Predators Add Some "Bam" To Their Roster
Published on January 5, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. (January 5, 2006) -- With the start of training camp slated for Friday, Orlando Predators head coach Jay Gruden filled out his training camp roster by announcing the signings of four players, including former NFL star running back Byron "Bam" Morris.
Morris has been out of football since 1999. A veteran of six NFL seasons, he played for Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Chicago and Kansas City during his career. In 75 career games, he rushed for 3,809 yards and 35 touchdowns on 974 career carries. He also caught 103 passes for 790 yards and one score.
He broke onto the scene in 1994 for the Steelers, rushing for 836 yards and seven touchdowns. Morris played a major role in helping Pittsburgh get to the Super Bowl a year later - rushing for 559 yards and nine touchdowns. His one-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter against Indianapolis proved to be the game winner in the AFC Championship game.
Morris was the top collegiate running back in the nation in 1993, when he won the Doak Walker Award. He broke Earl Campbell's Southwest Conference single season rushing record with 1,752 yards. Morris also scored 22 touchdowns that season. He will attempt to make the Predators roster as a fullback/linebacker.
In addition, the Predators also added lineman Sean Guthrie and Greg White; as well as wide receiver/defensive back DeAndrew Rubin.
Guthrie, a former standout at Boston College, has spent the last three years in the New York Giants organization. Originally signed by the Giants as a free agent in 2002, he suffered a torn patella tendon during a mini-camp and would miss two seasons. Guthrie was re-signed by the Giants in 2004 and was allocated to Berlin of NFL Europe. He started all 10 games for Berlin in 2004, recording 19 tackles with four quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles one pass defense.
With Boston College, Guthrie was a two-year starter at Boston College. As a senior in 2001, he posted a career-high 51 tackles and led the team in both quarterback sacks (9) and tackles-for-loss (12).
A seventh round draft pick of the Houston Texans in 2002, White spent time on the practice squads of Washington, New Orleans, Tennessee, Atlanta and Tampa Bay during his professional career. He led NFL-Europe in sacks with seven while playing for Cologne Centurions. White, who totaled 132 tackles with 11 quarterbacks in three seasons with Minnesota, went to training camp with the Chicago Bears in 2005.
Also a seventh round NFL draft pick (253rd overall), Rubin spent time with Green Bay, Indianapolis and Tampa Bay in his professional career. He was with the Bucs practice squad in 2004 and went to training camp with Tampa Bay this past season. Rubin amassed nearly 4,000 all-purpose yards with the University of South Florida Bulls as a wide receiver/kick returner from 1999-2002. His totals included 1,306 yards and four touchdowns receiving, 1,534 yards and one touchdown on kickoff returns, and 1,049 yards on 64 career punt returns.
Rubin is projected to be a wide receiver/defensive back with the Preds, but could also challenge for a spot on the roster as an offensive specialist.
The signings give the Predators a full allotment of 36 roster players heading into the start of training camp on Friday. The team will have to pare its roster to 24 by the end of training camp.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 5, 2006
- SaberCats open training camp - San Jose SaberCats
- Predators open training camp Friday - Orlando Predators
- Wranglers Host Fan Fiesta - Austin Wranglers
- AFL 2006 Schedule Update - AFL I
- Predators Add Some "Bam" To Their Roster - Orlando Predators
- Berkey Joins Rampage - Grand Rapids Rampage
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.
