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Rampage Ink Eleven Players For 2004 season

November 4, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


The Grand Rapids Rampage have signed eleven new players to their 2004 roster. Included in the group are former Ottawa Hills High stars Jeremy Dutcher and Demont Smith; former Pawpaw High in Kalamazoo & Grand Rapids Junior College player Jason Ferguson; former Western Michigan standout Josh Bush; and former Rampage players Dunstan Anderson and Jason Waters. Other players signed were former All-af2 defensive specialist Brian Livingston, offensive/defensive linemen Dustin Fish and Chris Enneking; and wide receiver/defensive backs Will Sullivan and Jamie Ware.

Dutcher attended Ottawa Hills High in Grand Rapids where he earned varsity letters in football, track & field, and basketball. He later attended the University of Saint Francis in Indiana, where he was an NAIA All-American for the Cougars in 2000. Dutcher played two games with the AFL's Detroit Fury in 2002, including one against the Rampage where he was named the game's Ironman after catching three touchdowns and notching 4.5 tackles.

Smith also played at Ottawa Hills before going to Michigan State. He played in four games with the Rampage in 2002, recording 10.5 tackles and a pass breakup. Smith spent last season in the af2 with the Charleston Swamp Foxes and the Louisville Fire. His ten interceptions in 2003 tied him for fourth in the af2.

Ferguson has spent the last two seasons in the af2 with the Cincinnati Swarm and Tulsa Talons after an impressive college career that saw him named Second Team All-MAIA at Emporia State. He was a three-sport athlete at Pawpaw High in Kalamazoo in football, baseball and basketball; and spent a season at Grand Rapids Junior College before transferring to Emporia State. His father, Chip, played in the NFL with the Chicago Bears after an All-American senior season at Western Michigan.

Bush played four seasons at Western Michigan and finished third in WMU history in receptions (150), fourth in receiving yards (1,889) and eighth in touchdowns catches (12). He is the school's all-time leader in punt return yardage (786) and second in returns (69). In 2001 he was named second team All- MAC and was named Offensive MVP for Western.

Anderson was a member of the Rampage from 2000-01, recording 4.5 tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in just three games. A former quarterback and split end at Tulsa, Anderson went on to play several years in the NFL, and earned a Super Bowl ring with the Dallas Cowboys in 1996. "He can rush the passer and we need that" said head coach and director of football operations Bob Cortese. "He's got a Super Bowl ring and has played in the AFL. If he can learn some more pass blocking skills he can really help this team."

Waters played with the Rampage in 2002 and finished third on the team with 40.5 tackles and led the team with 17 passes defensed in just 11 games played. He also recorded two tackles for loss and had an interception. Waters spent much of the remainder of 2002 in the NFL: in training camp with the Carolina Panthers, and later on the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad. The Falcons assigned him to the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe for 2003, where he was named All-NFL Europe as a defensive back. The Rampage received his rights (and QB Jeff Loots) in the trade that sent Sedrick Robinson to Columbus. "We're counting on Jason a great deal. He not only has blazing speed, but has played pro football in the NFL and in Europe with success. It was a pretty key signing" added Cortese.

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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.

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