IFL Sioux Falls Storm

Storm Announce 2012 Receivers

January 25, 2012 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Sioux Falls Storm News Release


The Sioux Falls Storm is excited to announce several returners, and exciting newcomers, to its receiving corps for the upcoming 2012 season.

The Storm returns numerous key members from its 2011 championship season, including Lorenzo Brown, Carl Sims, Brandon Walker and Blake Wilson. Joining the squad, as newcomers will be wide receivers Dusten Copeland and Clinton Soloman.

Lorenzo Brown enters his third consecutive year with the Storm. Brown only played eight games with the squad in 2011 due to injury, but was able to rack up 13 total touchdowns, 467 all-purpose yards and 24 receptions splitting time at receiver, quarterback and running back. In 2010, Brown accumulated 520 all-purpose yards, caught 36 passes for 294 yards and scored eight total touchdowns. Brown earned two consecutive NAIA National Championships in 2008 and 2009 while serving as quarterback for the University of Sioux Falls.

Carl Sims enters his second season with the Storm. Sims brings the deep threat back to the Sioux Falls Arena. Last season, Sims posted 420 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on just 22 receptions over the course of eight games. His 19.1 yards per catch proved to be dangerous, hard to defend and helped Sims achieve 12 touchdowns on the year. Sims missed part of the regular season as he joined the B.C. Lions of the CFL. He returned to the Storm for the 2011 playoffs and added 11 receptions for 159 yards and three touchdowns. Prior to the Storm, Sims played with Western Illinois, where he ranks third in career receptions, with 136, and fourth in yards with 1,724.

Blake Wilson returns to the team for his second straight season. In 2009, Wilson was a Second Team Daktronics All-Region player at Southwest Minnesota State. Playing mostly from the slot, Wilson racked up 21 touchdowns and neared 1,900 yards in his college career. In his senior year, Wilson exploded for 62 receptions, 13 touchdowns and 842 yards. Blake had 104 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns catches along with 22 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in his inaugural season with the Storm.

Brandon Walker will be returning for his second season with Sioux Falls. Walker joined the Storm mid season in 2011 after playing nine games for the Wichita Wild, where he spent two seasons serving as receiver and back-up quarterback. The Ichabod alumni earned MIAA All Conference Team, All-MIAA and MVP honors while at Washburn.

2012 will be Dusten Copeland's inaugural season with the Storm. Copeland played collegiate ball at Western State College where he had a standout 2007 season setting the school record with 86 catches for 1,156 yards and 105.1 yards per game. Numbers that ranked him second in the RMAC in both catches and yards per game and sixth in Nation in catches per game and seventh in yards per game. Copeland was recognized with First Teal All-RAMC offense, selected to the National football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Colorado First Team All-Colorado and Third Team Don Hanson all Region for his impressive 2007 season with Western State.

Clinton Solomon joins an already talented wide receiver corps with the Storm after playing three years with the Wichita Wild. Last season, Solomon caught 77 balls for 869 yards and 20 touchdowns and was the Wild's leading receiver. In three years with the Wild, Solomon caught 81 total touchdowns throughout the regular season and playoffs. Prior to playing in the IFL, Solomon graduated from the University of Iowa where he posted 1,864 yards and 14 touchdowns, and spent time with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League.

"Chris Dixon should have plenty of toys to play with in this receiving group," said Storm Owner, Todd Tryon. "This group is as talented as ever and should make for a high scoring season."



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