Shock sign six more, including Marsh and Rogers
Spokane announced the signing of six players, including linebacker Antwan Marsh and ex-Shock DB Nygel Rogers. Marsh is the eighth player from Spokane's 2010 AFL championship team to resign. Rogers was with the Shock in af2 in 2007-08.
Standout Milwaukee defensive lineman Khreem Smith, Chicago Rush DB Josh Ferguson, DB Rucshard Dodd-Masters and IFL product Francis Maka also signed.
Several other AFL signings of interest: Arizona signed LB/FB Kevin McCullough, who was with the Shock for 2 1/2 seasons until being replaced by Marsh midway through the 2010 campaign. DL Jerry Turner is leaving Spokane for Georgia and former Shockie Justin Warren has resigned with Dallas.
Spokane has 18 players on its roster. More below.
FROM SHOCK PR:
The Shock announced today that LB Antwan Marsh, DL Khreem Smith, DL DB Josh Ferguson, DB Nygel Rogers, DL Francis Maka, and DB Rucshard Dodd-Masters, have been added to Spokane’s 2011 roster.
Marsh, 6-3 220, is the eighth member of the 2010 ArenaBowl Champion Shock to return to Spokane. During the regular season, Marsh tallied 29.5 tackles with four interceptions and three pass break-ups. The versatile Marsh played DB in the Championship game, due to injury, and finished second on the team with eight tackles.
Smith, 6-4 270, has earned a reputation as one of the most dominant pass rushers in the game. Last season, Smith posted a career-high nine sacks (third in the league) as a member of the Milwaukee Iron. As an AFL rookie in 2006, he recorded eight sacks. Smith also is a veteran of the NFL, playing for both the Kansas City Chiefs (2007) and the Minnesota Vikings (2006) during the regular season.
“Khreem Smith is one of the best defensive linemen to ever play ArenaFootball,” Head Coach Rob Keefe explained. “He told me that he wants to be pushed to be even better. He has very high expectations for himself and we are going to help him achieve all of his goals.”
Ferguson, 5-7 180, is also a veteran of the Arena game who spent his rookie season with the Chicago Rush (2010). As a member of the Rush, Ferguson led the team in tackles (99), interceptions (9), and pass break-ups (21).
Rogers, 6-1 203, was also member of the Chicago Rush last season. Rogers, a member of the Shock from 2007-2008, recorded 80.5 tackles, 8 interceptions and 13 pass break-ups with the Rush last season.
DL Maka, 6-2 255, is a rookie to the AFL, but he is no stranger to football. Last season, Maka played for an indoor football league as a member of the Arkansas Diamonds where he recorded 6.5 sacks with 23.5 tackles in only nine games. Before his time with the Diamonds, Maka finished his collegiate career at the University of Hawaii where he recorded 2.5 sacks in two seasons.
Dodd-Masters, 6-0 190, is a veteran of Arena game. In 2009, Dodd-Masters recorded 63 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass break-ups in 14 games.
“When you are able to get these types of players on a team, it gets other players excited,” Keefe said. “We want to show fans around the country and the league that we mean business. I think today’s transactions added more depth and versatility to our training camp roster which is going to be very competitive.”
To date, the 2011 Shock roster includes 18 players on it.
