Rattlers ink Damien Groce to one year contract
Published on November 2, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release
PHOENIX - The Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League have signed wide receiver/defensive back Damien Groce to a one-year contract, general manager/head coach Gene Nudo announced today.
"This is a huge offensive pickup for our team," Nudo, who will take over as head coach next season, said. "Damien is a guy who has been an extremely productive receiver and is getting better each year."
Groce (5-foot-10, 182 pounds), who is entering his sixth AFL season, will be a receiver and kickoff specialist for the Rattlers.
Last season, Groce emerged as the top playmaker for the Columbus Destroyers, catching 116 passes for 1,426 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also returned 59 kicks for 1,204 yards and three touchdowns.
Following a stellar collegiate career at Iowa State University, Groce began his AFL career with the Los Angeles Avengers in 2000. He went on to spend the 2002 and 2003 seasons with the New York Dragons before signing a one-year deal with the Carolina Cobras in 2004.
After eight games with the Cobras, Groce was moved from wide receiver/defensive back to offensive specialist for the final six games of the year. He finished the year second on the team with 68 catches for 822 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also led the team with 50 kickoff returns for 903 yards to rank 11th in the AFL with 1,836 all-purpose yards, the second-highest total in team history.
In his five-year career, he has caught 249 passes for 3,018 yards and 53 touchdowns. As a return man, he has accumulated 2,129 yards on 113 returns while taking four back for scores. At defensive back, he has tallied 36 tackles and four pass breakups.
"We know he has the ability to help our team in many ways," said Nudo. "He has been a catalyst not only as a receiver but also as a kick returner. He will definitely help fill some of the voids we have."
Born on November 14, 1978, Groce spent two seasons at San Bernardino Valley Community College before transferring to Iowa State University. In 15 games with the Cyclones, he caught 56 catches for 866 yards and eight touchdowns while earning Second-Team All-Big 12 recognition following his junior season.
The Rattlers re-signed three linemen: Doug Goodwin, Anthony Hutch and Jerry Sharp late last week. The team also signed free agent wide receiver/defensive backs Corey Johnson, who is an eight-year AFL veteran, Darrell Jones, who is a rookie out of Cal-Poly SLO and Kenyatte Morgan, who was former first-team All-Arena af2 offensive specialist (2004).
The Rattler roster now includes 27 players. Teams are allowed to bring 37 players to training camp in January, but must cut down to 24 by opening day.
The Rattlers will kick off their 15th season in the 20-year-old Arena Football League in January of 2006. Rattler season tickets, which include all eight games played at America West Arena, can be purchased by calling 602-514-8300.
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