Rattlers announce opening day roster
Tuesday March 30, 2010
MESA, Ariz. – Arizona Rattlers Head Coach Kevin Guy named the team’s opening day roster today. The final squad is the league-limit of 23 players, and returns five players from its 2008 group.
“I feel like we have a lot of talent in here,” said Guy. “It’s going to be a matter of these guys learning to play together and learning the system. We have high expectations for these guys and they have been working very hard. It has been a very physical and mentally tough camp and because of this we’ve had some injuries, but it’s going to make us better in the long run.”
Nick Davila was named the team’s starting quarterback for opening day. Davila came to the Rattlers this season after an incredible two-year run in arenafootball2. In his two seasons, he led his team to a 38-3 overall record, including two ArenaCup appearances and one league championship. Named first team all af2 in 2009, Davila threw for 3,863 yards and 86 touchdowns that season. That followed a 2008 year when he ranked third in the league in quarterback efficiency with 119.2.
“It was a very good, healthy and competitive camp at the quarterback spot,” Guy said. “We like both of them, but we’re going with Nick on opening night.”
The players returning from 2008 will be WR Trandon Harvey, WR Tod Devoe, OL Atlas Herrion, DL Darrell Shropshire and K Jason Witczak. A sixth, DL Anttaj Hawthorne, remains with the team but was placed on Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) today. His injury is day-to-day and he should be returning to the squad soon.
The team placed four other players on PUP today in WR J.J. McKelvey, DL Tez Doolittle, DL Alex Guerrero and LB Valentine Chude.
Seven players were placed on recallable reassignment today, bringing the team’s roster total down to the league mandated mark. Those players were WR Cleannord Saintil, WR Craig Turner, OL Matt Gray, OL William Obeng, DB George Kelly, DB Travis Roland and LB Lee Foliaki.
The Rattlers open the season this Saturday, April 3, when they travel to Cleveland in their first-ever meeting with the Gladiators. They return to the field after the bye week in the 2010 home opener against the Chicago Rush on April 17. Kickoff is slated for 7:30pm, and the game will be televised locally on AZ-TV.
2010 Rattlers Opening Day Roster
OL John Booker 6-4 325 04/23/1986 San Jose State
OL Brennan Carvalho 6-1 320 12/31/1985 Portland State
QB Nick Davila 6-3 210 05/22/1985 Cincinnati
WR Tod Devoe 6-2 198 04/05/1980 Central Missouri
QB Billy Farris 6-3 225 03/02/1985 Colorado State
DB Brandon Freeman 6-2 205 03/05/1985 Massachusetts
DB Sergio Gilliam 6-3 195 01/29/1985 Clemson
WR Trandon Harvey 5-10 197 05/23/1983 Washington State
OL Atlas Herrion 6-4 305 12/03/1980 Alabama
DL Ron Jones 6-4 275 09/17/1981 Southern Mississippi
FB Johnie Kirton 6-3 285 03/17/1986 Washington
WR Anthony Mix 6-5 230 01/20/1983 Auburn
LB Kelvin Morris 6-4 245 10/25/1982 Clemson
DL Marcus Pittman 6-5 290 05/10/1986 Troy
OL Troy Reddick 6-6 325 12/12/1983 Auburn
FB/LB Dale Robinson 6-1 240 01/02/1983 Arizona State
DB Terrance Sanders 5-10 180 11/23/1983 Eastern Illinois
DL Darrell Shropshire 6-2 301 03/18/1983 South Carolina
DB Riley Swanson 6-0 185 04/20/1984 Wake Forest
DL Walter Thomas 6-5 330 05/20/1985 Oklahoma State
WR Rod Windsor 6-2 210 04/24/1985 Western New Mexico
K Jason Witczak 6-1 203 05/24/1978 Southeast Missouri State
OL Kyle Young 6-4 315 03/05/1984 Fresno State
About the Arizona Rattlers and the Arena Football League
The Arizona Rattlers are returning to the US Airways Center for the 2010 season, and will have their first home game against the Chicago Rush on April 17. The Rattlers are a member of the Arena Football League, which will be celebrating its 23rd season this year after a one-year hiatus. For more information, visit the Arizona Rattlers website at www.azrattlers.com, and the AFL's website at www.arenafootball.com.
