Steamwheelers Add Two More to Line
March 1, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa â With kickoff just 33 days away for the Quad City Steamwheelers, coach Rich Ingold is beginning to finalize his training camp roster for the 2004 season. On Monday, the Steamwheelers were assigned offensive linemen/defensive linemen Christopher Smith and Brandon Williams by the arenafootball2 league office.
Both players have ties to the area. Smith played with the Steamwheelers in 2001, and Williams played for and now coaches for Simpson College, located in Indianola, Iowa, just south of Des Moines, Iowa.
In 2001, Smith played in eight games for the âWheelers and rushed for 11 yards on five carries and added a reception. On defense he had 10 tackles, which included a tackle for loss, 2.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry.
"He has been here before and he is a natural defensive lineman that can pass rush," Ingold said. "He brings experience to a very youthful line."
Smith helped guide the Steamwheelers to their second straight ArenaCup championship in 2001.
Smith, 6-foot-1, 285 lbs., joined the Steamwheelers after a solid four-year career at Tennessee-Chatanooga where he was an All-Southern Conference selection in his final season.
Williams is joining the Steamwheelers after a four-year career as a player and two-year career as the offensive line coach at Simpson. As a player, he was a three-year letterwinner and was selected first-team all-Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as a senior in 2001.
"He was a guy that I looked at last year, but we had a very experienced line, which led him to Green Bay," Ingold said. "He is productive, plays hard and is a solid offensive lineman with good size."
Williams, 6-foot-5, 300 lbs., brings Arena Football experience to the Quad City table, having been a member of the Steamwheelers divisional rival Green Bay Blizzard. A chance to play closer to home for the leagues winningest team in 2003 (14-3) brings Williams to the âWheelers.
In 13 games for the Blizzard, Williams had 23 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, a quarterback hurry and two pass deflections.
This now brings the Steamwheelers training camp roster to 27 players with eight spots remaining open for camp, which opens on March 18. Players report on March 17.
News and Notes: Defensive specialist Chazz Moore was with the Steamwheelers for not even a month as he was signed to the Las Vegas Gladiators practice squad. The Gladiators are a member of the Arena Football League. He could yet revert to the Steamwheelers roster if Vegas releases him.
The arenafootball2 league is in its Fifth Anniversary season and serves as the AFL's developmental league. The arenafootball2 (af2) league consists of 25 teams in medium-sized markets with the purpose of training players, coaches and officials for higher levels of football. Several former af2 coaches have joined AFL teams and more than 175 players have advanced to the AFL over the past three years.
Several players have moved on to the NFL from the af2 including the âWheelers standout defensive rush end in 2003, Asa Francis, who last month signed with the Buffalo Bills to play in NFL Europe this spring.
The Steamwheelers are gearing up for their Fifth Anniversary season as one of the charter members of the league. Season tickets are currently on sale starting as low as $54. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets may contact Steamwheelers Director of Ticket Sales Brian Forth at 563-324-4888 or toll free at 1-866-STEAMTIX. For all the up to the minute Steamwheelers news, visit www.steamwheelers.com.
arenafootball2 Stories from March 1, 2004
- Five Former Steamwheelers See Action In Week Four - Quad City Steamwheelers
- Steamwheelers Add Two More to Line - Quad City Steamwheelers
- Wolves announce plans for final open tryout - Manchester Wolves
- Knights Assigned Four Players, Two from Open Tryout - Macon Knights
- Bucks & Law Out & About - Laredo Law
- Wardogs announce radio and TV plans - Columbus Wardogs
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.
