Rattlers Acquire Ten Players as Free Agency Begins
November 5, 2015 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Arizona Rattlers News Release
Arizona Rattlers Signee Defensive End Sam Meredith
(Arizona Rattlers)
Phoenix, Ariz. - The five time world champion Arizona Rattlers have been assigned ten players for the 2016 Arena Football League (AFL) season. Each player will be entering their rookie season.
With free agency just underway, the Rattlers wasted little time in adding ten new players to the roster. The list includes fullback Patrick Arinze, defensive back Greg Henderson, defensive end Alfy Hill, wide receiver Colt Lyerla, offensive lineman Lamar Mady, defensive end Sam Meredith, defensive end Deuce Robinson, wide receiver Marcus Rucker, center David Wang, and defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker.
FB Patrick Arinze (5-10, 255, Arkansas) played fullback at the University of Arkansas. While Arinze was primarily used as a blocker, he did haul in three receptions for 19 yards as a senior.
The La Mesa, California native attended Helix High School and was a multi-sport athlete. He started as offensive guard and played on the defensive line for football. He also played baseball, basketball, and soccer, as well as participating in track and field, and wrestling.
DB Greg Henderson (5-11, 190, Colorado) attended the University of Colorado where he caught five interceptions in his career, returning one for a touchdown, as well as having 31 total pass breakups. He ended his collegiate career with 201 tackles and a sack. Henderson's efforts earned himself All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors as well as second team All-Colorado honors his senior season, and All-Colorado first team honors his junior year.
The Corona, California native attended Norco High School where he earned first-team All-State honors, first-team All-Riverside County honors and twice received first-team All-Big VIII honors, as well as being a two time All-CIF Southern Section. Henderson also lettered in track, where he was a first-team All-League performer in the 100-meters.
DE Alfy Hill (6-5, 275, Winston-Salem State) spent time with the National Football League's (NFL) Philadelphia Eagles during the 2015 training camp.
Hill attended Winston-Salem State where he was a two year letterman and recorded 57 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and two interceptions. Hill began his collegiate career at the University of Alabama.
The Shallotte, North Carolina native attended West Brunswick High School where he recorded 112 tackles, 15 for a loss and 12 sacks as a junior in 2008 earning him 2008 North Carolina All-State first-team honors.
WR Colt Lyerla (6-4, 245, Oregon) spent time with the National Football League's Green Bay Packers in 2014. His athleticism was highly touted coming out of college, but was waived by the team mid-way through training camp after an injury.
Lyerla attended the University of Oregon where he played in 28 games with 12 starts during his three seasons and caught 34 passes for 565 and 11 touchdowns. In 2012, he hauled in 25 passes for 392 yards and six touchdowns, and helped the Ducks earn a trip to the Fiesta Bowl where they defeated the Kansas State Wildcats. Lyerla caught seven passes for 147 yards in 2011, with five touchdowns. He also had 12 tackles on special teams.
The Hillsboro, Oregon native attended Hillsboro High School, where he played both football and basketball. While there, as a junior, Lyerla led the Spartans to a class 5A state title in 2009, rushed for 1,543 yards and 26 touchdowns, and had 843 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. For his efforts he was named state MVP, selected as the Pacific Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year, as well as earning 2009 All-State team honors as both a running back and a linebacker. He was also awarded 6A first-team All-State at running back and second-team at linebacker honors in 2010.
OL Lamar Mady (6-2, 315, Youngstown State) spent time with the National Football League's (NFL) Oakland Raiders, where he played in seven games during the 2013 season, and spent the 2014 season on the Raiders' practice squad.
Mady attended Youngstown State where he played in 22 games during which, he did not allow a sack or pressure. Mady transferred from Butler County Community College where he was named first-team All-Jayhawk Conference and first-team All-Region VI.
The Topeka, Kansas native attended Topeka High School where he played both center and defensive tackle. Mady earned first-team All-Centennial League selection during his senior season, and as a junior was a second-team All-Centennial League pick as a center.
DE Sam Meredith (6-4, 290, San Diego State University) was picked up in May this year by the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, and spent the better part of the 2015 training camp with them.
Meredith attended San Diego State University where he received the Dr. R Hardy/C.E. Peterson Memorial Trophy Captains Award his senior season, as well as earning honorable mention All-Mountain West honors as a sophomore.
The Honolulu, Hawaii native attended Helix High School in La Mesa, California where he earned all-CIF defensive line honors and was named East County League Defensive Player of the Year and Prep Pigskin Report lineman of the year. He also received East County first-team honors as both a tight end and defensive end as a junior. Meredith also lettered in basketball and track.
DE James O'Connor "Deuce" Robinson (6-5, 260, Appalachian State) attended Appalachian State where in 47 games he tallied 117 tackles, 19 for a loss, and 8.5 sacks. Robinson also had two pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
The Blythewood, South Carolina native attended Blythewood High School where he led team with 67 tackles and four sacks as a senior, and was a member of Blythewood's Army ROTC.
WR Marcus Rucker (6-3, 195, Memphis) spent the 2013 training camp with the NFL's New York Jets.
Rucker attended the University of Memphis where he played in 44 games, starting in 26. In that time he had 126 receptions for 1,665 yards and 14 touchdowns, including two 100-yard receiving games. Rucker was invited to play in the 2013 Casino Del Sol College Football All-Star Classic.
The Memphis, Tennessee native attended Whitehaven High School where he helped lead the school to the second round of the playoffs his senior year and was selected to play in the Liberty Bowl All-Star game that year.
OC David Wang (6-2, 300, Virginia Tech) spent time with the National Football League's (NFL) St. Louis Rams during the 2015 training camp.
Wang attended Virginia Tech where he played in 43 games at guard and center. In 2014 he was a member of the All-ACC Academic Football Team, and in 2013 was an honorable mention All-ACC selection. Wang graduated with a degree in management in 2011 and a second degree in marketing in 2013. Wang also graduated with master's degrees in instructional technology (2013) and in curriculum and instruction (2014).
The Ashburn, Virginia native attended Stone Bridge High School where he earned multiple honors. He was a member of SuperPrep's Mid-Atlantic Team, was named to PrepStar's All-Atlantic Region Team as a defensive lineman, was an honorable mention selection to the All-Met team by The Washington Post, and was a first-team All-Group AAA selection as an offensive lineman his junior season.
David is the son of Robert and Nancy Wang, who were both members of the Chinese Olympic team in the 1970s.
DL Jeffrey Whitaker (6-4, 320, Auburn) attended Auburn University where in 24 games he amassed 49 tackles and 4 tackles for loss. Whitaker graduated with a communications degree in December, 2014.
The Macon, Georgia native attended Warner Robins High School, and was a 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl participant, as well as being selected to play in the Georgia North-South All-Star game.
Images from this story
Arena Football League Stories from November 5, 2015
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- Rattlers Acquire Ten Players as Free Agency Begins - Arizona Rattlers
- Thunder Kickoff 2016 Free Agency with WR's Carter, Truesdell - Portland Thunder
- Orlando Predators to Celebrate Upcoming 25th Anniversary Season - Orlando Predators
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