Fever Camp Preview OL/DL 2012

OL/DL Could Be 2012's Key

It is no secret in the Indoor Football League, or any football league for that manner, that a lot of a team’s success hinges on the ability to protect the quarterback and the ability to pressure the opponents quarterback. Tri-Cities Fever coach Adam Shackleford is no different. “That’s where the games are really won and lost; up front,” he said. The Fever’s offensive line last season was one of the best in the IFL. The proof was in quarterback Houston Lillard’s numbers, who threw for more than 2,500 yards during the regular season and 65 touchdowns. However, the offensive line for the 2012 is completely overhauled with no returning players listed on the training camp roster. But in the group of six, there is one with NFL experience and a few others that have excelled at the Division I level in college.

Adrian Brown (6-foot-6, 340 pounds) is one of the most recent signings by Shackleford and has the talent to anchor this year’s line. Brown is a former standout at the University of Delaware and has spent some time on the Buffalo Bills roster. Other offensive linemen on the 2012 training camp roster include:

· Davian Wright (6-2, 330) played collegiately at Hampton University.

· Lance Evbuomwan (6-4, 320) finished his college career at the University of Texas El Paso after transferred from Arizona State University.

· Anthony McNac (6-4, 325) is from UTEP. After missing most of the 2009 season with an ankle injury, McNac played all 13 games as a senior in 2010 and was named to the Conference USA honorable mention team.

· William Falakseni (6-2, 320) was a first-team all-Mid Eastern Athletic Conference lineman in 2009.

· Roddrell Stewart (6-3, 320) is one of the top lineman from Southern University where he played from 2006-2010.

On the defensive line, there is a little more familiarity with two returning players in Jake Killeen and Malcolm Bennett. Killeen (6-3, 255) played a key role for the Fever down the stretch and in the playoffs. In just eight regular season games, he recorded 36 tackles ranking seventh on the team. He also had three tackles-for-loss and one interception. Killeen also played in all four playoff games, recording six tackles.

Bennett (6-1, 285) played in 16 games including all four playoff games for the Fever last season and was a key piece in the team’s run to the Indoor Football League championship game. He ranked in the top 10 on the team in tackles with 44 to go along with 4.5 sacks and one interception. Joining Killeen and Bennett on the defensive line include:

· Darian Barnes (6-3, 255) 6-3, 255) from Tuskegee University, where he was named a Division II preseason All-American in 2009. He was also on the NFL Draft watch list, and was selected to play in the HBCU Bowl game in 2010.

· Darius Collins (6-2, 310) played in 11 games for Hampton in his senior season in 2010.

· Ernie Hodge (6-2, 295) started every game his final two seasons for Ohio University and recorded 14 solo tackles and had 22 assists in his senior season last year.

· Bailey Johnson (6-3, 280) started eight games for Iowa State in 2010, recording 20 tackles, five tackles-for-losses and one forced fumble.

· Willie Harvey (6-2, 285) is a former standout at Eastern Arizona College.

· Shane McCord (6-2, 305) was a four-year player at University of Kentucky. The Fever has opened training camp and begins the 2012 season at home on Feb. 25. For information about Fever tickets contact the Fever office at (509) 222-2215 or visit us on line at www.tricitiesfever.com.