AFL Jacksonville Sharks

Quarterback R.J. Archer Heads to Jacksonville

Published on November 12, 2012 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Jacksonville Sharks News Release


JACKSONVILLE - The 2012 South Division Champion Jacksonville Sharks announced Monday that veteran quarterback R.J. Archer has been assigned to the team's roster on a two-year contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"We are excited to bring R.J. into the Sharks family," Sharks Head Coach Les Moss said. "He is ready to compete and help us get back to winning championships. We will have competition at the quarterback position, as competition at every position makes us a better team."

The 25-year-old Archer is no stranger to Sea Best Field, as he spent the 2012 season with the Georgia Force. In 11 games at the helm of Georgia's offense, Archer completed 229 of his 382 pass attempts for 2,446 yards and 49 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. On three separate occasions last season, Archer threw six or more touchdown passes without a single interception in that specific game. Archer also finished the 2012 season as the Force's third-leading rusher, as he gained 43 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.

Archer left the Force midseason to gain some valuable experience with the NFL's Detroit Lions, as he signed with the team in May, participating in Detroit's offseason minicamp. After rejoining the Force for several weeks, Archer then headed back to Detroit for NFL training camp before being released by the team on August 23.

The 2012 season was Archer's second in the AFL, as he played in 13 games for the Milwaukee Mustangs in 2011. That year, Archer completed just over 59 percent of his passes and threw 27 touchdown passes. Archer also finished third among Mustangs in rushing, gaining 35 yards on the ground to go along with five rushing touchdowns.

Before beginning his AFL career, Archer spent time with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings in 2010. He was signed by the team as an undrafted free agent, then was released in training camp before being signed to Minnesota's practice squad in December of that year. He was briefly elevated to the Vikings 53-man roster before the team released him later that month.

Archer starred at the College of William & Mary, where during his senior season (2009) he led the team to an 11-3 mark and a trip to the Football Championship Subdivision Semifinals. He was a second-team all-conference selection that year, ranking second in the Colonial Athletic Association in passing yards per game. Archer is a native of Earlysville, Virginia.

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