SaberCats Assigned Veteran Fullback Odie Armstrong

Thursday April 10, 2014

 SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose SaberCats announced today that they have been assigned fullback Odie Armstrong. The team also announced that they have placed defensive back David Hyland on inactive reserve, activated defensive back Simeon Castille from the inactive reserve list, placed defensive lineman Keenan Mace on reassignment, and put offensive lineman Zach Allen on team suspension.

“Odie has a lot of experience playing in the AFL,” Owner and Head Coach Darren Arbet said. “He understands the fullback position very well, and he knows what it takes to win in this league.”

Armstrong (5-11, 280, Northwestern Oklahoma) is a five year Arena Football League veteran. For the past three seasons, he has been a member of the Arizona Rattlers. In 2013, Armstrong tallied 72 rushes for 171 yards and 25 scores, and added 13 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns receiving. In 2012, Armstrong rushed 66 times for 214 yards with 16 touchdowns, and tallied ten catches for 100 yards and one score through the air. In his first season in Arizona in 2011, he rushed 77 times for 295 yards and 17 touchdowns, while adding eight catches for 61 yards and one score receiving.

Armstrong spent the 2010 season as a member of the Tulsa Talons, where rushed 74 times for 349 yards and 13 touchdowns, and added 11 catches for 70 yards and two more scores as a receiver. In his rookie season in the AFL, 2008 with the Orlando Predators, he rushed 39 times for 102 yards and two scores, and added 20 receptions for 258 yards with seven touchdowns receiving.

Armstrong currently sits eight all time in AFL rushing yards (1,169 career yards) and eighth in rushing touchdowns (73 scores on the ground). In 2012 and 2013, he won ArenaBowl Championship with the Rattlers. In 2008, Armstrong was named to the All-Rookie Team as a fullback. In 2010, 2012 and 2013, Armstrong earned Second-Team All-AFL honors at the fullback position.

In 2009, Armstrong spent a season playing for the California Redwoods of the United Football League.

Armstrong played from two years for Northwestern Oklahoma State after transferring from Itawamba Community College. In 2005, he earned Second-Team All-American honors for the NAIA after rushing for 1,230 yards.

The SaberCats (2-2) take on the Arizona Rattlers (3-0) this Saturday, April 12 at 7:30 PM PT at the SAP Center in San Jose. Tune in to KNBR 1050 on the radio to hear all the action live or click over to ESPN3 and catch a live stream of the contest (http://es.pn/1jUvK3H)

ABOUT THE SAN JOSE SABERCATS
The ArenaBowl XVI, XVIII and XXI champion San Jose SaberCats enter their 18th season in the AFL after making their return in 2011. They opened up their 2014 schedule on the road with a win against a new AFL franchise, the Portland Thunder on March 17. Fans and sponsors can go to thesanjosesabercats.com or call 408-673-3400 to sign up to receive the latest news and updates about the SaberCats, as well as to purchase 2014 season tickets. Make sure to follow the SaberCats on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest news on the team.