Sabercats sign four more for 2006 season
October 19, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Oct. 19, 2005) - The San Jose SaberCats continued their recent flurry of activity in the free agent market by signing four more players to their roster for the 2006 season. The club today announced the signing of linemen NIKIA ADDERSON and JULIUS GANT, kicker BRIAN SCHMITZ and defensive specialist TERRANCE JOSEPH to free agent contracts.
"We just became a much better football team today," said SaberCats' head coach Darren Arbet. "These four guys can come here and make a difference for us right away."
A veteran of five AFL seasons, Schmitz (6-1, 170, North Carolina) signed a two-year deal with the SaberCats after spending the last two years kicking for the New Orleans VooDoo. In 2005, Schmitz placed 6th in the league in kick scoring with 133 points converting 11-of-22 field goals and 100-of-112 (89.3%) extra points.
The former All-American at North Carolina has made 54-of-123 field goal attempts and 340-of-410 extra point attempts during his AFL career which has included stops at Carolina (2001-02) and Orlando (2003).
A member of the SaberCats during the 2000 and 2001 seasons, Joseph (6-1, 201, Tulsa) returns to San Jose after inking a one-year deal. He was Arizona's top defender last season posting four interceptions, 14 pass breakups and 62.0 tackles while playing in all 16 games.
Joseph has totaled nine interceptions during his five-year AFL career that has also included games with Los Angeles (2002), Grand Rapids (2002) and New York (2004).
Adderson (5-11, 275, Houston) and Gant (6-4, 304, Middle Tennessee State) both penned three-year deals and will help bolster the team's line. A veteran of 44 career AFL games, Adderson tallied 8.0 tackles, 2.0 sacks and forced two fumbles playing in 12 contests with the Arizona Rattlers last season. He split time between Georgia and Austin in 2004 after beginning his career with the Rattlers in 2002.
The former all-conference defensive lineman at the University of Houston has amassed 48.0 tackles and 7.0 sacks during his four-year career.
Gant joins the SaberCats after playing under the team's new defensive coordinator Kevin Guy at Rio Grande Valley of arenafootball2 last season. An offensive lineman at Middle Tennessee State (2001-03), Gant made the transition to a two-way performer and posted 4.0 tackles and a fumble recovery in 10 games in his first season as a professional.
The SaberCats have signed 11 free agents since the signing period started on October 4 and now have 32 players on their roster. Teams are allowed to bring 37 players to training camp.
The SaberCats begin their 12th season of play in the Arena Football League in January 2006. Season and group tickets for the season are available by contacting a sales representative at (408) 573-5577. More information is also available on the club's official website, www.sanjosesabercats.com.
TRANSACTIONS
San Jose SaberCats - Signed K Brian Schmitz, DS Terrance Joseph, OL/DL Nikia Adderson and OL/DL Julius Gant.
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