Georgia Doom Sign Wide Receiver Larry Beavers

The Georgia Doom have signed former NFL wide receiver Larry Beavers. He spent time with the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints.

Beavers holds the NCAA record for kickoff returns (10) and is also second all-time in receiving yards (2,366) according to the Doom press release. His arena football career began in 2011 when he signed with the Iowa Barnstormers.

Over the last six seasons, he’s also played with the Pittsburgh Power (2012), New Orleans Voodoo (2013-15), Las Vegas Outlaws (2015), Cleveland Gladiators (2016, 2017) and Philadelphia Soul (2017). He also had a stint with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2011.

Beavers was very limited during his time in 2017. He recorded 4.5 tackles on defense and returned seven kicks for 117 yards on special teams.

He will be joining talented wide receiver Christian Wise on the Georgia Doom expansion franchise. Expect Beavers to see more playing time on offense, as well as defense and special teams.

One reason he may have been limited, especially on offense, was because Philadelphia already had wide receivers such as Ryan McDaniel, Darius Reynolds and Shaun Kauleinamoku.

Georgia will begin their first season in tis American Arena League on Saturday, March 24 when they host their in-state rival and possibly the most dangerous team in the league in the Atlanta Havoc. Their season ends on June 9, also against the Havoc.

Florida Tarpons Re-Sign Quarterback Chris Wallace

The Florida Tarpons have re-signed quarterback Chris Wallace for the 2018 season. This will be the Tarpons seventh season of play and their first in the American Arena League.

As for Wallace, this is his 18th season in arena football. His career began with the Carolina Rhinos of the af2 in 2000. He has played for the Orlando Predators, New Orleans Voodoo and Pittsburgh Power of the Arena Football League. During his time, he threw for 1,283 yards and 19 touchdowns.

After his stint in the AFL, Wallace spent eight seasons with the Florida Firecats in the af2. He set several league records, such as career touchdowns (484) and passes completed (1,797).

“It’s the same thing that anybody who has a long tenure at something, it’s just a love for the game,” Wallace said. “It’s the camaraderie in the locker room, players going out there with one common goal. It’s a special thing. It’s not like anything else. I’ve played basketball, played baseball, there’s just something about a football locker room. I fell in love with arena football from day one.”

Wallace will be playing his fifth season with the Florida Tarpons (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016). Florida played in the Arena Pro Football in its lone season in 2017, losing to the Richmond Roughriders in the championship game.

After six seasons playing in Fort Meyers, the Tarpons moved to Lakeland, FL for 2018. They, along with the Roughriders and other teams from the Arena Pro Football, will play in the American Arena League’s inaugural season in 2018.

Florida will kick off their season on March 17 against the expansion Atlanta Havoc. Their home opener will be on April 14 against the Roughriders. The American Arena League title game is set for Saturday, June 30.

Cleveland Gladiators Defeat Washington Valor For First Win of Season

The game was a must-win for Cleveland.  The Gladiators had never started a season 0-4, but the return of Brandon Thompkins, who brought in his 500th career catch and a touchdown for the 33rd straight game, was key in this game. Plus the fact that the Gladiators had lost their opening three games by a combined 10 points, there was reason to be optimistic.

The Cleveland Gladiators took care of business in strong fashion, beating the Washington Valor 48-34. Acting like he never left, quarterback Arvell Nelson scored in many ways tonight proving why Cleveland had to bring him back.

The night looked positive from the start, as the Glads defense did not allow a score on the opening drive, after holding on the ball a little too long leading to a lost fumble early. Nelson would regroup soon after.

Later in the first half, Nelson saw nothing was open and took it upon himself to run for five yards and score the Gladiators’ second touchdown of the game making it 14-7 Cleveland with 12:10 left in the second quarter. After a Glads drive that got inside the Valor 10 saw back to back flags called on the Gladiators, Nelson led the team back down the field and finished the drive on an eight yard pass to Brandon Thompkins to make it 21-14 Cleveland with four minutes left to play in the half.

The end of the half had another turn where Nelson threw a bad pass off the nets that would turn into a pick a moment later, but once again Nelson would refocus along with the Glads defense.

Cleveland would not allow the Valor to score at all in the third frame. They won the quarter 20-0 making it 41-27. The last time Cleveland won a quarter by 20 or more was during the 2014 season vs the New Orleans Voodoo.  That season Cleveland went 17-1 and made it to Arena Bowl XXVII.

The icing on the cake came at the 6:02 mark in the final period on 4th down and 15 when Nelson spun around avoiding pressure from the defense, launching a perfect pass to Collin Taylor for a 39 yard score.  And this after Nelson made the same move earlier during the 3rd period rushing down field for a 43 yard touchdown run. For the game, Cleveland rushed for 54 more yards than the Valor, seeing Nelson total up 303 total yards and five touchdowns. Tompkins totaled 162 all purpose yards and a score on his history making night.

Tampa Bay Storm Add All-Arena Jack Linebacker to Defense

On Tuesday, Jeff Gooch, Vice President of Football Operations for the Tampa Bay Storm, announced the acquisition of two-time All-Arena jack linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson. To make room on the roster, the team assigned defensive lineman Ino Vitale. As Gooch said after the announcement:

“Any time you can acquire a player like Jackson you must take it. He’s a difference maker on defense and is a welcome addition to our team.  We’re happy to have him.”

Jackson (6’1″, 200 lbs.) enters his seventh season in the Arena Football League. Spending the last two seasons with the Jacksonville Sharks, including an appearance in ArenaBowl XXVIII, he joins the list of players to make the trip to Tampa Bay, where he’ll begin his first season wearing the blue and gold. Jackson comes off a 2016 season that saw him record 55.5 tackles (1.0 for loss), two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and three pass breakups.

After playing collegiately at Albany State University, Jackson began his professional career in 2006 with the South Georgia Wildcats of af2.  He then played in a variety of indoor leagues before settling back in the AFL with the New Orleans VooDoo in 2011, when he led the team with 89.0 tackles.  He followed that by earning his first All-Arena selection in 2012, setting a franchise record with 14 interceptions.

Jackson moved to play with Pittsburgh Power in 2013, then rejoined the VooDoo in 2014, and finally played with the Sharks beginning with the 2015 season.

For his career, Jackson has 400.0 tackles (15.5 for loss), a sack, 37 interceptions, 27 pass breakups, 13 fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles.