New Teams Take Shape
October 8, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK â Offensive/Defensive Lineman D.J. COOPER (6-4, 285, Arkansas) became the first player in New Orleans VooDoo history when the team made him the first overall selection in the 2004 AFL Expansion Draft. The VooDoo, who will be joined by the Austin Wranglers and Philadelphia Soul, begin their first Arena Football League season in February. Cooper recorded 5.0 tackles and two touchdown receptions for the Dallas Desperados in 2003.
Austin selected former All-Arena WR/DB CHARLIE DAVIDSON (5-11, 195, Mississippi St.) with the third overall pick, while Philadelphia selected DS MARVIN TAYLOR (6-1, 185, Florida A&M) with the No. 8 pick. Philadelphia traded the No. 2 pick to Colorado prior to the draft for OL/DL DWAYNE MISSOURI and picks No. 5, 11 and 14 to Grand Rapids for OL/DL COREY MAYFIELD. Davidson recorded 78 receptions for 1,031 yards and 21 touchdowns with Colorado in 2003. Taylor had 52.0 total tackles, nine pass breakups and three interceptions for the Chicago Rush during the 2003 season.
Team rosters effected the most by the draft include the Dallas Desperados, who lost five players, while the Colorado Crush lost three and Chicago Rush, Columbus Destroyers and San Jose SaberCats each lost two players.
The following is a recap of the draft:
PICK TEAM POSITION PLAYER PREVIOUS TEAM HGT WGT COLLEGE
1 New Orleans OL/DL D.J. Cooper Dallas 6-4 285 Arkansas
2 Colorado (via Philadelphia) OL/DL Winfield Garnett San Jose 6-6 320 Ohio State
3 Austin WR/DB Charlie Davidson Colorado 5-11 195 Mississippi St.
4 New Orleans OL/DL Abdul-Salam Noah San Jose 6-2 285 San Jose St.
5 Grand Rapids (via Philadelphia) OL/DL Chris Polinder Colorado 6-2 300 Eastern Washington
6 Austin OL/DL Tony Bowick Chicago 6-2 268 TN-Chattanooga
7 New Orleans PASS
8 Philadelphia DS Marvin Taylor Chicago 6-1 185 Florida A&M
9 Austin QB Bobby Pesavento Colorado 6-5 225 Colorado
10 Los Angeles (via New Orleans) OL/DL Doug Lytle Dallas 6-3 300 Chadron St. NE
11 Grand Rapids (via Philadelphia) QB Tim Carey Columbus 6-3 200 Hawaii
12 Austin WR/DB Shannon Culver Dallas 5-11 178 Oklahoma St.
13 Philadelphia (via New Orleans) OS Gunnard Twyner Columbus 5-10 185 Western Illinois
14 Grand Rapids (via Philadelphia) WR/DB Brian Hinton Dallas 5-10 180 SE Missouri St.
15 Austin PASS
16 New Orleans PASS
17 Philadelphia DS Brandon Davis Los Angeles 6-4 210 Arkansas
18 Austin DS Kareem Larrimore Dallas 5-11 190 West Texas A&M
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 8, 2003
- Philadelphia Soul Add Three Players Through Expansion Draft - Philadelphia Soul
- Georgia Force Names Rockwell as New General Manager - Georgia Force
- New Teams Take Shape - AFL I
- L.A. Avengers acquire OL/DL Doug Lytle - Los Angeles Avengers
- New Orleans VooDoo Pick Two in AFL Expansion Draft - New Orleans VooDoo
- Rush Lose Bowick, Taylor in Expansion Draft - Chicago Rush
- Rampage Add Three Players from Expansion Draft - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Desperados Lose Five in AFL Expansion Draft - Dallas Desperados
- Rush to Read Kicks off Third Year - Chicago Rush
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