Sports stats



Rampage Set 2008 Active Roster

February 25, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


GRAND RAPIDS - After three weeks of training camp, new head coach Steve Thonn and the rest of the Grand Rapids Rampage coaching staff have settled on their final 23-man active roster for the beginning of the 2008 Arena Football League season. The team returns only four players from last year's squad, and features 10 AFL rookies.

Among the returning players are kicker Brian Gowins (Birmingham, Ala.) and fullback Chris Ryan (Lake Charles, La.), who helped the Rampage hoist the ArenaBowl XV trophy in 2001. They look to join Arena Football veterans such as 2007 All-AFL First Team defensive back Ahmad Hawkins (Hampton, Va.) and 2007 AFL All-Rookie Team receiver Kenny Higgins (Long Beach, Calif.) in leading Grand Rapids back to the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

Several Grand Rapids rookies are hoping to make the transition from the outdoor game to become dominant forces in the AFL. Defensive lineman Rahim Abdullah (Jacksonville, Fla.) enters Arena Football having collected 35 sacks over six seasons (2002-07) in the Canadian Football League. Meanwhile, offensive lineman Larry Turner, Jr., (Dayton, Ohio) joins the AFL after spending three seasons (2004-06) protecting quarterbacks for the NFL's St. Louis Rams.

"Altogether, I'm very happy with our roster," said Thonn. "We've got a good mix of veterans and younger guys who are picking up the game quickly. Now we need to see how fast we can progress as a team and how quickly it can come together."

Included among the players cut from Grand Rapids' 37-man training camp roster were defensive back Chuck Wesley (East Orange, N.J.) and quarterback Juston Wood (Portland, Ore.). Last season, Wesley set a Rampage single-season record with 88 tackles in 16 regular-season games. Meanwhile, Wood's departure means that Grand Rapids will enter the year with James MacPherson (Tucson, Ariz.) and Adrian McPherson (Bradenton, Fla.) as its signal callers.

The Rampage also placed fullback Terrell Browden (Baton Rouge, La.), receiver Cole Magner (Palmer, Alaska), linebacker Michael McFadden (Saginaw, Mich.) and offensive lineman Nick Steitz (Los Banos, Calif.) on their injured reserve list. These four players will be eligible to be placed on Grand Rapids' active roster for the team's March 30 matchup against the Los Angeles Avengers.

Grand Rapids will have two weeks to gel as a team, as it faces a Week 1 bye to begin the year. The Rampage kick off their season on March 10 when they welcome the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats to Van Andel Arena.

2008 Rampage Active Roster

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. AFL Yr. College

Rahim Abdullah DL 6-5 277 R Clemson

Brandon Eaton OL 6-2 297 R Hawaii

Brenden Givan LB 6-2 252 2 Stillman

Gabriel Gonzalez DL 6-1 310 R Akron

Brian Gowins K 5-10 180 8 Northwestern

William Haith DB 5-10 192 3 Liberty

Ahmad Hawkins DB 5-10 191 6 Virginia

Kenny Higgins WR 6-1 187 2 Toledo

Anthony Hines WR 5-11 185 5 Winson Salem St.

Chris Johnson WR 6-2 190 5 Georgia Southern

Marcus Keys OL 6-3 280 8 North Alabama

Alan Krutulis FB 6-0 280 R W. Virginia Weslyan

Jermaine Lewis WR 6-4 210 4 Western Michigan

James MacPherson QB 6-3 220 2 Wake Forest

Chris Martin DB 5-11 190 R Washington St.

Adrian McPherson QB 6-3 220 3 Florida St.

Leif Murphy LB 6-3 260 R North Dakota St.

DeVonte Peterson DL 6-2 275 R Catawba

Chris Ryan FB 6-0 305 9 Clark Atlanta

Fitu Tu'ua OL 6-5 350 2 Fresno St.

Larry Turner, Jr. OL 6-2 295 R Eastern Kentucky

Zach Ville DL 6-1 291 R Missouri

T.J. Watkins OL 6-3 280 R Clemson

2008 Rampage Injured Reserve List

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. AFL Yr. College

Terrell Browden FB 6-3 265 2 Southern Mississippi

Cole Magner WR 6-2 196 2 Bowling Green St.

Michael McFadden LB 5-11 252 2 Grand Valley St.

Nick Steitz OL 6-3 306 R Oregon



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 25, 2008


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.

Other Recent Grand Rapids Rampage Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central