Post by fwp on Feb 17, 2010 15:40:39 GMT -5
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/84538627.html
ALBANY — The Albany Panthers are beginning to take shape.
Less than a month after the first-year arena football franchise announced its intentions to play in the Southern Indoor Football League in 2010, hiring Lucious Davis as its head coach, the team took the next step Tuesday when it sent out a press release regarding the signing of its first 10 players.
The first list is filled with experienced players, including some familiar faces who played for the area’s previous team, the South Georgia Wildcats, before it folded this past offseason. The Panthers’ first game is April 3 in Albany at 7:30 p.m. against the Columbus Lions.
Suiting up that evening will be two of the more prominent signees announced Tuesday: Robert Kilow and Cecil Lester, both of whom were considered must-haves for the opening season, according to Panthers Gm Will Carter.
Kilow, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound receiver from Arkansas State, has six years of arena ball experience, one of which was played with the Wildcats. Kilow played in the AFL with the Chicago Rush and the Iowa Brainstormers and with the af2 Arkansas Twisters. While with the Twisters, Kilow had 269 receptions, 3,143 receiving yards, 64 touchdowns and 6,302 all purpose yards.
“Kilow is an experienced wide receiver that runs great routes, has excellent hands and knows the ins and outs of the indoor game,” Davis said.
Lester, a 6-1, 220-pound quarterback who played for Fort Valley State University, is no stranger to arena ball or the Southwest Georgia area. Last season as the Wildcats’ backup, he played nine games for South Georgia, passing for 434 yards and nine touchdowns.
“I am very pleased with the players signed thus far. The main priority was to find familiar faces and gather experience,” Davis added.
Another familiar face joining the team will be Jason Marshall, a 6-1, 320-pound defensive lineman and former Albany State star. Marshall is an arena ball veteran who played for the South Georgia Wildcats in their final season last year.
Other signees Tuesday includes: John Harris (WR, 6-1, 198 pounds, Northwest Mississippi Community College); Kevin Campbell (FB, 6-3, 285 pounds, Troy University); Jeff Aaron (QB, 6-3, 230 pounds, University of Alabama Birmingham). Harris and Campbell have three years of arena ball experience, while Aaron has one.
First-year arena players signed include Clamenta Bell (DB, 6-1, 190 pounds, Albany State); Terry McGhee (DB 5-9, 180 pounds, Albany State); Ryan Davis (LB, 6-2, 245 pounds, Albany State) and Joshua Nesbitt (DB, 5-9, 180 pounds, Clark Atlanta University).
The Panthers will also be getting additional support from current and former NFL players at their first official team tryout March 6 at the Albany State University practice field.
ALBANY — The Albany Panthers are beginning to take shape.
Less than a month after the first-year arena football franchise announced its intentions to play in the Southern Indoor Football League in 2010, hiring Lucious Davis as its head coach, the team took the next step Tuesday when it sent out a press release regarding the signing of its first 10 players.
The first list is filled with experienced players, including some familiar faces who played for the area’s previous team, the South Georgia Wildcats, before it folded this past offseason. The Panthers’ first game is April 3 in Albany at 7:30 p.m. against the Columbus Lions.
Suiting up that evening will be two of the more prominent signees announced Tuesday: Robert Kilow and Cecil Lester, both of whom were considered must-haves for the opening season, according to Panthers Gm Will Carter.
Kilow, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound receiver from Arkansas State, has six years of arena ball experience, one of which was played with the Wildcats. Kilow played in the AFL with the Chicago Rush and the Iowa Brainstormers and with the af2 Arkansas Twisters. While with the Twisters, Kilow had 269 receptions, 3,143 receiving yards, 64 touchdowns and 6,302 all purpose yards.
“Kilow is an experienced wide receiver that runs great routes, has excellent hands and knows the ins and outs of the indoor game,” Davis said.
Lester, a 6-1, 220-pound quarterback who played for Fort Valley State University, is no stranger to arena ball or the Southwest Georgia area. Last season as the Wildcats’ backup, he played nine games for South Georgia, passing for 434 yards and nine touchdowns.
“I am very pleased with the players signed thus far. The main priority was to find familiar faces and gather experience,” Davis added.
Another familiar face joining the team will be Jason Marshall, a 6-1, 320-pound defensive lineman and former Albany State star. Marshall is an arena ball veteran who played for the South Georgia Wildcats in their final season last year.
Other signees Tuesday includes: John Harris (WR, 6-1, 198 pounds, Northwest Mississippi Community College); Kevin Campbell (FB, 6-3, 285 pounds, Troy University); Jeff Aaron (QB, 6-3, 230 pounds, University of Alabama Birmingham). Harris and Campbell have three years of arena ball experience, while Aaron has one.
First-year arena players signed include Clamenta Bell (DB, 6-1, 190 pounds, Albany State); Terry McGhee (DB 5-9, 180 pounds, Albany State); Ryan Davis (LB, 6-2, 245 pounds, Albany State) and Joshua Nesbitt (DB, 5-9, 180 pounds, Clark Atlanta University).
The Panthers will also be getting additional support from current and former NFL players at their first official team tryout March 6 at the Albany State University practice field.