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Lightning Announce 2008 Opening Roster

March 25, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league released their league-mandatory 24-man season opening roster for the 2008 af2 season, Head Coach Doug Murray announced today.

"Our offense starts with who's dishing the ball - and we'll be very good with quarterback Chad Elliott," said Murray. "We're going to be very athletic and very fast, which will be helped by the fact that we have fresh legs. From the outset of the season, we'll be awaiting the emergence of some core players and that will spark competition at our receiving and secondary spots."

Elliott, a seventh-year pro, has played in 76 career professional games and has completed 1,491 pass attempts for 17,066 career yards, ranking second best in af2 history for both categories. He has thrown for 315 touchdown passes - fourth best on the af2 career charts - while only throwing 72 interceptions. Elliott's successes have led to a career passer rating of 102.89 with Bakersfield and Macon of the af2.

Starting out the season on injured reserve will be receivers Ryan Bugg (former Tulsa Hurricane product), former all-WAC college sensation Joe Garcia (WR/DB) and former Franklin (Stockton, Calif.) High product Domingo Holmes while three more joined injured reserve in OL/DL Daniel Almeida, OL/DL Dennis Sogelau and FB/LB Daniel Grossi.

WR/DB Atnas Maeko, an all-af2 honoree and International Player of the Year in 2006, officially remains on the "refused to report" list while awaiting United States immigration clearance. Joining the list is QB Derrick Crudup.

WR/LB Troy McBroom and WR/DB Tyler Bruhn were added to the team suspension list.

Additionally, a new quarterback is slated to start the year backing up Elliott after the Lightning acquired second-year pro and local college product Joe Micco from the Mahoning Valley Thunder in exchange for future considerations. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Micco spent the 2007 season with the af2's Fort Wayne Fusion, playing in six games for the Fusion while completing 35 of 67 passes for 355 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

A Long Island, N.Y. native, Micco split his college career between San Jose State University (NCAA) and Menlo College (NCAA Division-III).

Quarterback Ashley (A.J.) Chambers was released and officially placed on re-assignment.

ROSTER NOTES

*11 players (Stephen Bell, Diamond Francies, Jajuan Huddleston, Jason Hunt, Raymond Little, David Lose', Mason Mitchell, Peter Tuialuuluu, Tupo Tuupo, Carl Walker and Alex Walls) from the active roster return with previous experience on the Lightning roster

*Six players (Bryan Deemer, Diamond Francies, Michael Hooper, Jajuan Huddleston, Mason Mitchell, and Joe Micco) previously played four-year college ball in California

* Three players (Jason Hunt, Atnas Maeko and Alex Walls) have all-af2 experience

*Donva Louder is the youngest player at 21 years, 11 months.

*Jajuan Huddleston is the oldest player at 29 years, 6 months.

LIGHTNING COACHING STAFF ANNOUNCED, ADDS VINCE AMEY

The Stockton Lightning announced Head Coach Doug Murray's coaching staff for the 2008 season, with five members of last season's coaching staff returning from previous experience with the Lightning.

Former Arena Football League veteran Mathias Vavao has been promoted to Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Line Coach. Josh Wallwork returns for his second season as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach. Elliott Burke returns to the Lightning locker room as Defensive Coordinator after a pro coaching hiatus in 2007, while David Mairs (Fullbacks/Linebackers) and Jesus Reyes (Receivers) return for their third season with the Lightning coaching staff.

New to the coaching staff is former Arena Football League veteran Vince Amey, who will handle the Lightning Defensive Line and Special Teams units. The former seven-year veteran of the AFL (Arizona Rattlers, Los Angeles Avengers) recorded career-highs last year with Arizona, garnering 15.5 tackles and 2.0 sacks in 15 games. Amey, a Union City, Calif. native, was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round (230th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft and started for three years in college at Arizona State University (1994-97), tallying 36 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 36 career games.

The Lightning start the 2008 campaign beginning March 28, taking the road against the Tri-Cities Fever. The 2008 Lightning home opener is Saturday, April 12 against the Boise Burn, beginning at 7:00 p.m. from Stockton Arena. Listening options will be announced soon.

Season tickets for the 2008 Lightning regular season are on sale now. For more information on season tickets, merchandise, or other information, please call the Lightning at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonlightning.com.

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