This week Tulsa Oilers head coach Marvin Jones mentioned in an interview that the roster of an IFL team is always in a potential state of change. Many IFL players can earn opportunities to advance their careers into the world of outdoor professional football.
The XFL-IFL personnel partnership has made this movement of players a new variable in the IFL. As teams have players invited to the XFL, the IFL has to be able to adjust its roster to fill the gap. Also, as XFL teams release players, many of those players look to the IFL as another opportunity to get back on the field and have another chance to prove themselves.
The best IFL teams naturally experience more player movement than less successful teams. So to maintain their position in the league, they must have a dynamic plan that considers these changes. For a new team like the Tulsa Oilers, it makes roster building a more complex process. Still, if they can become a pathway for players to find future success, they will be able to attract higher-quality players consistently.
Let’s look at how the teams of IFL have managed their rosters this week.
Duke City Gladiators
The Duke City Gladiators announced that they had released wide receiver, Dello Davis. Davis was the Indoor Football League’s leading receiver in 2022. The Gladiator’s offense was the top passing offense in the IFL in 2022, and Davis was a key contributor to that success.
Bay Area Panthers
The Bay Area Panthers announced they had signed quarterback Noah Johnson this week. Johnson comes to the Panthers after having a successful college career at Alcorn State and the University of South Florida. The Panthers also traded defensive lineman Kyree Campbell to the Sioux Fall Storm for quarterback Dalton Sneed. Also, on offense, the Panthers signed wide receiver Tyson Morris.
Morris played college football at Arkansas and scored three touchdowns against Penn State in the Outback Bowl. Bay Area will hold open tryouts on February 25th.
Quad City Steamwheelers
The Quad City Steamwheelers announced that they re-signed defensive lineman Naquez Pringle. The 6’3″, 320-pound Pringle accumulated 43 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble during the 2022 season. The Steamwheelers also added defensive back Roosevelt Lawrence and defensive lineman Jared Johnson for the 2023 season. On offense, the Steamwheelers signed quarterback Damion May, a former Green Bay Blizzard quarterback.
Northern Arizona Wranglers
The Northern Arizona Wranglers added several defensive players to their 2023 roster this week. The Wranglers signed linebacker Brandon Burks, defensive back Daniel Wright, and defensive lineman Elijah Watson. On offense, the Wranglers have signed wide receiver, Ryan Wisniewski. Wisniewski is a 6’4″, 210-pound receiver who played collegiately at Wisconsin-Whitewater and participated in a rookie mini-camp for the Green Bay Packers in 2022.
Iowa Barnstormers
The Iowa Barnstormers announced they had re-signed defensive lineman Marshawn Jones and kicker Gabriel Rui. Jones played in 11 games in 2022 and compiled 21 tackles and eight for loss. Riu played in 16 games and a playoff game in 2022, went 70 for 77 on extra points, 20 for 34 on field goals, and scored one Deuce.
The Barnstormers have also added defensive back Cam Clemons and wide receiver Caleb Smith. Smith played collegiately at Towson State, and during his four seasons with the Tiger, he compiled 95 catches for 1,252 yards and six touchdowns while playing in 31 games.
Tulsa Oilers
The Tulsa Oilers announced that they had signed defensive lineman Allen Edwards. The 6’3″, 240-pound Edwards played college football at the University of Pittsburgh and played indoor football with Louisville Xtreme in 2021. The Oilers also signed wide receiver Joshua Crockett. Crockett played at the University of Central Oklahoma and, over 44 games, produced 129 catches for 2,003 yards and 18 touchdown receptions.
Odds and Ends
The San Diego Strike Force announced that they had signed linebacker Marcel Spears. Spears played collegiately at Iowa State and may strengthen the Strike Force defense. The Tucson Sugar Skulls will hold their open tryouts on March 5th as they look to add local talent to their roster.
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