WITH LESS THAN A WEEK UNTIL TRAINING CAMP, MISSICK MAKING SOME LAST MINUTE ADDITIONS
March 12, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Norfolk Nighthawks News Release
Norfolk, VA (March 12, 2002) - The Norfolk Nighthawks open training camp Monday, and Head Coach Tony Missick is getting some pieces he hopes will complete a championship puzzle.
The league office of arenafootball2 has assigned eight players to the team, which opens at home on April 6th against the Cape Fear Wildcats. WR/DB Travis Burns (Liberty University), WR/LB Warren Broughton (Hampton University), DS Dwayne Potts (Murray State), QB Jimmy Edmonds (Kentucky State), OL/DL Felix Nieves (No College Experience), K Bennie Mosely (University of Tennessee), OL/DL Chris Lawrence (Virginia Union) and Doug Hampton (Norfolk State/Roanoke Steam) have all been invited to training camp, being held at Booker T. Washington High School.
Hampton (6'3, 200) is the only one of the players with arena football playing experience. He played in three games for the Roanoke Steam in 2001 where he totaled 12 receptions for 177 yards and three touchdowns, including two against Norfolk in week five.
Burns (5'11, 185) played in 38 games as a wide receiver at LU. He finished his career with 85 receptions for 1,251 yards and scored seven touchdowns. Broughton (6'2, 190) has played wide receiver, running back and defensive back. In 1998, against William & Mary, he had nine receptions for 205 yards and two touchdowns. He finished his senior season, 1999, as the team's leading receiver with 31 receptions for 504 yards and two scores. Warren played with three-year Nighthawk veteran Jay Clarke, and new 2002 signee Adrian Wideman while at Hampton.
"Both Warren and Travis have good speed and run a good route," Missick said, "Having both played defense in college will only give them a head start to the arena style of play and help them learn the system more quickly."
Potts (6'1, 215) is a native of Norfolk (Norview HS) who transferred to Murray State from West Virginia in 1998. While at MSU he was looked at as their most physical, hard-hitting defensive player. He had 89 tackles in his three years, including twelve for loss. He also had two sacks, six forced fumbles and two pass breakups. "Dwayne brings an intense attitude and great passion for the game," stated coach Missick, "He can cover, hit, and has a real nose for the football. His size and strength will make him very effective against some of the receivers in this league."
Lawrence (6'1, 280) played defensive tackle at VUU and led them to a #1 ranking in the CIAA and 15th in Div. II. In 1999, he led the team with six sacks and totaled 42 tackles (25 unassisted), forced two fumbles, recovered one and had one pass breakup. Over the three years he played, he amassed 12 sacks and 22 tackles for loss.
Edmonds (6'4, 200) started only one year at Kentucky State, but was quoted as "one of the most talented players in the history of KSU" by their football department. In his senior year he threw for over 1,800 yards and nine touchdowns. Mosely (5'10, 200) was a walk-on kicker at Tennessee in 1997 and participated in spring practice in 1998. He was an all-state kicker for coach Jim Ringer at Rock Hill High School (Rock Hill, SC). Nieves (6'5, 385) is a local talent who has been training at the Nighthawks workout facility in order to prepare himself for the upcoming season.
"Felix has size you only see once in a while and combines that with a great work ethic, traits that can't be taught or coached," Missick commented, "Now it will be up to us coaches to teach him the arena game and see if he can contribute for us."
The Nighthawks open their season on Saturday, April 6th at home against the Cape Fear Wildcats. For tickets call 626-0500, or visit www.norfolknighthawks .com.
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