News
March 21, 2018Albany Empire Add Another 13 Players to Talented Roster
Day 2 Signings Include Six AFL Veterans and Seven Rookies
The Albany Empire announce that 13 additional players have been assigned to the team roster on the second day of free agency. Per League and team rules, terms are not disclosed. Of the 13 players assigned, The Empire added six league veterans. The free agency signing period for the Arena Football League began at 7 a.m. on Monday March 19.
“The whole organization has been firing on all cylinders,” said Rob Keefe, Head Coach of the Albany Empire. “It is becoming a domino effect for the players. As certain guys see how our roster is shaping up, more and more players are eager to join the Empire! The second day of free agency was as busy as the first, and we won’t quit until we have put together a championship caliber team.”
Nick Belcher, Kicker
Nick Belcher comes to the Capital Region to kick off his third season of indoor football, first in the Arena Football League. Originally recruited to Junior College as a Baseball and Football player at Darlington Technical College, Belcher injured his throwing arm, allowing him to put all his focus into football as a special teams player. He transferred to South Carolina State and was the teams leading scorer with 87 points during the regular season. He was All-Conference as a punter and a place kicker in 2013. After graduating, Belcher was invited to minicamps within the CFL and AFL, before he landed in the IFL playing in Cedar Rapids. In 2017, Belcher played for the Jacksonville Sharks of the National Arena League (NAL) and was named the NAL Special Teams Player of the Year.
Jabari Buckley, Offensive Lineman
Jabari Buckley comes to Albany after two years of indoor football and enters his first in the Arena Football League. Attending Bethel University, he helped lead an offensive line to a Conference Championship and pave the way for a 1,500-rushing yard running back. He then transferred to Belhaven University, where he attended from 2012-2014. He made his debut in indoor football in 2016, playing with the Chicago Eagles in the Champions Indoor Football (CIF). The following season, he played for the Sioux Falls Storm and solidified an offensive line that led the way to over 1,200 yards rushing out of the backfield.
Mike Fafaul, Quarterback
Originally from Baltimore, Mike Fafaul made his way out west to attend UCLA and pursue playing football. During his time as a Bruin, Fafaul backed up Brett Hundley, quarterback on the Green Bay Packers, and Josh Rosen, current NFL draft prospect. In Fafaul’s senior season in 2016, Rosen suffered an injury setback, allowing Fafaul to showcase his talents. In a game against Utah, Fafaul threw for a single game school record of 40 pass completions while racking up five touchdowns and 500 yards. After his tenure at UCLA, Fafaul attended rookie minicamps with the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins, as well as, various workouts with CFL teams. In 2017, he met coach Chris Thompson at a workout in Philadelphia and knew he wanted to continue to work with him.
Brandon Fuentes, Defensive Back
Marking his second year of indoor football, Brandon Fuentes comes to Albany after spending a year with the High Country Grizzlies of the AAL. He attended St. John Fischer college, by way of the University of Mount Union. He started in his first year at SJFC and helped lead a team to the elite eight. In his senior season in 2016, Fuentes led the conference with six interceptions. In 2017, he joined the High Country Grizzlies, where he ran multiple turnovers back for touchdowns. Being from Avon, NY, Fuentes is looking forward to playing closer to his hometown again.
Hayworth Hicks, Offensive Lineman
Coming all the way from Los Angeles, Hayworth Hicks is entering his third season in Arena Football. Transferring from junior college, Hicks played his college ball at Iowa State University. In 2011, Hicks was selected to the second-team All-Big 12 team and presented with Iowa State’s award for most outstanding lineman. After graduating, he was signed and played on the practice squads of teams such as the Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs. In 2014, Hicks was assigned to the Orlando Predators, where he played under Keefe. The following season, he was assigned to the Arizona Rattlers, and helped lead the team get to the ArenaBowl. Hicks is looking forward to reuniting with Keefe and coming to the East Coast to play for the Empire.
Sam Longo, Offensive Lineman
Sam Longo attended the University of Cincinnati by way of Ohio State University. In his two years at Ohio State, he was a redshirt for the 2009 Rose Bowl and Big Ten Champions. He transferred to Cincinnati where he finished up his collegiate career in 2013 after earning second team All-Conference honors. In 2014, Longo signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent and attended training camp with the Houston Texans. Longo played Arena Football in 2015 with the Portland Thunder, where he started in eight games as a rookie. In 2016, Longo was assigned to the Orlando Predators. Longo spent the 2017 season as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Mike McMillan, Defensive Back
Arena football veteran Mike McMillan, comes to the Empire after playing for the Portland Steel. He hails from Ashland College, where he was named second team All-Conference in his senior season. In 2014, he joined the Sioux Fall Storm and got a taste of his first indoor football experience. In 2015, McMillan was assigned to the Trenton Freedom, where he racked up eight interceptions in 10 games and was named first team all PIFL. In 2016, McMillan was assigned to the Spokane Shock about halfway through the season, before returning to the Portland Steel to finish the year. After his second stint in Portland, McMillan was invited to camp with the Denver Broncos. He has heard nothing but good things about Coach Keefe and is looking forward to playing within his system.
Al Phillips, Defensive Back
Al Phillips brings eight years of veteran experience to the Albany Empire. He was one of the best cornerbacks to play for Wagner University. In 2015, Phillips was named to the Northeast Conference’s 20-Year Anniversary Football Team, which included conference hall of famers. In his senior season in 2007, Phillips played in 11 games while tallying up seven interceptions and over 600 punt/kick return yards. Phillips began his professional career with the Spokane Shock in 2010. He moved around from Spokane, to Milwaukee and Utah in the early part of his career. He spent the 2015 season playing for the Tampa Bay Storm where he led the team with 107 tackles and added 2 tackles for a loss, three interceptions and a single-season franchise record of 39 pass breakups. He moved to the Arizona Rattlers in 2016 before making his way back to Tampa Bay for the 2017 season.
Nick Seither, Defensive Lineman
Originally from Cincinnati, Nick Seither felt a sense of comfort in Albany within the Empire organization. Playing his college ball at Georgetown College in Kentucky, Seither was a member of three conference championships. Throughout his tenure, he was named an All-American, Defensive player of the year and first team All-Conference. Upon graduation, Seither worked out with the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts before attending minicamp with the Arizona Cardinals. After it didn’t work out in Arizona, Seither went back to Georgetown College and joined the coaching staff. He later joined the Cleveland Gladiators at the end of the 2016 season and continued to play with them through 2017 and recorded 6.5 sacks for the Gladiators.
Brandon Stephens, Defensive Back
Brandon Stephens has been playing professional football straight out of college since 2012. He attended the University of Miami of Ohio from 2007-2011 where he won a conference championship in 2010. In his senior year, he was named to the preseason first team All-Conference team. After graduating, Stephens played briefly with the Detroit Lions on the practice squad in 2012, during the lockout season. He spent 2014-15 with the Cleveland Gladiators before being signed by the Cleveland Browns where he worked through OTAs and minicamp. He bounced between the Gladiators and the Baltimore Brigade in 2016 and 2017. Stephens is familiar with Coach Keefe’s work ethic and is eager to learn from him.
Kyle Steuk, Offensive Lineman
Kyle Steuk is as versatile of an offensive lineman that will be seen on the field, having played every position on the offensive line at some point in his career. Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Steuk attended Northern Michigan for college. In his four years at college, he started nearly every game from his sophomore year through his senior year. He racked up awards such as Newcomer of the Year, All-Conference and All-American honors, and was the lineman MVP of the National Bowl. After he graduated, Steuk attend a local tryout day for the Green Bay Packers, after which he was signed. He fought his way through camp and all of preseason until he unfortunately suffered an injury setback in the Packers’ final preseason game in 2016. After then being released by the Packers, Steuk attended rookie minicamp with the Arizona Cardinals and had workouts with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Chandler Whitmer, Quarterback
Chandler Whitmer will be making his professional football debut in 2018. Originally from Georgia, he attended UConn where he made 24 career starts at quarterback. While at UConn, Whitmer finished fourth in school history in completions (403), passing yards (5,082) and sixth in touchdown passes (25). He graduated in 2014 and attended minicamp for the Philadelphia Eagles and had workouts in both the CFL and AFL. He stepped away from playing to help coach quarterbacks privately, where he worked with two of the nations top high school recruits heading into the 2018 collegiate season.
De’Runnya “Bear” Wilson, Wide Receiver
De’Runnya Wilson got the nickname “Bear” at a young age for his tough nature. He attended Mississippi State University where he played three seasons of football and two seasons of basketball. Beginning in his sophomore season, he started every game and helped lead his team to big wins over top SEC teams. Wilson ranks fifth in school history with 133 receptions, sixth with 1,949 yards, and second with 22 touchdowns. In 2016, he signed as an undrafted free agent to the Chicago Bears practice squad. Taking 2017 off from football to finish his undergraduate, he is excited to get back on the field with the Albany Empire in 2018.
Don’t miss your opportunity to witness history as Arena Football returns to Albany! Fans can secure their single game tickets for the Albany Empire’s inaugural game at TheAlbanyEmpire.com. Also available are 2018 season and single game tickets, flex packs, group outings and inaugural game family 4 packs at 518-533-2200 or at www.TheAlbanyEmpire.com!
Albany Empire 2018 Inaugural Season Presented By CDPHP.
