Arena football

on a couple of the threads, some of us have talked a little bit about the AFL. so instead of getting any work done, i put together a small list of some skill position guys in the AFL and a few that had outstanding seasons last year in AFL2. as with any football league, there are plenty of white QBs, Ks, and linemen so i didn't mention any of them. and for those who are new to the game OS means offensive specialist (the best receiver on the team who just plays offense), DS means defensive specialist (the best cover guys on the team who only play defense), and most every one else plays both ways...either OL/DL, FB/LB, WR/LB or WR/DB.

while the AFL does a MUCH better job than the NFL at breaking caste system barriers, there still aren't just a whole bunch of white guys in the league. oh, btw, EA Sports is putting out an AFL video game in February '06 so check out this link: http://www.easports.com/articles/afl.jsp
notice the guy scoring the td is a white dude! anyway, on Madden i often put a white team together and play the rest of the league, so here's some guys to look for:

OS: Troy Bergeron, Jimmy Fryzel, Travis McGriff
FB/LB: Dane Krager, Jamie McGourty, Bob McMillen, Matt Kinsinger
WR/LB: Tom Pace, Chris Anthony, Greg Hopkins, Darrin Chiaverini, Joe Douglass, Cosmo DeMatteo
WR/DB: Brian Sump, Todd Doxson, Justin Skaggs, Rob Milanese, Cliff Dell
DS: Evan Hlavacek, Tony Lukins, Jeremy Unertl, Eddie Canonico, Chris Angel

the lower arena league has some guys who blew up last year and may be making the move up: WR/DB Tim Dodge, WR/LB Rob Mager, DS Ryan Bowers, WR/LB Dennis Fryzel, and DS Matt Forbes.

let the discussion begin!!!

The Utah Blaze is a new Arena team that will be in Salt Lake City. The first game is January 28 against the San Jose Saber Cats. As far as I can tell, the Blaze will be in the Western Division of the American Conference of the AFL. They have 37 players right now and have to cut them down to 24 by game day. Ex Cowboy Danny White is the head coach.

What happened to Luke Staley? Did he make the team?

no he didn't... i heard he got injured again, not sure though

I am not sure about the injury, but I know he didn't make the 37 man pre-season squad. I hate to say it, but that may be the last we see of Luke Staley.

for the third time in four years, a white wide receiver was named the Arena Football League Rookie of the Year. this time around, it was Ben Nelson who was, you guessed it, a record-setting receiver in Division II who barely got a glimpse of the NFL.

Travis McGriff won in '03, Troy Bergeron won in '05, and Ben won it this time!

for those of you who might be interested, Adrian McPherson was the black player sandwiched in between the blizzard of white athletes. after being drafted in the fifth round in 2005, he is currently being granted "time to develop" in the NFL because of his "limitless potential" while the other three players are struggling to scratch by despite obvious talent.

here's the article: link

Nelson named Rookie of the Year
SaberCats OS Earns Honor Despite Playing in Just 11 Games
NEW YORK - San Jose SaberCats OS BEN NELSON (6-3, 191, St. Cloud State) was selected the 2006 Rookie of the Year as voted by the AFL head coaches, players, fans and the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA). The announcement was made live on ESPNews this afternoon.

Nelson, who was named to the 2006 All-Rookie Team last week, led all AFL rookies with 26 touchdowns and posted 94 catches for 1,405 receiving yards, just six yards shy of the highest total by a rookie in AFL history, despite playing in just 11 games. He recorded 100-or-more receiving yards in seven-of-11 games and posted the fourth-highest receiving yardage total of the season with 203 yards on 11 catches against Arizona on April 2.

Nelson was a member of NFL Europe's Cologne Centurions first-ever team in 2004 and was a consensus Division II All-American at St. Cloud State after setting several school and conference records as a senior in 2002.




some more info on Ben:

A member of NFL Europe's Cologne Centurions first-ever team in 2004...A consensus Division II All-American after setting several school and conference records as a senior in 2002...Had a streak of 34 games with a reception during his college career...Signed in 2003 with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent...Had two different stints on the club's practice squad that season...Had an outstanding four-year career at Division II St. Cloud (Minn.) State University...Ended his career as SCSU's all-time leader in TD receptions (43) and points (266)...Also ranked 2nd all-time in receptions and 3rd in receiving yards in school history...Had a streak of 34 consecutive games with a reception...Named All-American by Associated Press, AFCA Division II Coaches and Football Gazette following 69 receptions as a senior...Earned North Central Conference's Most Valuable Receiver and first-team all-conference honors...Caught a school record 4 TDs in consecutive games...Earned second-team All-NCC as a junior and caught a pass in every game his sophomore year.

Did I see Darrin Chiaverini mentioned above. Didn't he do quite well in The NFL for a couple of Seasons a long time ago? I think it might of been with the Browns or Bengals - I can't remember. How old is he now? Does anyone know who he plays for?

Chiaverini is yet another white wide receiver who was royally screwed by the NFL.He had a very solid rookie season in '99, especially the second half. 1999 was that amazing year when a number of white receivers basically dominated the league (Patrick Jeffers, Bill Schroeder, Tim Dwight, Keith Poole, Ed McCaffrey, Wayne Chrebet, Chiaverini). The NFL rebounded quickly from that surprise however, and all but McCaffrey and Chrebet were quickly demoted or blackballed out of the league, while Jeffers,who had puttogether the best half-season+ by any receiver in NFL history,suffered a career-ending knee injury in a 2000 preseason game.


Here's CF's archives on Chiaverini:


(8/20/02) Was voted the most valuable player on the University of Colorado team as a senior in 1998, when he had 52 catches and 5 TDs. Ended seventh on Colorado's career list with 97 receptions and eighth with 1,199 receiving yards.

Was picked in the fifth round by Cleveland, the Browns first year back in the NFL. Surprised many people by being the team's third leading receiver as a rookie, with 44 catches for 487 yards and 4 TDs. Much of that production was in the second half of the '99 season, as Chiaverini finished the year as one of the very best rookie receivers in the entire league and additionally had developed a great rapport with QB Tim Couch, who used similar type receivers (both black and white ones) to great effect while at Kentucky.

But Chiaverini all but disappeared from the Browns offense in 2000. Some media reports indicated that Chiaverini was inexplicably in head coach Chris Palmer's "dog house," and he became buried on the depth chart behind a slew of under-achieving and oft-injured black receivers who were naturally assumed to be superior. Chiaverini was traded to Dallas for basically nothing, then was cut this summer by the nearly-all-black Cowboys. He was picked up by the Falcons and is fighting right now for at best the #4 WR spot on that team.

Darren is not a speed-burner, but rather is a tough possession receiver with good size (6' 2" 210 lbs.) and great hands who will run routes over the middle but who also has the ability to take it to the end zone for short to medium-length TDs. Still just 24 years old, could be a very productive number two receiver for a team that would give him the opportunity to display the talent so evident in his rookie year with the Browns.

Darrin has played for the Austin Wranglers for the last three seasons, where he has totals of 213 catches, 1983 receiving yards, and 35 td grabs. he also has 8 rushes for 8 yards and 3 tds. additionally, he is a solid, if unspectacular, defensive player.

in 2005 he started all 16 games for the Wranglers. he led the team and ranked eighth in the AFL in receptions with 114 for 951 yards and 18 touchdowns on offense. he recorded 25.5 tackles, three interceptions for 41 yards, two passes defended and a fumble recovery.

in 2004 he signed in Week Six and played in all of the remaining 12 games. On the season he caught 60 passes for 676 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense and registered 21 total tackles, two fumble recoveries and one interception on defense.

he was out of football in 2003 after playing in seven games with the Atlanta Falcons 2002 and notching one special teams tackle.

Arena Football opened play this last weekend, and our guys showcased lots of playmaking ability at the forbidden skill positions including the top two receiving performances and the best individual defensive performance, as well.

Troy Bergeron (he of the 4.3 speed and the NFL caste treatment) had 9 catches for 138 yards and 6 TDs!

Ben Nelson (last year's AFL Rookie of the Year) continued his unstoppable play with 14 catches for 180 yards and 4 TDs.

also, Ryan Bowers had a great game at defensive specialist (basically a corner back, where he is one of only a couple whites who start league-wide) with 6 solo tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception.

it looks as if the Arena League is blacker this year than last... i wonder if it has anything to do with the rules changes that allow more substitutions and less "iron men" are necessary now...


regardless, there are still some white guys who are looking impressive. once again a white defensive specialist (cornerback)was the best defensive player of the week (although he wasn't given the honor by the AFL).


Jeremy Unertl had 5 tackles, 2 interceptions that he returned for a total of 38 yards, and 4 pass break-ups. instead of rewarding Unertl, the AFL chose Eddie Moten who had 3.5 tackles and 1 interception, although he did return it for a touchdown. Moten also broke up four passes.


numerous white receivers had solid days, as well.

i know i'm not the only guy who watches this league, because the attendance at games is better than most NBA franchises. heh. but i thought i'd post an udate anyway.


deep into the season, there are 4 full-time, starting Defensive Specialists (cornerbacks) in the top divison of Arena League football. all 4 of them are among the league's elite.


Chris Angel is second in the AFL in interceptions, despite not playing to start the year. Jeremy Unertl and Ryan Bowers aren't far behind with 5 int's each. Eddie Canonico doesn't have their knack for picking off passes, but despite not earning the starting spot until a few weeks ago, still is just outside the Top 10 in tackles.


ALL of these guys got nothing more than the briefest looks by the NFL, and in the cases of Bowers, Unertl, and Canonico shined in NFL Europe.


on the offensive side of the ball, Dan Alexander continues to set the standard for fullback/linebackers. he's scored 29 TDs and is 3rd in the AFL in rushing.


white receivers are also looking good, despite in most cases not emerging until after the 3rd week of the season for some reason.


Troy Bergeron is 8th in receiving yards (1066) and 9th in scoring (28 TDs). Last year's ROY Ben Nelson is still unstoppable, currently 5th in the AFL in receiving yards with 1208.


Brad Pyatt, former kick returner extraordinaire for the Indy Colts of the NFL, has recently signed up with Colorado and has exploded. he's now in the Top 20 with 907 yards.


other receivers who are top-notch playmakers are Rob Turner, rookie Rob Mager, former Arizona State taiback Tom Pace, Chris Anthony, Joe Douglass, Aaron Boone, and oft-injured Jimmy Fryzel.

It's hard for me to watch the AFL. It looks a video game being acted out by real life players. Perhaps I haven't given it much of a chance though.

since it seems many of you think that all the Arena League guys are second tier athletes, i wanted to post this again here. i put it on the "safeties" thread in the NFL Board, too.


i wanted to mention a guy who few of you may know about... his name is Jeremy Unertl. he played at tiny Wisconsin La-Crosse University, but he is an amazing physical specimen who rapidly turned into a tremendous football player. although he only received the most cursory of glances by the NFL...





Jeremy began his post-collegiate career as an undrafted and virtually unwanted rookie free agent with the Green Bay Packers, but they were unsure what to do with this "safety" whose measurables and cover skills were so taboo as to be completely shunned. it's a miracle that he even got a shot, because with measurables like these, how could he possibly contribute to a "real" team?

Unertl, 6 feet 1 1/2 inches and 210 pounds, had more than just prototypical size. He also ran sub-4.4 40-yard dashes for scouts in spring 2002, vertical jumped 41 inches and went over 11 feet in the broad jump.


By comparison, Darren Sharper was 6-1 1/2 and 204, ran in the 4.5s, had a vertical jump of 39 and a broad jump of 10-4 in 1997 when the Packers made him their second-round draft choice.

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so they cut him after their summer mini-camps and even before their training camp started.they wouldn't want that kind of specimen on the field! how embarrassing!


undeterred, he signed back on with Green Bay on January 1 the following year and went to NFL Europe.

as a five-game starter at safety and six-game starter at cornerback he played an integral role in the Frankfurt Galaxy's drive to the championship.


Unertl's defensive coordinator overseas, Bob Valesente, had been Sharper's position coach for two seasons in Green Bay. Unertl reminded Valesente of the young Sharper.


"He told me, 'You have so many of the same abilities that Sharper had,'" Unertl said. "I just feel my potential is so great because I haven't learned much yet. You just hope that someone takes a liking to you and works with you."

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Unertl has been an impact player on Frankfurt's defense, helping the top-ranked unit surrender just 182 points this season, fewest in NFL Europe. He finished tied for the league lead with four interceptions, totaled 29 tackles, nine passes defensed and one forced fumble.


Unertl also improved his game on special teams, which will be a major help when he returns to Green Bay to compete for a roster spot.

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of course the Packers were thrilled by their phenomenally gifted and raw cornerback who still had so much upside.


but they wanted him to put on weight to be more physical against the run as a strong safety. say what?


they cut him. again.


now, Unertl is one of the most dominant defenseive specialists in the Arena League, where he is perenially among the league leaders in interceptions and passes defensed.


just imagine how good he might be if he had some talent...


(the following articles provided a lot of info, and are informative reads: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=163452http://www.nfl.com/international/story/6425898)


this isn't an isolated individual... Kevin Kaesviharn, Mike Furrey, andChris Horn all stuck on NFL rosters after starring in the AFL. Troy Bergeron, arguably the fastest and definitely one of the most dominant receivers in the AFL, was also shunned by the Falcons a year ago, despite his off-the-chart measurables and amazing on field production.


there are numerous white cats who are NFL capable in the Arena League.

more white wide receivers who were shunned by the NFL continue to pop up and dominate in the Arena League. the latest example is Travis LaTendresse, who was last seen by most sports fans blowing up the record books in Utah's Emerald Bowl victory over Georgia Tech in January, 2006. (this is the same game where my man Eric Weddle made Calvin Johnson his bitch.)

With help from quarterback Brett Ratliff, LaTendresse had more catches (16), more yards (214) and more touchdowns (4) than any other receiver in 28 bowl games this year. The four touchdowns tied an all-time bowl record for receivers and matched his total for the 2005 regular season. Not surprisingly, LaTendresse was selected to the ESPN all-bowl first team along with the likes of quarterback Vince Young and Ohio State receiver Ted Ginn Jr.

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Travis has emerged in the Arena League for the Las Vegas Gladiators. he didn't see the field until week 11 (it's now week 16), but he has emerged as the dominant offensive weapon for the team.


he's had over 200 yards receiving in each of the last two games, which is almost unheard of! in those same two games, he's caught 6 touchdowns.


in the 6 games he's played this season, he's caught at least one touchdown pass in each game, and he's totalled 14 touchdowns, 54 catches, and 805 yards. wow! nice job, Travis!


edited to add: Travis is 6-1, 200 pounds. he ran an official 4.5 40 at his pro day in Utah. i wonder why he wasn't given a longer look by the NFL... hmmm... Edited by: Jimmy Chitwood

Jeremy Unertl was named Defensive Player of the Game this week for the Rush. he had 8 solo tackles, 4 pass break-ups, and 1 interception in the endzone that he returned 19 yards.


in the same game, Crush defensive specialist Chris Angel finally came back from injury to have a solid game. he had 7 solo tackles and 1 pass break-up.

I saw an areana game on Eurosport recently and Ben Nelson had four touchdowns and looked really good. He made someones practice squad a year or two ago, but time must be running out for him to make the NFL.

Nelson and two other terrific white receivers -- Aaron Hosack and Layne Danielson -- were all on the Vikings roster in the summer of 2004, and one or more at other times as well. Mike Tice cut all three of them, keeping such legends of the game as Kelly Campbell, Nate Burleson, and some of the jokes they have at receiver to this day. Hosack has All-Pro potential, as he showed in college and in NFL Europe every year, and Nelson could be a star too. Instead, former first round pick Troy "IBe Droppin' 90%of the Passes Thrown My Way" Williamson and other "professional" receivers fill the league.

you guys might find it funny that i pay so much attention to Arena Football, but there is an Arena2 team near me here in Arkansas, and they can be fun to watch sometimes. (the past two seasons a different white athlete was their top receiver! ) now on to the meat of this post...

the top two receivers in the lower division of Arena Football (Arena2) happen to have two things in common: they have NFL-level talent AND they are white.

the af2 Playmaker of the Year was from the Arkansas Twisters... his name is Chris Denney. if that name sounds familiar, we talked about him a little bit a couple of years ago, but the NFL ignored him.

The 6-3, 210-pound rookie receiver from Nebraska-Omaha had a huge impact for Arkansas in his first season, helping lead the squad to a berth in the af2 playoffs.

Denney, who made his af2 debut with the team in the sixth game of the year, scored at least three touchdowns in every game he played and also had five games where he scored five touchdowns. In just 11 games played, Denney led the league in scoring (274 points), scoring average (24.9 ppg), total touchdowns (45), receiving touchdowns (44), receptions per game (9.73) and receiving yards per game (136.8). He also set team records for receiving yards (1,505), touchdowns and points scored in a single season.

Denney registered 100+ yards receiving in eight out of 11 games and recorded the two highest single-game receiving totals in the af2 in 2008 (237, 229). He is also the only player in Twisters history to record 200 receiving yards in a game.

Denney was named Schutt Offensive Player of the Week for Week 17 for his outstanding effort against the Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings. In the team's 80-69 defeat, Denney caught 14 passes for an af2 season-high 237 yards with five touchdowns (Week 17 high). The National Conference All-af2 First Team honoree also posted a team-best 10 catches for 135 yards and three scores for Arkansas in the team's first round playoff loss to Central Valley.

the other NFL-worthy receiver in the af2 this past season was Quad City's Jesse Schmidt.

you might recall his name as well... the 6-3, 225-pound physical specimen with sub-4.4 speed had a try-out with the Green Bay Packers two years ago that went extremely well, with Jesse putting up better numbers and results than the Packers' actual draft picks. including running the 40-yard dash in under 4.4 seconds as advertised. but of course he was lacking something the Packers staff at that time required in its receivers... black skin, and he didn't get a contract or even a training camp tryout/practice look for "some" reason.

hoping to attract attention on the playing field, he played in af2 in 2007, but in his third game blew his ACL. after a new technique in which he had a new tendon inserted, Schmidt claims he can run even faster than his previous sub-4.4-40... and it shows on the field.

his 131 catches and 1,799 yards led the league, and his 42 total touchdowns (41 receiving) set a team record.

as we repeatedly state on this site, all white athletes need is an opportunity. it's a shame most have to look so hard to find one, and even then they are usually ignored.

can you think of just ONE black wide receiver who has posted the kind of stats on the field and the times on a stop watch that Tommy Ellingworth has and NOT gotten a shot in the NFL?

instead, this phenomenal athlete who has run so many sub-4.4 40s that it has become boring must toil in the obscurity of ArenaFootball2 in order to try to eventually claw his way onto an NFL roster.

Ellingworth to play in Arena Football League
Scott Thoma West Central Tribune
Published Saturday, November 08, 2008

Former Redwood Valley High School and Augustana College standout wide receiver Tommy Ellingworth has signed with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League.

Ellingworth caught 211 passes for 2,398 yards in four years at Augustana. Although he went undrafted by NFL teams, Ellingworth did get a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings and still hopes to some day land on an NFL roster.

"I'm hoping that if I play well for Iowa, some NFL team may give me a shot," Ellingworth said Thursday night by telephone. "I'm excited about playing for the Barnstormers. I think I could fit in great with that style of play."

The Arena Football League begins practice in February and games begin in late March. The field is smaller, there is a short wall around the playing field that is similar to the boards in hockey, and receivers can go in motion toward the line of scrimmage instead of laterally. By the time receivers have reached the line of scrimmage, they often have a full head of steam, something that should benefit a speedster like Ellingworth.

"I wouldn't want to play defensive back trying to cover a guy that already is in full stride," said Ellingworth. "It's a big advantage for the receiver."

Ellingworth, who is 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, ran a blistering 4.37 in the 40-yard dash in his college Pro Day in front of scouts. That's the same time star running back Adrian Peterson of the Vikings ran at his NFL Combine two years ago.

Ellingworth is currently training in Sioux Falls and getting acclimated to playing in the Arena League by working out with some of the Sioux Falls Storm players of the United Indoor Football League.

Ellingworth, who has a business degree, starts a job with an investment firm in Des Moines in December.

Most players have jobs to supplement the modest income of playing arena football. Players generally have bonus-laden paychecks and can make anywhere from $1,000-$4,000 per game. They also receive bonuses for how well the team does.

Many of the players come from Division I schools or are players that were cut by NFL teams.

"It's going to be good for me to see where I'm at with some of these guys," said Ellingworth.

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yes, that's right. Ellingworth ran a 4.37 in front of MULTIPLE NFL TEAMS and has great hands, yet he can't get a single NFL team interested in him. un-freaking-believable.

the devastating problem Ellingworth has can be clearly seen in the below photo. his dreadful skin disorder is very apparent.

the Arena League isn't in business this year, but it's smaller affiliate AFL2 still is, and not surprisingly has records being shattered by white athletes.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Schule (6-0, 250, Louisiana Monroe), is slashing af2 rushing records in his third season. The Louisiana Monroe alum set two league marks in Bossier-Shreveport's 79-29 home win against Corpus Christi in Week 11. Schule had 13 rushes for 112 yards with six rushing TDs against the Sharks. His rushing yards and rushing touchdowns totals both set af2 single-game records. Schule is the first player in league history to rush for at least 100 yards in an af2 game. Kenyatta Spruill set the previous league-high rushing yards standard in 2001 with 96 yards. Seven different players owned the previous af2 record for rushing touchdowns with five. Schule has now moved into second place on the af2 career rushing list with 1,148 yards and trails another former BattleWings player, Sherard Poteete, who has 1,346 yards. He currently leads the af2 in rushing yards in 2009 with 416 and is tied for the league lead in rushing TDs with 16. Schule is also just 84 yards shy of the league single-season record for rushing yards. Former Florida standout Steve Gorrie rushed for 500 yards in 2004. This is the first Offensive Player of the Week honor of Schule's career.

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RUSHING GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G
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SCHULE, Jason 10 62 419 3 416 6.7 16 44 41.6


Jasonhas 5 games left to break the single season rushing record, and needs to average a mere 18 yards per game to do so. also, his average yards per carry is phenomenal.

incidentally, Steve Gorrie, the current record holder, was also a white athlete. he led his team to the League Championship in 2004 andwas named the all-time top fullback/linebacker in AF2 history.

it just goes to show you, all white athletes need is an opportunity.Edited by: Jimmy Chitwood

SCHULE SETS af2 RUSHING RECORD: Bossier-Shreveport FB JASON SCHULE is running over the af2 record books this season. The Louisiana Monroe alum, in his third season, set the league single-season rushing record in the BattleWings' 69-67 road win against Oklahoma City in Week 16. Schule, who came into the contest with 480 yards on the year, had seven rushes for 68 yards to bring his season total to 548. The old league record was 500 yards rushing set in 2004 by former Florida standout Steve Gorrie. Earlier in the year Schule set two more rushing records in Bossier-Shreveport's home win against Corpus Christi in Week 11. The Louisiana Monroe alum had 13 rushes for 112 yards with six rushing TDs against the Sharks. His rushing yards and rushing touchdowns totals both set new af2 single-game standards. Schule is the first player in league history to rush for at least 100 yards in an af2 game. Schule leads the af2 in rushing yards and in rushing TDs (23).





SCHMIDT SETS TWO NEW RECEIVING RECORDS: Quad City veteran WR JESSE SCHMIDT, in his third af2 season, set a new league record for receiving touchdowns and receptions in a season last Saturday during the team's 62-44 home win against division rival Green Bay. The Buena Vista alum, who entered the game with 51 touchdown catches on the year, finished with four against the Blizzard to bring his season total to 55. The previous af2 record of 54 was set by Louisville's Rob Mager (another White receiver)in 2006 and Tulsa's Donovan Morgan in 2005. Schmidt also set a new af2 single-season record in receptions against the Blizzard. Schmidt had 17 on the night to bring his total to 166 on the year, five better than the previous league record mark of 161 set by Albany's Corey Hill in 2002 and 2003. Last week Schmidt eclipsed an af2 record for receiving yards in a season. He currently has 2,325 yards. The old record of 2,086 yards was set in 2000 by Carl Bond of Tallahassee.

scroll up through this thread to read some background information on Schmidt. he's a PHENOMENAL talent, yet has never been given more than the most cursory of looks by the NFL.

wide receiver Jesse Schmidt named the Big Game Playmaker of the Year.

Quad City WR JESSE SCHMIDT has been named The Big Game Playmaker of the Year by the af2. This award was created in 2007 to highlight the player who makes a name for himself by making plays all over the field for his team during the season.


The 6-3, 225-pound veteran receiver was a bright spot in an otherwise dim Steamwheelers' season. Schmidt, who played in all 16 regular season games, shattered a 10-year old af2 record with 2,390 yards receiving in 2009. The Buena Vista alum eclipsed the previous af2 record of 2,086 yards receiving set in 2000 by CARL BOND of Tallahassee.


In addition to his receiving yards mark, Schmidt's super season included 350 points scored, 58 total touchdowns, 58 receiving touchdowns and 171 receptions. He owned all five league single-season records until Rio Grande Valley rookie ROD WINDSOR surpassed Schmidt in the latter four categories in the final week of the season.



Schmidt also tied Windsor for the most 100-yard receiving games with 13, including a league-record streak of 11 straight games with 100 or more yards receiving. He also had four games with at least 200 yards receiving. Schmidt's best single-game performance came in the first game of the year when he recorded 12 catches for 233 yards and 7 TDs - tying the team record for most receiving TDs in a game. He was a two-time weekly award winner in 2009 as well (JLS Ironman - WK15, Russell Athletic Co-Rookie - WK16).

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as a reminder, Schmidt measures in at 6-3, 225-pounds and ran a sub-4.4 40 for the Green Bay Packers at their try-out. but "somehow" he doesn't have enough talent to even get into an NFL camp ...