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Sacramento Announces Protected Players

March 23, 2010 - United Football League (UFL 1)
Sacramento Mountain Lions News Release


SACRAMENTO, CA - Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - The Sacramento franchise of the United Football League has protected 20 players of the former California Redwoods as head coach Dennis Green and his staff begin building a roster for the 2010 United Football League season.

This week the UFL is announcing a total of 60 players who have been protected by the Hartford Colonials, Florida Tuskers and the yet to be named UFL team in Sacramento. The reigning champion Las Vegas Locos will unveil their protected player list during April.

As a component of its overall digital media strategy, the United Football League is announcing the protected player lists to fans first through its team Facebook sites:

http://www.facebook.com/HartfordColonials

http://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaRedwoods

http://www.facebook.com/FloridaTuskers

"We have taken those key players from last year's squad that we felt were confident in their abilities, their love for the game and willingness to make the United Football League a success," said coach Green. "Some are former NFL players who still have dreams of returning to the NFL and see this as an opportunity to continue playing football at a competitive level while showcasing their talents."

Among the protected players is running back Cory Ross who led the UFL in rushing in 2009 with 117 carries for 462 yards and 4 touchdowns. "He is a fabulous player and is strong and quick," said coach Green of Ross, who also made 15 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown.

Sacramento will also welcome back the team's two leading receivers from 2009 in Sonny Shackleford, who caught a league sixth-best 21 passes for 149 yards and Joe West, who had 16 receptions for 193 yards. Tight end Nate Lawrie, who generated 134 yards and a touchdown from 13 receptions will provide another reliable receiving target.

"Nate Lawrie had a very good year last year and has played in the NFL and is a Yale graduate," said coach Green. "Many people ask when he is going to start using that Yale degree and he says it will be when his love for playing football wanes, which will not be any time soon."

There is a local element to the protected list in offensive tackle Cory Lekkerkerker, who played college football at Cal-Davis.

Among the defensive returnees are defensive back Ronnie Prude, whose 27 tackles ranked in the top ten in the UFL in 2009 and team sack-leader and eight-year NFL veteran defensive tackle Chris Cooper. Defensive back Robert Herbert posted 22 tackles last season and linebacker Liam Ezekiel claimed 18.5 tackles and a fumble recovery.

Kicker Parker Douglass is retained having made 12 of 12 extra points and 7 of 10 in field goals in 2009, including a season-long 44-yard three-pointer.

The United Football League teams will build 70-player training camp squads and eventual 52-man rosters through free agency signing, player allocation, and invitational and open tryouts.

Sacramento Protected Players:

Pos Name College

LB Kai Brown Brown

DT Chris Cooper Nebraska Omaha

LB Maurice Crum Notre Dame

K Parker Douglass South Dakota State

LB Liam Ezekiel Northeastern

DB Robert Herbert Colorado State

DL Louis Holmes Arizona

TE Nate Lawrie Yale OT Cory Lekkerkerker Cal-Davis

OL Matt Lentz Michigan

OT Tyler Luellen Missouri

C Mike Mabry Central Florida

DE Jason Parker Arizona

DB Dominic Patrick Arizona

DB Ronnie Prude LSU RB Cory Ross Nebraska

DE AJ Schable South Dakota

WR Sonny Shackelford Washington

NT Jason Stewart Fresno State

WR Joe West Texas-El Paso

Group and season tickets to Sacramento UFL games will go on sale in April and the team's new name, logo and uniforms will also be unveiled in the coming months. Sports fans can call 916-233-4870 for more information about the team.

Social networking Sacramento fans eager to interact with fellow fans can do so at:

http://www.facebook.com/UnitedFootballLeague

http://www.twitter.com/theUFL

http://www.twitter.com/UFLSacramento

http://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaRedwoods



United Football League Stories from March 23, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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