an outstanding two-way debut that included 15 tackles, a team-high four quarterback sacks, and 10 receptions for 114 yards and three touchdowns. His head coach with the Cobras was current Avenger defensive coordinator Doug Kay.
"I'm very excited about becoming a member of the Avengers," Demary said. "Signing with Los Angeles was definitely the best decision for me. This great Avenger coaching staff and the opportunity to compete for a championship were the biggest factors for me when I was deciding between all the teams that made offers. I'm at a point in my career when you never know when your last down of football will be and playing for a championship team is very important."
Prior to the 2002 AFL season, Demary signed with the Buffalo Destroyers and had one of the best games of his career on July 20, 2002, against the Avengers at STAPLES Center when he had a career-high 4.5 tackles, in addition to a batted down pass and sack. Then, in last year's encounter with the Avengers, on April 18, he was credited with a career-high three "quarterback hurries" at STAPLES Center.
In his 30-game AFL career, Demary has 37.5 tackles (six for losses), eight sacks, three forced fumbles, three touchdowns and a safety.
His first taste of the indoor game came in 2000 when he played for the Norfolk Nighthawks of arenafootball2 (the developmental league established by the AFL in 1999), finishing with 53 tackles, 12 sacks and five fumble recoveries.
"I'm very thankful to the Norfolk Nighthawks for giving me the opportunity to play football again," Demary said. "My mother-in-law overheard them talking about me one and it all got started from there."
Demary was a collegiate standout at Virginia State University (Petersburg, Virg.), where he earned a degree in criminal justice. As a senior in 1994, he started all 11 games and led the Trojans with 21 sacks. He earned NCAA Division II Defensive Lineman of the Year honors and was a finalist for the Dudley Award, which goes annually to the best college football player of the year in the state of Virginia. Demary also earned NCAA Division II All-America and All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association honors. He transferred to Virginia State from North Greenville College (Tigerville, S.C.) in 1993.
Born on Dec. 12, 1971, Demary was a three-sport star at Bishopville (S.C.) High School, lettering in football, basketball and baseball. He currently resides in Raleigh, N.C., and has worked for the Wake County (N.C.) Sheriff's Department, the Okeechobee (Fla.) Juvenile Offender Corrections Center and as a youth counselor in Harrisburg, Penn.
Demary and his wife, Shante, have a daughter, Samara.
Avenger season tickets for the 2004 campaign, which begins in February, are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 1-888-AVENGERS or online at www.laavengers.com.
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