Randy Staats Returns to Atlanta
January 22, 2019 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Atlanta Blaze News Release
Atlanta, GA - The Atlanta Blaze announced today that the team has acquired attackman Randy Staats and the 26th overall pick from the Dallas Rattlers in exchange for the 22nd and 31st overall picks in the 2019 MLL Collegiate Draft.
Staats was drafted in 2015 by the Rochester Rattlers with the 29th overall pick. After one season with the Rattlers, he was acquired by Atlanta in the 2016 Expansion Draft. His 46 points in 2016 were tied for 15th in the league, albeit in an 11-game period. Staats was acquired in 2018 by Dallas and helped Dallas record a league-leading 11-3 record including an MLL finals appearance.
The former Syracuse standout was a Tewaaraton nominee as a Junior. Staats graduated in 2015 from Syracuse University adding to a long list of legendary Syracuse attackmen. Prior to Syracuse, Staats was a two-time NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American at Onondaga Community College.
"Its great to be back with the Atlanta Blaze," said Randy Staats when asked about the trade. "It's a first-class organization with a winning attitude and I am excited to help win a championship with this team."
"We are very excited to welcome Randy Staats back to the Atlanta Blaze," said Atlanta Blaze Vice President of Player Personnel, Spencer Ford. "Randy is an exciting player to watch with a very high Lacrosse IQ. He is a team first player that will be an immediate contributor and will add great value to our organization. It was a pleasure working with Dallas, their front office, and Randy. Both organizations worked fantastically with one another to come up with a deal that was in the best interest of the Rattlers, Blaze, and Randy."
Blaze fans will be able to see Randy's return to Atlanta at their home opener on June 2nd against the Chesapeake Bayhawks.
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