The process has begun for the Soul
Friday January 13, 2017
Free Agency has begun and Open Tryouts are set for January 22
PHILADELPHIA -- As the 2017 season approaches, the Soul have begun the process to build their roster in preparation for another championship run and provide those rostered players with an opportunity at the next level. Looking back on last year’s season, the Soul coaching staff put together a team that was not only focused on winning, but also possessed the skills to impress NFL scouts across the country.
Most AFL players dream of following the Kurt Warner story and continuing on to the NFL. Warner began his career with the Iowa Barnstormers in 1996 before joining the St. Louis Rams in 1998. Former Soul head coach Bret Munsey has even made his way to the NFL, finishing his fourth season with the Washington Redskins as their Special Teams Assistant.
This past season alone, the Soul produced four players who were given a shot at the NFL. WR Harvey Binford was invited to a tryout with the Green Bay Packers and both he and DB Dwayne Hollis received tryouts with the Chicago Bears. WR Darius Reynolds and DL Jake Metz got worked out by the Philadelphia Eagles immediately following ArenaBowl XXIX. Following his workout, Metz participated in the final preseason game of the 2016 season for the Eagles. The 2015 season also produced two NFL-caliber players in K Tommy Frevert and WR Lonnie Outlaw, both of whom had a workout with the Jets.
“My tryout was one of the greatest experiences I could have asked for,” said Hollis. “This was an opportunity that I have been dreaming about since I was six years old.”
“This was an amazing experience, being a hometown guy winning a world championship with the Soul and then getting a shot to play for the Philadelphia Eagles,” said Metz. “Being able to wear that Eagles jersey and represent my city was an experience that I will never forget.”
“This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and very reassuring that the talent of the players in the AFL are desirable enough to be found by NFL teams,” said Frevert.
The Soul have a history of finding or acquiring talent, winning with that talent and also finding opportunities for those players in the NFL. Free Agency has now begun in the AFL and tryouts are around the corner. The Soul are hoping to find more players to help bring another championship to Philadelphia while sending more guys off to NFL workouts.
The Philadelphia Soul will host an open tryout on Sunday, January 22 at the Eagles NovaCare Complex in Philadelphia, PA. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and stretching will begin at 9 a.m. For more details, visit www.philadelphiasoul.com/tryouts.
ABOUT PHILADELPHIA SOUL
The 2016 World Champion Philadelphia Soul are entering their 12th season in the Arena Football League. In the first 11 seasons, the Soul have won four Division Championships, four Conference Championships and two World Championships. Since the inaugural season in 2004, the Soul are the winningest professional sports team in Philadelphia. Season memberships and Group tickets for the Soul’s upcoming 2017 season are on sale now. For tickets, contact the Soul sales department at (215) 253-4900 ext. 3, or request contact from a Soul representative by filling out the form on www.philadelphiasoul.com. Follow the Soul on Facebook at facebook.com/soul and Twitter at twitter.com/soulfootball.