Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company Announces Free Agents Participating in NFL Alumni Academy Development Program
02 October 2020 - 10:00PM
Business Wire
Participants include the top-graded player
prospects that were released from NFL training camps
Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company (“HOFV” or the
“Company”) (NASDAQ: HOFV, HOFVW), the only resort, entertainment
and media company centered around the power of professional
football and owner of the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson
Controls in Canton, Ohio, today announced the initial free agents
participating in the inaugural NFL Alumni Academy (the “Academy”),
the NFL Alumni Association’s player development program that takes
place at the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls.
This year’s class includes unrestricted free agent player
prospects who were among the final cuts in NFL training camps. The
NFL Alumni Association's personnel department, which is made up of
NFL-experienced and NFL veterans, assigned grades to all of the
released players and selected those who received the highest
ratings for the first Academy class. Among the participating
players include:
- Tavien Feaster, University of South Carolina – Clemson
- DaVonte Lambert, Auburn University
- Aca'Cedric Ware, University of Southern California
- Stacy Keely, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Evan Adams, Syracuse University
- Mikey Daniel, South Dakota State University
- Jake Benzinger, Wake Forest University
- Josiah Coatney, University of Mississippi
- Marquel Harrell, Auburn University
- Christian Ringo, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- O’Shea Dugas, Louisiana Tech University
- Tyler Jones, North Carolina State University
- Trevon McSwain, Duke University
- Ethan Westbrooks, West Texas A&M University
- Pita Toumoepenu, University of Utah
The participants will have the opportunity to further develop
their games by being coached and trained by some of the top minds
in professional football. Under the tutelage of former NFL coaches
and players Mike Tice, Anthony Munoz, Steve Smith, Jay Hayes, Chuck
Smith, Moe Williams, Jermon Bushrod, Dean Dalton and Performance
Coach Chip Smith, the trainees will work on improving their
strength and conditioning, techniques and skillsets, and
situational awareness with the goal of preparing their bodies and
minds for a lengthy career in the NFL. If a player is promoted to
an NFL roster, another free agent will be invited to join the
Academy.
“We are pleased to welcome this year’s NFL Alumni Association’s
player development class to the birthplace of football – Canton,
Ohio,” said Michael Crawford, President and CEO of HOFV. “Like the
players who will be working on developing their games, we will
continue working to develop the next phase of the Hall of Fame
Village powered by Johnson Controls as well as original content to
grow our media division. We believe the Academy provides a unique
way for us to do that, as the popularity of Hard Knocks and Last
Chance U shows that fans crave original programming that is
centered on football and offers exclusive access to the players
beyond the field.”
Seven of the free agents who are participating in the Academy
shared their thoughts on the unique opportunity to further develop
their games and gain exposure to the NFL and its fans in the
process:
- Stacy Keely: “My goal is to utilize this opportunity to
add to my game, work on the basics, and absorb all information
thrown my way. One thing I want to improve is my weight, and I
believe that is extremely doable through the help of this program
and Chip Smith.”
- Mikey Daniel: “The goal is to be playing on Sundays, so
getting my name out there, getting to the next level, and soaking
up all the knowledge I can from the other players here and coaches
in the Academy will hopefully set me apart.”
- Jake Benzinger: “I plan to be a sponge and soak up as
much information as I can while I’m here. I’m really looking
forward to learning from coaches Mike Tice and Anthony Munoz to
gain a better NFL perspective on the game and grow from my past
protections to get myself to the next level.”
- Josiah Coatney: “What’s most important to me is refining
my game, becoming the best player possible and doing whatever I can
to get back in the league. I’m always running, whether that be
making tackles or making plays, so I’m hoping that will set me
apart from other players.”
- Marquel Harrell: “My overall goal is to learn as much as
possible. I am coming in with open eyes and plan to soak up and
learn as much as I can about the game from former players and
coaches. I’m most looking forward to the one-on-one training and
being back on a team to then hopefully make an active roster.”
- Tavien Feaster: “The work here is legit. The NFL
knowledge from the coaches and the intensity of the training make
me even more confident that I will succeed in the NFL. I
appreciated how quickly the players all bonded during our workouts
and how the coaches really teach us about going to the next
level.”
- O’Shea Dugas: “My approach is to learn as much as
possible. I realize that learning from these NFL coaches gives me a
competitive advantage.”
Diversity will always be a key component of the Academy program,
and its composition will directly reflect the wide range of
individuals that it serves. The Academy includes a Football
Diversity Development program that works to advance minority former
NFL players that are transitioning to coaching and other
professional football positions. This initiative is designed to
create professional career opportunities for many NFL Alumni
Association members.
About the Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment
Company
The Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company (NASDAQ:
HOFV, HOFVW) is a resort and entertainment company leveraging the
power and popularity of professional football and its legendary
players in partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Headquartered in Canton, Ohio, the Hall of Fame Resort &
Entertainment Company is the owner of the Hall of Fame Village
powered by Johnson Controls, a multi-use sports, entertainment and
media destination centered around the Pro Football Hall of Fame's
campus. Additional information on the Company can be found at
www.HOFREco.com.
About the NFL Alumni Association
The NFL Alumni Association is a nationwide group of former
National Football League players, coaches and other employees whose
mission is to serve, assist and inform former players and their
families. The association offers a variety of medical, financial
and social programs to help members lead healthy, productive and
connected lives, as well as community initiatives under the NFL
Alumni’s “Caring for Kids” programs. The NFL Alumni Association
hosts the NFL Alumni Academy Player Development Program each
football season at the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson
Controls in Canton, Ohio.
About the NFL Alumni Academy
The NFL Alumni Academy provides a pathway for the top-graded
players that were released from NFL training camps to return to the
NFL by giving them the opportunity to further develop their skills
and realize their potential by training under the tutelage of elite
former NFL coaches, players and performance coaches. The Tom Benson
Hall of Fame Stadium at the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson
Controls will initially serve as the NFL Alumni Academy’s
headquarters and training facility. The Academy will then move to
the Center for Performance, which will be located on the Village’s
campus and is anticipated to be completed in 2022. The Center for
Performance will feature an 80,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art
indoor field house and training facility, among other
amenities.
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