Preds sign four out of tryouts
October 4, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 4, 2006) - Calling the event a "huge" success, Head Coach JAY GRUDEN announced today that four participants from last Saturday's Free Agent Open Tryout Camp have been signed to contracts for the 2007 Arena Football League season.
Heading the list is former University of South Florida offensive lineman JOHN MILLER, who lettered with the Bulls from 2002-05. Miller earned second team All-Big East honors as a senior. A versatile lineman, Miller played both guard and center during his USF career. He was voted USF's "Lineman of the Year" as a senior.
"John is not particularly big at 6-1, 275, but he possesses tremendous technique and leverage," Predators Player Personnel Director LES MOSS said. "He came with a strong recommendation from his college coach and we look forward to getting him in camp."
PAUL CANNINGS , a 5-10, 180-lb. defensive back, earned a contract after playing last year in the "arenafootball2" league for the Tulsa Talons. In seven games with the Talons last season, Cannings recorded 24.5 total tackles with two interceptions and 1 pass defense. In addition, he played in two games with "af2"'s Bossier-Shreveport franchise in 2005 and also spent time on the practice squad of the CFL's Montreal Allouettes that season. Cannings starred at Tarleton State University, where he was selected all-conference.
MICHEAUX ROBINSON played briefly for Cincinnati in the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) in 2006. During the 2005 season, he recorded 32.5 tackles with 16 interceptions in just nine games for the Wyoming Calvary--also of the NIFL. Robinson was a standout player at Otterbein College, where he lettered four seasons. At Otterbein, he collected 13 career interceptions and was MVP of the 2004 Aztec Bowl - a Division III All-Star game. In that contest, Robinson picked off two passes and returned one for a touchdown in the USA's 24-3 win over Mexico. While at Otterbein, Robinson was a teammate of quarterback MATT D'ORAZIO, who led the Chicago Rush to the 2006 ArenaBowl title.
Perhaps the most intriguing prospect signed out of Saturday's tryout camp was big defensive lineman LORENZO DAVIS (6-4, 300-lb.). He began his college career at Baylor, before transferring to Northwestern State (LA), where he appeared in 15 games from 2004-05 with 41 total tackles and 7.0 TFL.
Gruden noted that the Predators could extend additional contract offers to several other players that attended the tryout camp. "It seems like the quality of players we are getting out of our tryout camps continues to go up every year," Gruden said. "We're talking to a couple of additional players that we may sign and we are certainly looking forward to second open tryout on Dec. 9."
With today's announcement, the Predators continue their streak of signing at least one player out of their open tryout camp to 17 consecutive years. "Some people think the tryouts are a promotional stunt or a community relations ploy," Gruden said. "But the fact of the matter is that there are a lot of good football players that have never been given a chance at the pro level. We take our tryouts seriously and have attracted some great talent over the years. The results from this year's tryout prove that point."
Information on the Dec. 9 tryout can be found at www.orlandopredators.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 4, 2006
- SaberCats sign three free agents - San Jose SaberCats
- Rampage Sign Wide Receiver Ronney Daniels - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Preds sign four out of tryouts - Orlando Predators
- Rage Dance Team Final Auditions Open To Public On Sunday - Grand Rapids Rampage
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