SaberCats Finalize 2013 Regular Season Roster

Saturday March 16, 2013

 SAN JOSE, Calif. – With the conclusion of training camp today, the SaberCats announced their 24-man roster for the 2013 regular season. In addition, San Jose acquired former Washington Redskins defensive lineman Delvin Johnson in a trade with the Jacksonville Sharks in exchange for wide receiver Hank Edwards. The season opens on Saturday, March 23 at 5:30 p.m. PT at the AlamoDome against the San Antonio Talons. Fans are encouraged to attend the Official SaberCats Viewing Party at Buffalo Wild Wings on Saratoga Ave. in San Jose at 5 p.m. PT.

“We are very excited about our group this year," said Owner/Head Coach Darren Arbet. "Now that we have our core together, we are looking forward to getting back to work and preparing this week for our opener in San Antonio against a talented Talons team.”

The SaberCats roster currently consists of seven players that spent time in San Jose in 2012. Leading wide receiver Samora Goodson, receivers Huey Whittaker and Fred Williams, linebacker and Second Team All-Arena selection Francis Maka, defensive lineman Jason Stewart, defensive back Mervin Brookins and kicker Nich Pertuit return to the 2013 edition of the SaberCats. Another familiar face is back in green and gold this season as well, as Hall of Fame selection defensive back Clevan Thomas returns to the SaberCats for the first time since the 2008 season.

New faces in San Jose are highlighted by Arena Football League legend and Sacramento native, quarterback Aaron Garcia, his former teammate wide receiver Jason Willis, former Jacksonville Sharks wide receiver Jamarko Simmons, former All-Arena defensive back JC Neal, former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Andre Freeman, defensive linemen Justin Warren, Eric Norwood and Jabari Fletcher and offensive linemen George Bussey, TJ Watkins and Terrence Campbell amongst other key acquisitions.

2013 Alphabetical Roster

No.  Name                          Pos.         Ht.            Wt.           Birthdate  Exp.   College                    Hometown___

13    Brookins, Mervin            DB            5-11          190     5-31-85      3       Sacramento City     Sacramento, Calif.     

68    Bussey, George             OL            6-4            310           10-24-85    2       Louisville                   Louisville, Ky.

60    Campbell, Terrence        OL            6-3            295           12-18-87    0        South Carolina            Austell, Ga.

54    Fletcher, Jabari             DL            6-3            260           6-23-89      1        Appalachian State       Atlanta, Ga.

47    Folkerts, Brian               OL            6-4            310           1-30-90      0       Washburn                  St. Louis, Mo.

11    Freeman, Andre             DB            5-11          190           5-6-89       0        Slippery Rock (Pa.)     Pittsburgh, Pa.

8     Garcia, Aaron                QB       6-1            195           10-20-70    17       Sacramento State       Sacramento, Calif.

1     Goodson, Samora          WR           6-3            205           10-7-84      3        SE Missouri State       Hayward, Calif.

-      Johnson, Delvin             DL            6-3            320           8-21-89      0        Marshall                    Woodruff, S.C.

98    Maka, Francis               DL/LB       6-2            250           5-10-85      2         Hawaii                       San Mateo, Calif.

50    McNeil, Raymond          OL            6-2            310           10-14-84    3        Fort Valley State (Ga.) Riverside, Calif.

70    Mudge, Jordan              OL            6-4            320           8-8-89       0         Nevada                     Fresno, Calif.

10    Mustain, Mitch              QB            6-3            230           2-27-88      0         USC                         Fayetteville, Ark.

6     Neal, JC                       DB            6-0            200           1-14-87      2         NC State                   Sumter, S.C.

23    Norwood, Eric               DL            6-1            260           5-4-88       0         South Carolina            Oakland, Calif.

3      Pertuit, Nich                  K              5-11          195           4-7-83       2         UIW                          Billings, Mont.

21    Simmons, Jamarko        WR           6-3            245           9-23-86      2        Western Michigan       Flint, Mich.

99    Stewart, Jason              DL            6-0            315           11-14-80    4         Fresno State              Bakersfield, Calif.

8      Thomas, Clevan            DB            5-10          195           4-6-79       7         Florida State              Miami, Fla.

20    Warren, Justin               DL            6-3            255           4-10-85      3        Texas A&M                Tyler, Texas

73    Watkins, TJ                  OL            6-4            335           10-3-78      4         Clemson                North Augusta, S.C.

17    Whittaker, Huey            WR           6-5            225           6-19-81      6         South Florida          Hernando Cty, Fla.

15    Williams, Fred               WR           6-0            195           4-15-88      1         St. Cloud State           Milwaukee, Wis.

7      Willis, Jason                 WR           6-1            200           7-26-80      5         Oregon                      Iota, La.

ABOUT THE SAN JOSE SABERCATS
The ArenaBowl XVI, XVIII and XXI champion San Jose SaberCats, are approaching their 17th Arena Football League season. San Jose opens their 2013 season on the road against the San Antonio Talons on Saturday, March 23. Fans can log on to thesanjosesabercats.com, call 408-673-3400 and follow the SaberCats on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@SJSaberCats) for all of the latest news and information on the team. Please contact the front office at the above phone number for information on 2013 Season Ticket Packages.