Sports stats



Lexington Horsemen sign eight more players

February 25, 2003 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Kentucky Horsemen News Release


Lexington, KY, February 25, 2003 – The Lexington Horsemen today announced that they have signed eight more players for the 2003 season, bringing the total number of 2003 signees to 22. As with the original 14 Horsemen signees, almost all of the eight latest additions to the roster have ties to the Central Kentucky football community. The team announced that it has signed:

· Kimba Bush, WR/KR, Morehead State (1996-1998)

· Ike Clepper, OL, Georgetown College (1999-2002)

· Jeff Duggins, QB, Alfred State Junior College (2002)

· Chris Gayton, LB, Kentucky (1998-2001)

· Nate Green, DB, Georgetown College (1999-2002)

· Carlos Johnson, WR, Temple/Valdosta State (1998-2001)

· Chad Spencer, WR, Kentucky/Georgetown College (1996-2002)

· Mike Webster, OL, Kentucky (1997-1998)

"The roster is really filling out now," said Horsemen Head Coach and General Manager Tony Franklin. "With this latest bunch, we're going to be able to hit the ground running when our official practices open on March 15th. As with the first group of players we signed, this group gives us confidence that we are going to be a very competitive team in this league."

The Horsemen's first home game will be held on March 29, 2003. For more information about the team, please call 859-422-PASS or visit www.lexingtonhorsemen.com. Season tickets are still available, and single-game opening day tickets go on sale March 3rd. Fans can order tickets by calling the Rupp Arena box office at 859-233-3535 or by visiting www.rupparena.com.

PLAYER BIOS

Kimba Bush 6'3", 195 lbs. Lexington, KY (Tates Creek High School)

Bush played for three years at Morehead State, where he was an All-American kick and punt returner, as well as an honorable mention All-American wide receiver as a senior. During his senior year, he was ranked 14th and 15th nationally in kick and punt returns, and also caught 16 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns. As a junior, Bush made 34 receptions for 503 yards and six touchdowns, and paced Morehead State with 24 kick returns for 534 yards. During his sophomore year, Bush caught eight passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns, and returned six kicks for 288 yards – a 41.1 yards-per-return average – and a touchdown.

Ike Clepper 6'2", 270 lbs. Cincinnati, OH (Batavia High School)

Clepper began his football career at the University of Cincinnati. After redshirting as a freshman in 1998, he saw little action as an offensive lineman and transferred to Georgetown College. As a senior in 2002, Clepper was named to the All-Mid-South Conference first team as the Tigers advanced to the national championship game. He was also named to the All-Mid-South Conference honorable mention team as a junior, his first year as a starter. Clepper saw some playing time in 2000 as a backup offensive lineman as well.

Jeff Duggins 5'11", 185 lbs. Danville, KY (Boyle County High School)

Duggins, Kentucky's high school Mr. Football in 2001, played quarterback for one season at Alfred State Junior College, where he was named Northeast Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year. During the 2002 season at Alfred State, he completed 160 of 338 passes for 2,709 yards and 28 touchdowns, rushing for six more TDs along the way. He was also named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-American second team.

Duggins' college career was preceded by a legendary schoolboy career in Kentucky, where he led Boyle County to three straight state championships and had a 44-0 record as a starting quarterback. In addition to being named Mr. Football, Duggins was also voted first team quarterback on the Associated Press 2001 All-State team in Kentucky. During his high school career, he completed 414 of 650 passes (a 62.8% completion rate) for 6,893 yards and 112 touchdowns.

Chris Gayton 6'1", 210 lbs. Montreal, Quebec (Vanier College)

Gayton played in 42 games at the University of Kentucky, starting 17. As a senior he started all 11 games, leading the team in tackles with 93, including a career-high 13 against Ball State. As a junior, Gayton played in nine games, starting four before spraining his knee. He made 23 tackles during his junior year, and recorded the first sack of his career against Louisville. During his sophomore year, Gayton played in all 11 games on special teams and as a reserve linebacker, making six tackles. He played in all 11 games and in the Outback Bowl as a freshman, making 11 tackles (including one for a loss) and causing two fumbles. Gayton was named to the "All Can-American Team," which honors Canadians playing American college football, by the Toronto Sun.

Nate Green 5'10", 185 lbs. Hamilton, OH (Fairfield High School)

Green played defensive back and returned kicks for Georgetown College, and starred as a senior on the 2002 team, which played in the NAIA national championship game. During his senior year, Green recorded 49 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback sack, and seven interceptions, earning him numerous awards, including being named to the NAIA All-American team, the Hansen All-America third team, and the All-Mid-South Conference first team. Against Belhaven during his senior year, Green had four interceptions, returning two for touchdowns and earning him the Defensive Player of the Week award in the Mid-South Conference. As a junior, Green was named to the All-Mid-South Conference first team as he made 89 tackles and had four interceptions. He also ranked second in the Mid-South Conference in punt returns, returning 19 kicks for 383 yards. In 2000, he played in all 14 games, recording 44 tackles, six tackles for loss, and four quarterback sacks. As a freshman, Green saw action in 10 games, recording 17 tackles and an interception.

Carlos Johnson 5'11", 190 lbs. Valdosta, GA (Colquitt County High School)

Johnson had 42 receptions for 528 yards and five touchdowns as a senior at Valdosta State, earning him a spot on the 2001 Associated Press All-American team for Division II. As a junior, Johnson played in 11 games, notching 66 receptions for 991 yards and eight TDs. Prior to playing at Valdosta State, Johnson starred as a freshman at Temple, setting a school record with six touchdown catches and scoring once every three times he caught the ball. While at Temple, he was named to the Big East Conference All-Freshman team, the Associated Press All-Freshman team, and the Football News Honorable Mention Freshman All-American team. After leaving Valdosta State, Johnson signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent.

Chad Spencer 6'4", 235 lbs. Franklin, KY (Franklin Simpson High School)

Spencer began his college career at Kentucky, where he started in nine games at wide receiver as a true freshman, catching 10 passes for 134 yards and earning a spot on the Knoxville News-Sentinel Freshman All-SEC team. After leaving UK in 1997, he returned to college in 2000 and played in three national championship games (winning two) with Georgetown College. As a senior in 2002, Spencer made 50 receptions for 725 yards and five touchdowns, and was named to the Hansen All-American Honorable Mention team and the All-Mid-South Conference second team. Spencer was also named the the All-Mid-South Conference second team as a junior, when he caught 35 passes for 535 yards and four touchdowns.

Mike Webster 6'4", 280 lbs. Independence, KY (Simon Kenton High School)

Webster started every game of the 1997 and 1998 seasons on the offensive line for the University of Kentucky, helping the Wildcats break or tie 51 school and 15 SEC offensive records. After switching from left guard to right guard in 1998, he was part of a unit that was ranked second in the nation in passing offense, third in the nation in total offense, and eighth in the nation in scoring offense. Prior to his UK career, Webster played defensive end for Thomas More College, where in 1995 he made 55 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 5 tackles for a loss.

Webster signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins after leaving UK. He has also played in the Jacksonville Jaguars and Barcelona Dragons organizations.



Arena Football League Stories from February 25, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Kentucky Horsemen Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central