Steamwheelers Add Four Players Including a Former Hawkeye and a Davenport Native
February 22, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
(Davenport, IA) - The Quad City Steamwheelers announced today the addition of four more members to the team roster. Former Iowa Hawkeye Antwan Allen, Davenport native Brian Ewert, former Arizona Rattler (AFL) Trevor Misipeka and wide receiver Kris Peters have all been assigned to the team by the arenafootball2 league.
Allen joins the Steamwheelers after four award-winning years for the Iowa Hawkeyes. The defensive back broke into the starting lineup during his freshman season and earned numerous awards and honors throughout his career including: 1st Team Freshman All-America by Rivals.com (2002), Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (2004) and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (2005).
The Tampa, Fla., native finished his Hawkeye career with 235 tackles and eight interceptions. He tallied 60-plus tackles in three of his four seasons with the Hawkeyes and is the only player in Iowa history to start four straight January bowl games.
"Antwan Allen is a guy that played at The University of Iowa," says Head Coach Sean Ponder. "We are excited to have another player that has played neared the Quad Cities on our squad. However, I told him it doesn't matter where he played at as long as he can play football for us. I have talked with some scouts and his coaches; they think that Arena Football really fits what he can do and the defensive backs position is a spot that we are looking to fill. Having a guy of his caliber is definitely a positive for us."
Ewert is a Davenport native who attended Navy. While he did not play football for Navy, he did play while in the Armed Forces.
"Ewert is a guy that I saw working for his family's plumbing company in town," said Ponder. "He is 6-foot-1 and 270 pounds and is about as big and strong as you can be. I said if he can play football, we have a diamond in the rough so we are going to give him an opportunity to come earn a position during training camp."
Misipeka joins the Steamwheelers after playing in two games for the Arizona Rattlers in 2006. Prior to playing for the Rattlers the lineman played four seasons with the San Diego Riptide from 2002 to 2005. During that time he tallied 39 solo tackles, 27 assisted tackles, 52.5 total tackles, eight sacks, nine forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries.
"Trevor (Misipeka) is a player that has played four years in the af2 and one in the AFL," said Ponder. "We feel that he is one of the best center/nose guards in the league. I know that Coach Ed Flanagan is excited to have him and he has coached him before. He gives us an ability to rotate players around and protect ourselves. He is a heck of a nose guard, but we may play him at center this year."
Peters returns to the Steamwheelers for his second season. Last season Peters made af2 history when he became one of three receivers on the same af2 team to have 100 catches and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. The two other receivers were Tim Dodge and Jack Walker Jr. The Baton Rouge, La., native finished the 2006 season with a team-high 28 touchdowns and 1,588 yards.
"Kris (Peters) is a quality receiver," said Ponder. "Every year he has played he had 100 catches and 1,000 yards. He is a consistent player that puts up big numbers and will be a veteran on the receiving corp. He is a coach on and off the field and he will help a bunch of the rookies that we are bringing in."
The Steamwheelers open training camp with a team meeting on Friday, March 9.
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