
Sugar Skulls Sign Three Defensive Backs, Haney, Harper, and Phelps
November 15, 2023 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Tucson Sugar Skulls News Release
The Tucson Sugar Skulls added three defensive backs to their secondary for the 2024 IFL season. David Haney, Sean Harper, and Jalen Phelps will join the revamped Sugar Skulls roster.
David Haney - DB, 5'9", 185 (Mid American Nazerne) will join the Sugar Skulls for his third season in the IFL in 2024.
The defensive back spent his rookie year with the Iowa Barnstormers in 2022 and last season was a member of the San Diego Strike Force defense. In 8 games for San Diego, he tallied 35 tackles (2.5 for loss), 14 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and one fumble recovery.
In 2022, Haney was amongst the league leaders in solo and total tackles, pass breakups, and interceptions despite only playing in 10 games.
Between his time spent at San Bernardino Valley College and MidAmerica Nazarene, Harvey tallied up 92 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, and 9 interceptions in 27 total games.
Haney has been featured on special teams as a kick returner as well. He is from 29 Palms, California.
Sean Harper - DB, 6'0", 185 (Washington State) will join the Sugar Skulls for the 2024 IFL season.
Harper was a two-year letter-winner at Washington State where he appeared in 19 games, with eight of those as a starter at cornerback. He recorded 45 tackles, one forced fumble, 10 pass breakups, and one interception.
The Pac12 product played two varsity seasons under head coach William DeVane at Hart County HS, where compiled totals of 88 tackles, five interceptions and five passes defended.
A native of Hartwell, Georgia, Harper earned a bachelor's degree in social sciences.
Jalen Phelps - DB, 5'11", 190 (Eastern Michigan/JMU) will join the Tucson Sugar Skulls for his rookie season in the IFL in 2024.
In 2021 as a Redshirt Senior for JMU, he played in five games, recording 10 tackles (five solo) to go with one fumble recovery. Season-high four tackles vs. Southeastern Louisiana in FCS second round (Dec. 4). Phelps had three tackles with a fumble recovery vs. Campbell (Nov. 6).
Phelps spent four seasons at Eastern Michigan (2016-19) before transferring to JMU. In those four seasons, he appeared in 42 career games, making 9 starts for the Eagles. He tallied 88 tackles (51 solo) to go with eight pass breakups during his Eastern Michigan career.
His hometown is Powder Springs, Georgia and he played high school football at Hillgrove HS.
Indoor Football League Stories from November 15, 2023
- Barnstormers Sign Defensive Back - Iowa Barnstormers
- Panthers Bring Back Bowers - Bay Area Panthers
- Ernesto Lacayo Signs with Duke City for the 2024 Season - Duke City Gladiators
- Sugar Skulls Sign Three Defensive Backs, Haney, Harper, and Phelps - Tucson Sugar Skulls
- Arizona Rattlers Sign All-League Receiver Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman - Arizona Rattlers
- Blizzard Re-Sign Defensive Lineman Rafiq Abdul-Wahid - Green Bay Blizzard
- Northern Arizona Wranglers Sign Linebacker Ty'Ree Evans - Northern Arizona Wranglers
- Bay Area Panthers Appoint Former Amazon Executive Yosup Shim as New Team President - Bay Area Panthers
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.
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