Sports stats



IFL Bay Area Panthers

Panthers Sign Quarterback D'Angelo Fulford

December 15, 2022 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Bay Area Panthers News Release


Stay ready so you don't have to get ready.

Words to live by for quarterback D'Angelo Fulford who is primed to showcase his skills in the IFL after signing with the Bay Area Panthers.

Fulford is a science-based personal trainer to get the most out of his clients and himself as he prepares to head to the West Coast to jumpstart his pro career.

"It has a lot to do with how I approach and attack training," said Fulford. "I'm big into the method of science and modifications. If there's something I can't do then I'll modify it where I can. If there's something that's too easy, I'll modify it to make it harder."

At Division III powerhouse Mount Union, Fulford won national title in 2017, throwing 50 touchdown passes with only five interceptions. Over his career, he won the Ohio Athletic Conference Bob Packard Offensive Back of the Year award three times, only the second player to do that.

Fulford was ready to take his talent and resume to the next level but professional aspirations were derailed by the pandemic.

"I was in the 2020 draft class so that stunted NFL dreams because we didn't get rookie minicamp," said Fulford. "I had talked to six different teams and trying to figure out where I was going to go for training camp. Then two days after the draft, they announced everything was shut down because of COVID."

The BC Lions had Fulford in training camp in 2021 but there were no exhibition games to display what he could do over a four-week stint.

Fulford dipped his toes in the indoor game with the Orlando Predators in 2022 but there were organizational issues that made that bad fit after two games.

Opportunity arrived with the MLFB with the Virginia Armada, a team with championship potential. However, the league collapsed shortly thereafter.

"We were finishing up training camp after being there for two weeks and then the MLMB implodes. We got kicked out of our hotels and were stranded," said Fulford. "They told us to find our own way home....I was behind on bills. It happened at the end of month in July. So rent, car note, insurance, phone bill all hit at the end of the month."

With the closing of one door, another opened in the IFL, bringing Fulford to the Panthers. Head Coach and General Manager Darren Arbet feels like he picked up a gem.

"He's a dominant winner. The numbers he put up at Mount Union were unbelievable. I'm looking forward to working with him. He brings a lot to this football team. "

Athleticism is a must to the play quarterback in the IFL but Fulford doesn't like the term "dual-threat" to describe his game.

"I know people say that I'm a dual-threat but when people say that there's a negative connotation about the kind of passer you are," said Fulford. "So I like to say I'm a pocket quarterback until I leave the pocket. Then you'll have to deal with me as an athlete. I was always big on decision-making so I don't plan on making a lot of mistakes. I have to be on the same page with Coach Wooten and be an extension of him on the field."

After stops in organizations with instability and dysfunction, Fulford finally has chance to unleash his talent with the Panthers. The career hiccups have only toughened him for what's next.

D'Angelo Fulford is ready to go.

• Discuss this story on the Indoor Football League message board...

Indoor Football League Stories from December 15, 2022


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.

OurSports Central