Pair of Destroyers Ink NFL Contracts

Published on January 7, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, OH – The NFL's New Orleans Saints have signed Columbus Destroyers offensive specialist Chris Vance to a Free Agent contract, the team announced today. In addition, defensive specialist Jason Horton has come to terms with the Green Bay Packers. As a result, Vance and Horton have been placed on the Destroyers' exempt list. Vance and Horton became the second and third Destroyer players to be signed by an NFL team this off-season, as defensive specialist Dwaine Carpenter joined the San Francisco 49ers in May.

"We are happy for Chris as well as Jason and the opportunity that they have been given," head coach Earle Bruce said. "Any time our players get a chance to go to the NFL, it reflects well on our organization and says a lot about the quality of our players and overall talent that we are able to bring in."

Vance, who signed with the Destroyers on October 22, enters the professional ranks after a standout career at Ohio State University. A junior college transfer from Fort Scott (KS) Community College, Vance joined the Buckeyes in 2001 as a wide receiver and punt returner. In his first season in Columbus, Vance was selected by the coaching staff as the Buckeyes' Most Outstanding First-Year Offensive Player after finishing the season as OSU's second-leading receiver with 34 catches for 605 yards and a team-high four touchdowns. He finished his two-year Buckeye career with 47 receptions for 783 yards and seven touchdowns, while gaining 164 yards on 24 punt returns.

Horton originally signed with the Destroyers on December 5 after spending much of the 2003 season on the practice squad of the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts before being activated for the final game of the season. He transferred from North Carolina to North Carolina A&T, where he finished in 2002. As a senior he was among the Division 1-AA interception leaders with six interceptions.

Carpenter was originally signed by the Destroyers as a Free Agent prior to the 2002 season. Last year Carpenter emerged as one of the league's top defensive players, finishing the season with a team-high eight interceptions (T-4th in AFL), 18 pass deflections and was second on the team in tackles with 84 (6th in AFL).

The Destroyers still retain the rights to all three players contracts should they be released from their NFL contracts.

The Columbus Destroyers kick off the 2004 season Saturday, February 7 at Indiana followed by the inaugural home opener Friday, February 13 hosting Carolina. Season tickets are available now starting as low as $72 for eight games. Information regarding the sale of individual game tickets will be announced soon. For a season schedule and further information on reserving season tickets visit www.columbusdestroyers.com or call (614) 246-HITS.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 7, 2004


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