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Tuskers' Develin a Fast Study

September 16, 2010 - United Football League (UFL 1)
Florida Tuskers News Release


ORLANDO, FL - Thursday, September 16, 2010- If you scan down the Florida Tuskers roster the first thing that jumps out at you are names of veteran players. Former National Football League standouts Dominic Rhodes, Brooks Bollinger, Aveion Cason, and Jermaine Wiggins are just a few of the names that standout.

Those are the players that usually end up doing most of the interviews, are asked to sign the autographs, and are the most recognizable players to the casual football fan.

Then there are the guys you most likely never heard of, like fullback James Develin. He joined the Tuskers training camp shortly after being released from a Cleveland Browns mini-camp and after a brief stint with the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz in the Arena Football League.

Players in the UFL generally fall into two categories. Talented young athletes who have gone through a few seasons of training camps or perhaps spent a year or two on practice squads of NFL rosters and grizzled veterans like Rhodes, who have played numerous years in the NFL and are looking to extend their professional careers.

That makes Develin's background highly unusual. Last season he played college football at Brown University, which makes Develin a true rookie in the United Football League. The only other player on the Tuskers' roster that can make that claim is talented tight end Galen Stone.

"Galen is my roommate and we're the only two first-year players in a room full of NFL veterans," Develin says. "So I'm trying to be like a sponge and learn everything I can right now. This is a great experience for me learning how to carry myself, how to practice, and how to play from a great group of veterans."

A career defensive end, Develin made a smooth transition to fullback since joining the Tuskers. Along with veteran fullback J.D. Runnels, head coach Jay Gruden expects Develin to be a solid blocker and a pass catcher in his west coast offense.

Gruden says he has been most impressed with the speed in which Develin has picked up the offense since making the move. Develin's quick transformation and impressive training camp performance, led to the Tuskers releasing several veteran fullbacks with NFL experience from the roster.

"For a guy that hasn't played the position much he has come out here with great technique and has picked up the offense quickly," says Gruden. "He's a natural at the position and we're just hoping that when the Las Vegas Locos linebackers are coming at him it translates into the game."

New players, even veterans, often have a hard time picking up the terminology of a new offense system. Although Gruden employs a wordy and complex offense, Develin has had no problems learning things on the fly. Develin believes the rigors and discipline required in the classroom for Ivy League students has helped him work harder to learn both the fullback position and the Tuskers complicated offense.

"Coming in here I had never been in an offensive huddle," he says. "It has been a big change for me coming from the defensive side of the ball, but I feel like my experience working hard at education helped me to learn this offense and be able to execute the plays."

Though he is new to the Tuskers, Develin says he can already sense the anticipation from the veterans to get another shot at the Locos on Saturday.

"I definitely am feeling the vibe from our guys that they don't like Vegas too much," Develin says. "Because of how things went for these guys last year beating them twice and losing in the championship I feel like there is a good rivalry going."

FROM THE TUSKER PRACTICE FIELD: Florida made several roster moves on late Wednesday, releasing offensive lineman Michael Toudouze and Chris Denman and signing veteran guard Fred Matua and offensive tackle Na'Shan Goddard...the signing of Goddard will give the Tuskers depth at all line positions as he can also play guard and center and can be used as a tight end in Florida's jumbo package...Goddard, who played college football at South Carolina, has NFL experience with Jets, Giants, Seahawks and Saints...he played in two games with Seattle in 2008...Matua was a member of the Tuskers last season and played in three games...He was left unprotected by the Tuskers and was selected in the UFL expansion draft by Omaha...Matua was resigned by the Tuskers when Omaha released him in training camp...A former standout at USC, Matua has NFL training camp and practice squad experience with Detroit, Tennessee, Cleveland and Washington and had stints on the active roster of the Browns and Titans in 2008...The Tuskers open their season on Saturday against defending UFL champion Las Vegas...Kickoff is 11 p.m. EDT and the game can be seen on HD NET...The radio broadcast (David Baumann and Gary Paris) can be heard on WFLA (540 AM) beginning at 11:30 p.m.



United Football League Stories from September 16, 2010


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