Post by David on Sept 18, 2015 19:39:53 GMT -8
9.18.15 –
Over the past week, the Shock continued to build their roster for the 2016 season, the team’s inaugural season as members of the Indoor Football League.
We’ll start with the first two signings, which were announced on September 10th. The Shock bolstered up their defensive backfield with the signings of Terry Shankle and Randall Burden.
Shankle is a 5’9’’, 175 lb defensive back out of North Carolina. He already has a year of IFL experience under his belt, playing with the Nebraska Danger in 2015. In six games with the Danger, he recorded 25 total tackles, 19 of which were solo, and 3 pass breakups. He played his entire college career at North Carolina from 2010-2013, playing in 30 games and recording 60 total tackles, 4 interceptions and 9 passes defended.
Burden is a 6’2’’, 190 lb defensive back out of Kentucky. The 2016 season will be his first in the IFL, but he has some experience in indoor football. In 2015, he played 9 games for the Tampa Bay Storm, recording 28 total tackles (23 solo) and 3 pass breakups. He had a brief stint with the Storm in 2014, recording 6.5 total tackles, 2 pass breakups, and 1 interception. Prior to joining the storm, he split time with the Missouri Monsters of the PIFL and the defunct Utah Blaze of the AFL. During his time as a member of the Kentucky Wildcats, he played in 49 total games and recorded 117 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 8 interceptions and 2 pick-sixes.
The most recent singings on September 17th focused on the offensive side of the football, with the signings of Aaron Spikes and Charles “Chuck” Dowdell.
Spikes is a 5’9’’, 200 lb running back/wide receiver (classified as an offensive specialist) out of Belhaven University (Mississippi). He joins the Shock as a rookie in the IFL, getting his first shot at professional football. Spikes began his career at the University of Lousiana Layfayette and 1,100 all-purpose yardage and 9 touchdowns during his freshman year, resulting in his name being on the Sun-Belt All Freshman team. He would transfer to Belhaven University in 2012 but would see limited action over the next two years due to injuries. In 2014, he’d replicate the numbers he put up at Lousiana Layfayette, amassing 1,100 total yards of offense and 9 touchdowns.
Dowdell is a 6’0’’, 200 lb quarterback out of Saginaw Valley State (Michigan). He’ll be entering his third season in the IFL after spending the last two seasons in lower tier leagues. In 2015, he played for the Sioux City Bandits of the Champions Indoor Football League (CIF), throwing for 2,128 yards, 45 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and a 108.2 QB rating. He was named CIF league MVP and named to the First Team All-Conference roster to go along with 4 Offensive Player of the Week honors and a Champions Bowl title. He played two seasons in 2014 and 2012 with Bloomington Edge (2012 in the IFL, 2014 in the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL)). He also played for the Green Bay Blizzard in 2013. Prior to his professional career, Dowdell played two seasons at Indiana State University before transferring to finish at Saginaw Valley State. With the Cadinals, he played in 21 games and recorded 3,784 passing yards and 27 passing touchdowns. He also was a threat on the ground, rushing for 1,327 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.
It's worth pointing out that Dowdell has played wide receiver in the IFL and the CIF. Perhaps the Shock will be adding in some wildcat formations with Dowdell lined up in the slot.
- DKH
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