Shock Assigned Rookie Defensive Lineman Simpson
May 21, 2015 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Spokane Shock News Release
Defensive Lineman Rickey Simpson with Illinois State
(Spokane Shock, Credit: Rich von Biberstein / Atlanta Silverbacks)
SPOKANE, Washington (May 21, 2015) - The Shock were assigned rookie defensive lineman Rickey Simpson and placed defensive lineman Bryson Kelly on injured reserve today.
Simpson (6-2, 245, Illinois State) joins the Shock for his rookie season as a member of the AFL after completing his collegiate career at Illinois State University. Over his final three seasons from 2011-2012, Simpson saw action in 27 games and recorded 55 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, and recovered one fumble. During his freshman season in 2010, he was named the ISU Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year and played in the final five games of the season after being taken out of redshirt status and recorded 13 total tackles (six solo). During his prep career at Waubonsie Valley High School in Chicago, Illinois, Simpson was a two-year letter winner and recorded 66 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks as a senior as he earned All-State, All-city, All-Area, and All-Conference honors.
Simpson will be active and is anticipated to play in this Saturday's game against the Las Vegas Outlaws.
ADDITIONAL TRANSACTION
The Shock have placed second-year defensive lineman Bryson Kelly (6-2, 275, Central Washington) on injured reserve due to a groin injury. During his rookie season in 2014 with Spokane, Kelly played in 11 games and recorded 11 total tackles (nine solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and five quarterback hurries. Through the first seven games of the 2015 season, Kelly played in six contests and recorded eight tackles (seven solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks while adding six rush attempts for seven yards and three touchdowns from the fullback position.
The Shock (2-5, 0-2) will go on the road in Week 9 of the 2015 AFL regular season to take on the first-year franchise Las Vegas Outlaws (3-4, 3-1) on Saturday, May 23 with a 2:00 p.m. PT kickoff at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. This week's match-up will be available on the Shock-VPI Radio Network on AM 700 ESPN Spokane as well as online at www.700espn.com. The game will also be available for viewing on www.WatchESPN.com or on the WAtchESPN app.
Images from this story
 Defensive Lineman Rickey Simpson with Illinois State (Rich von Biberstein / Atlanta Silverbacks) |
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