Rampage Sign Former Western Michigan QB

Published on January 5, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League announced today the signing of former Western Michigan Bronco quarterback Jeff Welsh, wide receiver/linebacker Damon Hodge and lineman Craig Moore.

All three players signed one-year deals.

Welsh (6-3, 212) enters his first AFL season after making the jump to the professional ranks last season with the Columbus (Ga.) Wardogs of arenafootball2. In seven games with the Wardogs, Welsh, 23, completed 80-of-143 passes for 1,078 yards and 16 touchdowns. Prior to his one-year stint with Columbus, Welsh threw for 4,849 yards and 34 touchdowns in his four-year career at Western (1997-2001). His best collegiate season came in 2000 when he completed 207-of-354 passes for 2,537 yards and 15 touchdowns, earning All-MAC honorable mention honors. He will compete with Nick Browder for the Rampage's number two quarterback slot.

Hodge (6-1, 196) also enters his first AFL season after stints in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks. In 2000, Hodge, 26, played in nine games with the Cowboys, catching four passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. Most recently, Hodge, a two-time All-SWAC receiver at Alabama State, spent this past summer playing for the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe. Moore (6-3, 300) comes to the Rampage from the Toronto Phantoms. In six games with the Phantoms last season, the former Mississippi State standout recorded two sacks, three quarterback hurries and two pass deflections.

Prior to his time in Toronto, Moore, 26, spent two seasons with the Milwaukee Mustangs, registering 38.5 tackles, four forced fumbles and two sacks in 25 games played.

The Rampage, who opened training camp this morning at The Soccer Spot, kick off the 2003 season with back-to-back road contests at the Buffalo Destroyers (Feb. 1) and Colorado Crush (Feb. 7) before returning to Van Andel Arena for their home opener against the New York Dragons on Sunday, Feb. 16. The 3 p.m. affair will be the first of the Rampage's five home games televised live on NBC Sports.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 5, 2003


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