AFL Arizona Rattlers

Rattlers Announce Opening Day Roster

Published on March 29, 2010 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


MESA, Ariz. - Arizona Rattlers Head Coach Kevin Guy named the team's opening day roster today. The final squad is the league-limit of 23 players, and returns five players from its 2008 group.

"I feel like we have a lot of talent in here," said Guy. "It's going to be a matter of these guys learning to play together and learning the system. We have high expectations for these guys and they have been working very hard. It has been a very physical and mentally tough camp and because of this we've had some injuries, but it's going to make us better in the long run."

Guy also named Nick Davila the team's starting quarterback for opening day. Davila came to the Rattlers this season after an incredible two-year run in arenafootball2. In his two seasons, he led his team to a 38-3 overall record, including two ArenaCup appearances and one league championship. Named first team all af2 in 2009, Davila threw for 3,863 yards and 86 touchdowns that season. That followed a 2008 year when he ranked third in the league in quarterback efficiency with 119.2.

"It was a very good, healthy and competitive camp at the quarterback spot," Guy said. "We like both of them, but we're going with Nick on opening night."

The players returning from 2008 will be WR Trandon Harvey, WR Tod Devoe, OL Atlas Herrion, DL Darrell Shropshire and K Jason Witczak. A sixth, DL Anttaj Hawthorne, remains with the team but was placed on Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) today. His injury is day-to-day and he should be returning to the squad soon.

The team placed four other players on PUP today in WR J.J. McKelvey, DL Tez Doolittle, DL Alex Guerrero and LB Valentine Chude.

Seven players were placed on recallable reassignment today, bringing the team's roster total down to the league mandated mark. Those players were WR Cleannord Saintil, WR Craig Turner, OL Matt Gray, OL William Obeng, DB George Kelly, DB Travis Roland and LB Lee Foliaki.

The Rattlers open the season this Saturday, April 3, when they travel to Cleveland in their first-ever meeting with the Gladiators. They return to the field after the bye week in the 2010 home opener against the Chicago Rush on April 17. Kickoff is slated for 7:30pm, and the game will be televised locally on AZ-TV.

2010 Rattlers Opening Day Roster

OL John Booker 6-4 325 04/23/1986 San Jose State

OL Brennan Carvalho 6-1 320 12/31/1985 Portland State

QB Nick Davila 6-3 210 05/22/1985 Cincinnati

WR Tod Devoe 6-2 198 04/05/1980 Central Missouri

QB Billy Farris 6-3 225 03/02/1985 Colorado State

DB Brandon Freeman 6-2 205 03/05/1985 Massachusetts

DB Sergio Gilliam 6-3 195 01/29/1985 Clemson

WR Trandon Harvey 5-10 197 05/23/1983 Washington State

OL Atlas Herrion 6-4 305 12/03/1980 Alabama

DL Ron Jones 6-4 275 09/17/1981 Southern Mississippi

FB Johnie Kirton 6-3 285 03/17/1986 Washington

WR Anthony Mix 6-5 230 01/20/1983 Auburn

LB Kelvin Morris 6-4 245 10/25/1982 Clemson

DL Marcus Pittman 6-5 290 05/10/1986 Troy

OL Troy Reddick 6-6 325 12/12/1983 Auburn

FB/LB Dale Robinson 6-1 240 01/02/1983 Arizona State

DB Terrance Sanders 5-10 180 11/23/1983 Eastern Illinois

DL Darrell Shropshire 6-2 301 03/18/1983 South Carolina

DB Riley Swanson 6-0 185 04/20/1984 Wake Forest

DL Walter Thomas 6-5 330 05/20/1985 Oklahoma State

WR Rod Windsor 6-2 210 04/24/1985 Western New Mexico

K Jason Witczak 6-1 203 05/24/1978 Southeast Missouri State

OL Kyle Young 6-4 315 03/05/1984 Fresno State

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