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Steeldogs Finalize Roster

March 27, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Alabama Steeldogs News Release


Birmingham, Ala. - The Alabama Steeldogs announced their 22-man roster Monday after the final cuts were made from the pool of the 37 players who attended the team's three-week training camp.

"It's tough to make these final cuts," Steeldogs Head Coach Ron Selesky said. "Because a lot of these guys had done some really good things in camp for us."

The Steeldogs' final roster boasts 10 players with professional football experience that combine for a total of 17 years at the pro level.

"We've compiled a talented and experienced group of players," Selesky said. "We have a great mixture of veteran leadership and young energy in the locker room this year."

The Steeldogs open their 2007 season this Friday when they travel to Huntsville to face in-state rival Tennessee Valley. The game will be the 14th meeting between the two teams in the last eight years.

"It's always big to win your first game of the season, but this one has even more impact because it's against a divisional opponent," Selesky said. "Not to mention the fact that they have traditionally had our number."

The Steeldogs will host South Georgia in their home opener on Thursday, April 12th.

(SEE ATTACHED NUMERICAL AND ALPHABETICAL ROSTERS)

PLAYER BIOS

Clifford Browning (DL, 6-2, 260, Clark Atlanta)

Pro Experience: Georgia Force (2005); Macon Knights (2006)

Notes - Browning played five games for the Knights in 2006, finishing with four tackles and a fumble recovery. He was part of the All-SIAC team his senior year at Clark Atlanta.

Chico Cleveland (WR/LB, 6-2, 245, UAB)

Pro Experience: Rookie

Notes - Cleveland played 11 games for the Blazers in 2005, and finished with 25 catches for 312 yards and four touchdowns.

Jhun Cook (WR/DB, 5-11, 192, UAB)

Pro Experience: Rookie

Notes - Cook was named special team captain as a senior at UAb in 2005. He was also named the Conference-USA special teams player of the week twice during his senior season and was also named to the Conference-USA All-Freshman Team.

Markeith Cooper (WR, 5-7, 175, Auburn)

Pro Experience: Georgia Force (2002-04); New York Dragons (2005)

Notes - Cooper comes to the Steeldogs with plenty of arena football experience, having spent three years with the AFL's Georgia Force from 2002-04 and the New York Dragons in 2005. During his stint with the Force, Cooper netted 1,928 yards receiving and 37 touchdowns, including a 24-touchdown performance in 2004. As an Auburn Tiger, Cooper led the team in overall kick return yardage in 1998-99. During his freshman year with the Tigers, he rushed for 336 yards on 64 carries and reached the end zone three times.

David Daniel (OL/DL, 6-1, 285, Alabama)

Pro Experience: Alabama Steeldogs (2002-06)

Notes - Daniel is the longest-tenured Steeldog on this year's roster with four years of experience. He played in 12 games in 2006 and finished with 17 tackles, four sacks and a fumble recovery. Daniel is a local, having played his high school football at Northport H.S.

Deon DeBoise (OL/DL, 6-1, 310, Jackson State)

Pro Experience: Alabama Steeldogs (2006)

Notes - DeBoise played in 11 games for the Steeldogs last season, finishing with eight total tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery. He was All-SWAC his senior year.

Ronald Dillon (DB, 5-11, 205, Alabama State)

Pro Experience: Rookie

Notes - Dillon played in all 12 games for ASU his senior year, finishing with 71 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. He was named the 2004 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and was also a 2004 First Team All-SWAC member.

Adrian Ghent (DB, 5-8, 185, Troy)

Pro Experience: Rookie

Notes - Ghent finished his senior season with the Trojans starting 11 games and netting a total of 36 tackles, one interception, five pass breakups and a recovered fumble.

Nick Hayes (K, 6-0, 200, UAB)

Pro Experience: Memphis Xplorers (2005)

Notes - Hayes finished the 2005 season for the Xplorers converting 25 of 30 extra points and six touchbacks on kickoffs. He was a finalist for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicking Award during his senior year at UAB.

Kevin Inge (OL, 6-4, 300, Liberty)

Pro Experience: Rookie

Notes - Inge finished the 2005 season playing in nine games and netting one tackle. Playing the majority of his time on the offensive line, he was named to the All-Big South Conference Team his senior season.

Robert Kent (QB, 6-4, 221, Jackson State)

Pro Experience: Tennessee Titans (2004); Montreal Allouettes, CFL (2005);

Alabama Steeldogs (2006)

Notes - Kent played in 15 games for the Steeldogs last season and started in five at quarterback. He finished with a 101.75 passing rating and a completion percentage of 58.7. He threw for a total of 1,361 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for another 159 yards and 16 touchdowns. Kent also had 17 catches for 190 yards and a score as a receiver.

Rajohn Myles (FB/LB, 6-0, 255, UAB)

Pro Experience: Alabama Steeldogs (2004)

Notes - During his 2004 stint with the Steeldogs, Myles played in 15 games and finished with a total of 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Jon Olinger (WR/DB, 6-5, 224, Cincinnati)

Pro Experience: Atlanta Falcons (2003); Carolina Panthers (2004);

Rhein Fire, Europe (2005)

Notes - Olinger is one of the most prolific wide receivers in Bearcats school history. He set the record for most receiving yards his senior season with 1,114 on 54 catches. He also had seven receiving touchdowns. He garnered a number of Conference USA honors during his tenure at Cincinnati.

Eric Oliver (DB, 6-2, 215, Mississippi)

Pro Experience: Rookie

Notes - Oliver led the Ole Miss Rebels in tackles in 2002 and 2003. He was named a permanent captain for the team in 2004 and finished his career as a three-year starter. A native of Jasper, Oliver was also awarded the school's Chucky Mullins Courage Award in 2004.

David Philyaw (WR/DB, 5-10, 190, Troy)

Pro Experience: Rookie

Notes - Philyaw was a standout defensive player at Troy University. He graduated in 2002 and finished his senior season with the Trojans with 68 tackles and two interceptions. He played in all 12 games for the team that year.

Mareno Philyaw (WR/LB, 6-2, 210, Troy)

Pro Experience: Atlanta Falcons (2000); Barcelona Dragons, Europe (2001);

Carolina Panthers (2002); Alabama Steeldogs (2006)

Notes - Philyaw played in 10 games for the Steeldogs last season, finishing with 19 catches for 263 yards and five touchdowns. He also had 15 tackles and one fumble recovery on defense.

Myron Powe (OL, 6-5, 315, Southern Mississippi)

Pro Experience: Alabama Steeldogs (2006)

Notes - Injuries kept Powe from competing in the majority of the Steeldogs' 2006 season. The standout offensive lineman from Southern Mississippi was named Conference-USA All-Freshman in his first year at the school and finished as a three-year letterman.

Rico Reese (DL, 6-2, 250, Western Carolina)

Pro Experience: Macon Knights (2006)

Notes - Reese played in five games for the Knights last season, finishing with 9.5 solo tackles and one sack. During his senior year at West Carolina, Reese tallied 58 tackles, three sacks and one interception. He was named to the All-Southern Conference Team.

Eric Scott (OL/DL, 6-1, 285, Southern Mississippi)

Pro Experience: Rookie

Notes - Scott was named All-Conference-USA for his senior year at Southern Mississippi.

Willie Smith (DB, 6-0, 207, Marshall)

Pro Experience: Rookie

Notes - Smith was a three-year starter at Marshall, finishing 2005 with three interceptions, 40 tackles and a recovered fumble in 11 games. He earned All-American and All-Mac Conference honors during his time at Marshall.

Mitch Tanney (QB, 6-3, 215, Monmouth)

Pro Experience: Rookie

Notes - Tanney was second in the nation in pass efficiency during his senior season. He completed 74.4 percent of his passes in 2006 and finished with a total of 2,469 yards, 33 passing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns. Tanney was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and graduated his class Summa Cum Laude. He spent time working out for the Philadelphia Eagles this past NFL season.

Eric Thomas (DB, 6-0, 285, Troy)

Pro Experience: Indianapolis Colts Camp (2005); Alabama Steeldogs (2006)

Notes - Thomas played in six games for the Steeldogs last season, finishing with five tackles and a fumble recovery.

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