Stealth Add Former NFL Players
January 3, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release
Wichita, Kan. - The Wichita Stealth announced today that they have been assigned nine players for the upcoming season. The most notable additions include offensive specialist Michael Dritlein (6-2, 205, Washburn University) and wide receiver/linebacker Dan Dawson (6-2, 200, Rice University). Both players were offered contracts after the Stealth open tryout camp on December 15th and both have NFL experience.
Dritlein was part of the practice squad with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1996 and 1997 and played for the Rhein Fire of the World League in 1997. He was the third leading receiver for the Fire with 13 receptions for 165 yards and two TD's. During his college career at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, Dritlein established school records with 170 receptions for 3,103 yards. His yardage total also set an all-time conference record. Dritlein earned first-team NCAA Division II All-America honors from American Football Quarterly and garnered GTE Academic All-America honors as a senior.
"Dritlein is a phenomenal athlete, who I have known about since his days at Washburn," said Stealth head coach Bob Cortese. "He has speed, hands, and NFL experience. I truly believe he can one day make it to the Arena Football League."
Dawson played four years at Rice University and earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) honors in 2001, and second team honors in 2000. After his career at Rice, Dawson made his mark in the school record books in a number of categories. He ranks second in career tackles (318), tied for second in career interceptions (13), first in season interceptions (7), first in career interception yards (352), and most touchdowns scored on interception returns both career and season (4). After his career at Rice, Dawson was in training camp in 2002 with the Arizona Cardinals.
"Dan has great hitting ability and could be a superb two-way player for us," said Cortese. "He has great hands and when he learns to run the routes he will be hard to contain due to his speed."
Among the other additions, the Stealth have been assigned two Pittsburg State products, fullback/linebacker Earl Henry (6-0, 220) and offensive/defensive lineman Richard Berrouet (6-5, 275). Other assignments include - kicker Michael Trimble (5-8, 160, Eastern New Mexico), wide receiver/defensive back Donte Wells (6-0, 215, Midwestern State), quarterback Ben Chapdelaine (6-2, 220, McMaster University in Canada), defensive specialist Daniel Anglin (6-0, 205, Fairmont State), and offensive/defensive lineman Ken Welch (6-7, 325, Northern Colorado). Welch has played two years in arenafootball2 with the Pensacola Barracudas in 2001 and the Bakersfield Blitz in 2002.
arenafootball2 Stories from January 3, 2003
- Stealth Add Former NFL Players - Wichita Stealth
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