Former Maverick Paul Whatley signs with a pro team in Arizona!
PRESCOTT VALLEY - With the clock ticking down on the start of the 2008 season, the Arizona Adrenaline took time for one last roster tuneup following last week's preseason loss in Reading, Pa.
Head coach Andrew Moore announced Wednesday that the team has added defensive lineman Paul Whatley to the roster and has expanded the role of special teams coach Micah White, who now becomes the full-time kicker.
To make room for the additions, the Adrenaline released kicker Drew Vezina and defensive lineman Toqua-Hanai Ticeahkie as they get set to play the first game in franchise history Sunday (4 p.m.) at Tim's Toyota Center against the New Mexico Wildcats.
"We just didn't get nearly enough pressure on their quarterback," Moore said of the decision to bring in Whatley. Moore also said he might consider using starting offensive lineman Cornealius Fuamatu on the defensive side as well.
"We only got one sack and maybe four or five good rushes against Reading the entire game. It's something that we have to fix."
The 26-year-old Whatley (6-3, 285) is no stranger to northern Arizona. He started for three years at Eastern Washington, a Big Sky foe of the NAU Lumberjacks. Shortly after playing there, he broke his shoulder blade in an auto accident and now feels he's ready to give it another go at nose guard.
"It slowed me down for sure," Whatley said of the injury. "But I feel like my work ethic and desire to play has given me a chance to come back. I'll just go out there and do what I know I'm capable of and everything will fall into place."
White, 24, replaces Vezina, who the team released after missing four of five extra points and his only field goal attempt in last week's loss. White kicked at NAIA Georgetown College in Kentucky for four years.
