As IFL teams work to build their rosters in preparation for the 2023 season, the history of each team has a direct impact on their ability to be successful. The Frisco Fighters, Arizona Rattlers, and Massachusetts Pirates have a perpetual ability to identify and acquire talent season-to-season basis. Much of this success off the field directly reflect their performance on the field. If a player is still determining where he might play in the IFL, it can be easy to sign with a team with a history of success.
The opposite is also true, where teams that struggle on the field find it difficult to acquire and retain players creating a discontinuity in their roster. There are a few strategies for breaking this trend; bringing in new players to attract new players is a popular trend in the IFL. The Northern Arizona Wranglers used this strategy to go from being a 1-win team to a championship team. Groups like the Bay Area Panthers follow this trend to find relative success.
For teams unable to make changes to break out of losing history, it can be difficult to turn things around for their team. The Green Bay Blizzard is an example of a team in this situation; during the 2022 season, the Blizzard went 6-10, and this week the Blizzard announced that three of their players refused to report to team activities. When a team like Blizzard is going through difficult times, finding loyal players willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the franchise can be equally challenging. Player decisions create more challenges for teams like Blizzard to overcome to try and find future success.
Let’s look at how IFL approached its unique roster-building situations this week.
Green Bay Blizzard
The Green Bay Blizzard reported that defensive lineman Malik Haynes, wide receiver Dushon David, and defensive back Quantaye Battle have refused to say to team activities. However, the Blizzard did sign defensive lineman Joshua Cousar. The 6’0″ 315 pound Cousar played college football at Newberry College.
Northern Arizona Wranglers
The Northern Arizona Wranglers have signed defensive back Juantarious Bryant. The 5’9″, 195-pound defensive back comes from a successful college football experience playing for Austin Peay. While playing with the Governors, Bryant produced 243 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, one interception, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
The Wranglers have also signed 6’7″, 330-pound offensive lineman Travis Alvarez. Alvarez played collegiately at SUNY-Cortland University, which averaged 425 rushing yards per game. Open tryouts for the Wranglers will be Saturday, March 4th.
Bay Area Panthers
The Bay Area Panthers have signed offensive lineman Kurt Huff. The 6’1″ 295 pound Huff played four seasons at Tennessee Tech. In addition, The Panthers released quarterback Ladarius Skelton, and Bay Area signed quarterback Noah Johnson. Johnson comes to the Panthers after playing collegiately at Alcorn State and the University of South Florida.
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers have signed defensive back Michael Alvarez. Alvarez has previously played for the Sioux Fall Storm. The Rattlers had the top defense in the IFL during the 2022 season.
Iowa Barnstormers
The Iowa Barnstormers have re-signed defensive linemen Jordan Beaton and defensive back Jordan Baldwin. Baldwin produced 53.5 tackles, 2.5 tackles of loss, one interception, and one pass breakup for the Barnstormers in 2022. Offensively, the Barnstormers have signed wide receiver Ke’Lenn Davis who played college football at Texas Southern. On defense, Iowa has signed defensive lineman Charles Brooks. Brooks brought indoor football experience to the Barnstormers after winning a NAL championship with the Albany Empire in 2021, and he also played for the Wichita Force of the CIF in 2022.
Frisco Fighters
The Frisco Fighters have added two defensive players this week. Defensive back Shaq Brown and defensive lineman Levi Watson joined a Fighters defense that was the 5th-ranked defense during the 2022 season. Watson is a 6’5″, 270-pound lineman that played college football at Eastern Illinois. The Fighters have also re-signed wide receiver Jerminic Smith, named to the All-IFL team in 2022. Smith produced 63 catches for 890 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns during the 2022 season. In addition, the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas has signed Frisco defensive lineman Jamahl Johnson.
Tulsa Oilers
The Tulsa Oilers have signed wide receiver Josh Crockett; Crockett has experience with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. Defensively, the Oilers have signed defensive backs, Ronald Salters and Kameron Prewitt. Prewitt can play defensive back and wide receiver; he played college football at Campbell College. Salters comes to the Oilers after playing for the Quad City Steamwheelers during the 2022 season.
Quad City Steamwheelers
The Quad City Steamwheelers have re-signed wide receiver Keyvan Rudd after Rudd produced 14.4 yards/catch for the Steamwheelers during the 2022 season. Also, the Steamwheelers have signed wide receivers Jerron McGaw and CJ Windham on offense. Windham played college football at Middle Tennessee State, producing 107 catches for 1,329 yards and 13 touchdowns. Defensively, Quad City has signed 6’3″ 335-pound defensive lineman Tevita Mo’Unga, Mo’Unga played college football at BYU.
Sioux Falls Storm
The Sioux Falls Storm signed linebacker James Brown. Brown played college football at Northern Michigan and was named to the All-IFL Rookie team while playing for the Green Bay Blizzard in 2022. For the Blizzard, Brown produced 96 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, and two interceptions.
Massachusetts Pirates
The Massachusetts Pirates have signed defensive lineman Trevon Young. The 6’4″, 260-pound defensive lineman played college football at the University of Louisville. While playing for the Cardinals, Young produced 101 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick. Young has previous professional football experience with the Los Angles Rams of the NFL and the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL.
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