Thunder Retool Roster
Tuesday May 20, 2014
Both New and Familiar Faces Ready For Stretch Run
PORTLAND, OR – The Thunder used the halfway point of the season to turn the roster around, bringing in new blood to help out the squad on offense, defense, and special teams. Wide receiver Jeffrey Solomon returns to the lineup, and the team welcomes defensive back Coryell Judie, defensive lineman Harold Love III, and kicker Alex Fambrough to the Thunder for the second half of the year.
Judie (6-0, 195) returns to the Thunder after spending some time with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders. He played two seasons at Texas A&M. In 2010, he earned honorable-mention all-Big 12 honors after recording 57 tackles, four pass breakups and four interceptions. He also returned 20 kickoffs for 605 yards — an average of 30.3 yards per return — and two touchdowns. Prior to Texas A&M, Judie played two seasons at Fort Scott Community College and was named a junior college all-American in 2008.
Solomon (6-1, 200) led the Thunder in receiving yardage through four weeks of the season before being traded to the Orlando Predators in order to acquire Kyle Rowley. With 34 receptions for 458 yards and seven touchdowns, he ranks third on the team in all three categories.
Love III (6-3, 320), a Portland native, was in Portland for training camp, where he showed a lot of talent and will start at nose guard, a position that the Thunder have been looking to fill since the departure of Jake McDonough to the Jets. In two seasons as a starter for BCU, Love collected 92 total tackles with 4.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss while adding eight quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one pass breakup. He earned second-team All-MEAC accolades as a senior in 2012 after posting 55 stops with three sacks and seven tackles for loss.
Fambrough (6-5, 220) starred at Bethany College, where he broke the school record for field goals in a season with 17, ranking him first in the nation. He was named the KCAC and NAIA Player of the Week for making six field goals in one game against Kansas Wesleyan, tying the NAIA record. In 2011, Fambrough was named KCAC Special Teams Player of the Year, KCAC Place Kicker of the Year and Beyond Sports Network All-American. In 2012, he was invited to the Beyond Sports Network National Kicking Showcase and was a top three finalist. Fambrough finished his career at Bethany second all-time with 33 field goals.
In addition, Harvard’s John Collins signed late last week and started at center for the Thunder. In order to create room for all this new talent, WR Duane Brooks was placed on injured reserve and OL Davon Allen, DB Patrick Stoudamire, and K Michael Braunstein were placed on reassignment
All of the newcomers will be eligible to play in Thursday’s 7 p.m. game against the San Antonio Talons, to be televised on CSN Northwest and broadcast live on 750 AM.
To keep up with everything going on with the Thunder, visit our website at www.portlandthunder.com or keep up with us on Facebook (facebook.com/PDXThunder), Twitter or Instagram (@PDXThunder).
About the Portland Thunder
The Portland Thunder are a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Portland, Oregon, USA. They play their home games at the Moda Center. 2014 marks the franchise’s first season. Tickets and Sponsorships are available for the 2014 season. For more information, email us at info@portlandthunder.com or call 503-773-4235.