SaberCats sign four
Published on October 10, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Oct. 4, 2006) - The two-time ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats added some size to their 2007 roster by signing linemen JEFF BOLTON and WALTER CURRY and agreeing to terms with fullback/linebackers STEVE WATSON and LYNDELL HAWKINS, the club announced today.
"These are four players who have the ability to make an immediate impact on our club and in this league," said SaberCats head coach Darren Arbet. "We are going to take a long, hard look at these guys in camp and see if they can contribute to the continued success of this franchise."
A true offensive lineman, Bolton (6-4, 325) made starts at every position along the line during his collegiate career at Montana State University. He capped a spectacular senior season with the Bobcats by earning the Dave Rimington Award as the NCAA Division 1-AA's top center. Bolton also earned four sets of All-American honors and all Big Sky Conference recognition.
A two-time Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Curry (6-4, 294) will add a presence on the SaberCats defensive line. During his senior season at Albany State University, Curry tallied 72 tackles, including 11 quarterback sacks, and forced a pair of fumbles leading the Golden Rams to a conference championship and the NCAA playoffs.
Curry signed with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars last October and spent 10 weeks on the team's practice squad. He was allocated to NFL Europe and started seven of 10 games played for the Rhein Fire collecting 21 tackles and a sack during the 2006 season.
Watson (6-3, 252) joins the SaberCats from arenafootball2 where he was a first-team all-league selection last season with the Arkansas Twisters. Watson led af2 with 16.0 quarterback sacks and amassed 18 tackles for loss while scoring a pair of defensive touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing helping the Twisters to a franchise record for wins in a season and berth in the National Conference Championship game.
A 2004 first-team All-Gateway Conference performer as a defensive end at Southwest Missouri State University, Watson amassed 238 tackles and 11 sacks in three seasons.
A converted lineman, Hawkins (6-0, 298) totaled 17.5 tackles and 5.0 quarterback sacks from his linebacker spot, while scoring three touchdowns on five rush attempts and catching five passes for 30 yards and a score as a fullback with the af2 Stockton Lightning last season.
A native of Tracy, Hawkins prepped at Tracy High School before moving to a four-year college career at Fresno State. Hawkins joined the SaberCats practice squad in 2005 and participated in the team's 2006 training camp.
The SaberCats are a premier franchise in the AFL, having captured two ArenaBowl titles, six Western Division championships, seven consecutive playoff appearances and owning the league's best regular season record this decade. San Jose will begin its 13th season in the AFL next February.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 10, 2006
- Gladiators sign four to kick off 2007 roster - Las Vegas Gladiators
- SaberCats sign four - San Jose SaberCats
- Rattlers Sign Two Former Sun Devil Standouts - Arizona Rattlers
- Crush sign three free agents - Chicago Rush
- Blaze sign wide receiver Aaron Boone - Utah Blaze
- VooDoo add DE Henry Bryant and WR Anthony Hines - New Orleans VooDoo
- Preds release Hamilton - Orlando Predators
- Rush adds three to 2007 roster - Chicago Rush
- Desperados to hold open tryouts - Dallas Desperados
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