Post by David on Jun 28, 2016 15:20:01 GMT -8
DL Donte Rumph (image courtesy of Nelson Chenault / USA TODAY Sports)
6.28.16 -
In preparation for a run to the United Bowl, the Spokane Empire tweaked its roster by signing DT Donte Rumph to the active roster.
The transaction was announced shortly before the IFL's Roster Freeze deadline, which went into effect today at 2 PM PST. The Roster Freeze applies to teams that are active in the playoffs and are not be allowed to sign new players to their active roster for the rest of the season. Any players that are on Injured Reserve, Refuse to Report, or the Other League Exempt lists are not be eligible for activation to the active roster.
Rumph (6'4'', 320 lbs) joins the Empire to bolster its defensive line. He'll have two weeks to prepare for his first indoor/arena football experience, which happens to be the Intense Conference Championship game on July 17th. He played his 4-year collegiate career as a member of the Kentucky Wildcats from 2010-2014. In his Wildcat career, Rumph recorded 126 total tackles (58 solo), 15 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. He earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week vs. Samford during his junior season and, according to the Empire's press release, he earned Second Team All-SEC honors during his senior season.
After graduating from Kentucky, he went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons and stuck with the team before he was released during the 2014 Preseason.
The signing of Rumph to the active roster resulted in DL D.J. Yendrey being placed on Season Ending Injured Reserve.
DL D.J. Yendrey (image courtesy of Dan Byers Photography)
Yendrey (6'4'', 280 lbs) joined the Empire in late April after an injury to DL Toby Jackson. In 7 games with the Empire, he recorded 13.5 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and 2 blocked kicks. He suffered a foot injury in Spokane's loss to the Sioux Falls Storm on June 18th.
Prior to joining the Empire, Yendrey played college football at Texas Christian University where he received Honorable Mention All-Mountain West in 2010 and 2011. In three seasons with the Horned Frogs, he played in 39 games, registered 70 total tackles, 29 solo tackles, 8.0 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 3 fumble recoveries and was part of TCU's 2011 BCS team that beat Wisconsin 21-19 in the Rose Bowl. Yendrey would transfer to Texas State after the 2011 season, where eventually playing for them in 2013. In his lone season with the Bobcats, he played in 7 games and registered 20 total tackles, 11 solo tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.
Yendrey becomes the third loss by the Empire in June, joining RB Trevor Kennedy (leg) and WR Carl Sims (wrist) on the Season Ending IR.
Head Coach Adam Shackleford was disappointed by the loss of Yendrey, but had high praise for Rumph. “Donte is the big bodied nose-guard we have been missing throughout the year," he said in the team's press release. "With the injury to D.J. it put us in a very tough spot stopping the run. With Donte here, we have the true nose-guard that could fill those gaps for us. Our defensive line has been a weapon all year and D.J. has been doing a very good job for us, but with that injury the timing is perfect for Donte to help us in Playoffs.”
The Empire and the rest of the IFL will take this upcoming weekend off for the 4th of July holiday. They will also be off the following week when Wild Card round of the IFL Playoffs begin on July 9th. Spokane returns to action on July 17th in the Intense Conference Championship against the winner of Nebraska/Billings.
- DKH
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