Post by 50yardfan on Aug 5, 2011 11:06:27 GMT -5
www.pressconnects.com/article/20110804/SPORTS/108040418/Binghamton-indoor-football-team-adds-first-players?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports
As details for the Indoor Football League's first season in Binghamton are being finalized, the local team's roster is starting to take shape.
Defensive back Rakiem Rowland signed on Wednesday, joining fellow DB Hasan Stewart and wide receiver Jamel Harris in the lineup for Binghamton's yet-to-be named squad.
Stewart, a 6-foot, 200-pound back, spent last season with the IFL's Lehigh Valley Steel Hawks.
"We're excited to bring Hasan into camp and solidify our defense," general manager Matt Custer said, adding that Stewart had 53 tackles in 2011. "Everyone knows arena football is high-scoring -- what it comes down to is who can stop a team on third downs, force a field goal instead of a touchdown. We want to focus on our defensive backfield first, and Hasan is one of those sure tacklers."
Hasan, a Hempstead native, was a four-year standout at Stony Brook University.
"One of the things we really like about Hasan is that he's a New York guy," Custer said. "We want to make this the community's team."
Harris, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver, competed with the American Indoor Football Association's Yakima Valley Warriors in 2010. He played collegiate ball for Temple University.
"When he came out of high school, he was one of the most highly touted wideouts in the country," Custer said. "One of the things we really like is that when he played out in Yakima, he played in seven games as a wide receiver and had 42 catches for 509 yards and seven touchdowns -- pretty good stats for only half a year. But then Yakima was burdened with injuries and flipped him to the defensive side of the ball, and playing defensive back, he had two interceptions and returned one for a touchdown.
"He's not some huge guy who's going to move everyone, but he's very fleet of foot. He's someone that has the ability to play on the offensive side, but we feel confident having him there in case we need to fill a defensive gap. We like his versatility."
Rowland, a 6-foot-2, 197-pound defensive back, was an AIFA All-Star with Yakima Valley in 2010, and has also played for the AIFA's New Mexico Wildcats. He played for Mayville State University in North Dakota.
Custer is hoping to add more players to his roster in the coming weeks.
"We have a couple signings in the works," he said. "There are some players with NFL experience we've been talking to."
Custer has also been talking to management at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, where the Binghamton club hopes to play its home games for the 2012 season.
"We've been in discussions with the arena for a while now," Custer said. "That's our preference."
As details for the Indoor Football League's first season in Binghamton are being finalized, the local team's roster is starting to take shape.
Defensive back Rakiem Rowland signed on Wednesday, joining fellow DB Hasan Stewart and wide receiver Jamel Harris in the lineup for Binghamton's yet-to-be named squad.
Stewart, a 6-foot, 200-pound back, spent last season with the IFL's Lehigh Valley Steel Hawks.
"We're excited to bring Hasan into camp and solidify our defense," general manager Matt Custer said, adding that Stewart had 53 tackles in 2011. "Everyone knows arena football is high-scoring -- what it comes down to is who can stop a team on third downs, force a field goal instead of a touchdown. We want to focus on our defensive backfield first, and Hasan is one of those sure tacklers."
Hasan, a Hempstead native, was a four-year standout at Stony Brook University.
"One of the things we really like about Hasan is that he's a New York guy," Custer said. "We want to make this the community's team."
Harris, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver, competed with the American Indoor Football Association's Yakima Valley Warriors in 2010. He played collegiate ball for Temple University.
"When he came out of high school, he was one of the most highly touted wideouts in the country," Custer said. "One of the things we really like is that when he played out in Yakima, he played in seven games as a wide receiver and had 42 catches for 509 yards and seven touchdowns -- pretty good stats for only half a year. But then Yakima was burdened with injuries and flipped him to the defensive side of the ball, and playing defensive back, he had two interceptions and returned one for a touchdown.
"He's not some huge guy who's going to move everyone, but he's very fleet of foot. He's someone that has the ability to play on the offensive side, but we feel confident having him there in case we need to fill a defensive gap. We like his versatility."
Rowland, a 6-foot-2, 197-pound defensive back, was an AIFA All-Star with Yakima Valley in 2010, and has also played for the AIFA's New Mexico Wildcats. He played for Mayville State University in North Dakota.
Custer is hoping to add more players to his roster in the coming weeks.
"We have a couple signings in the works," he said. "There are some players with NFL experience we've been talking to."
Custer has also been talking to management at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, where the Binghamton club hopes to play its home games for the 2012 season.
"We've been in discussions with the arena for a while now," Custer said. "That's our preference."