At 6-4, 243-pounds, Darnell "DJ" Dinkins (#11) is a NFL-sized signal caller who was recruited by both the University of Pittsburgh and Notre Dame as a quarterback after having a terrific high school career at Schenly HS in Pennsylvania.
However, during his four-year college career, Dinkins primarily played on the defensive side of the ball despite showing equal or better skills than Matt Lytle or Pete Gonzalez, who both started for the Panthers at quarterback and between them have since spent time in the NFL with Carolina, Pittsburgh and Buffalo.
Dinkins used his size and athleticism to rack up 155 career tackles, including 13 for loss, two interceptions and one sack, but still he wondered what would have been had he been given a chance to play quarterback.
After sitting out last season, the Pittsburgh Colts of the NAFL offered Dinkins the chance to return to the field and this time as a quarterback. He had recently attended a pro scouting combine at Ohio State, where he graded out at 9.28 (out of 10), but lacked the game film that pro scouts were requesting, so joining the Colts seemed like an ideal plan.
In his first season with the team, Dinkins has shown a great combination of physical tools, pure talent and intriguing potential. He was named the NAFL Offensive Player of the Week after completing 16 of 31 passes for 392 yards and six touchdowns, while rushing for 57 yards and an additional score in the Colts crucial 44-30 victory over the Baltimore Warriors on August 4th.
Derrick Taite (right) voted 2001 NIFL Player of the Year.
FreeAgents Announces the 2001 All-NIFL Team and Award Winners By: Free Agents Staff
The successful first season of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) culminated with the Mississippi Fire Dogs capturing the NIFL Championship with a 55-21 victory over the Wyoming Calvary at the Gulf Coast Coliseum on August 4th.
A crowd of 4,325 indoor football fans enjoyed the fun-filled evening, which included Fire Dogs starting center Terrence Ware singing the National Anthem, cheerleaders dancing before and after each play and several giveaways from local businesses at halftime.
The mostly partisan audience has really taken to the NIFL style of play, as the Fire Dogs ended their inaugural campaign with a 16-1 record, tops in the league and also did an excellent job of recruiting local talent, which helped bring their attendance to the fevered pitch that assembled for the title game.
Around the league there were several success stories similar to that of the Fire Dogs, including Lake Charles, Rapid City, Ohio Valley, Jamestown, Tupelo, Wyoming and Sioux Falls. They were all able to field competitive ball clubs on the field, raise attendance throughout the season and each of those teams have embarked on off-season campaigns to raise awareness in their communities about what the NIFL is all about.
In fact, a recent three-day league meeting, which was held in Nashville, resulted in the addition of a pair of new teams in the Carolina area that will play in the Eastern Division, while Bismark, North Dakota is up for a franchise in the Central Division.
At that same meeting, league owners agreed that they would potentially add up to 12 new teams for 2002, but finding better marketing strategies and moving the start of the 2002 season back to March 1st, as opposed to this year's starting date of March 31 should really help draw further fan support and also help in the recruitment of players.
FreeAgents took an active role at the 2001 NIFL Championship game by awarding the Game's MVP (QB Derrick Taite - Mississippi), Individual team Player's of the Game (Mississippi Team Defense and WR Tony Hartley - Wyoming) and the Mike Leleaux Spirit Award (RB Tyrone Ashley - Mississippi).
After further discussion with several league officials and players, including Fire Dogs owners Donald Rafferty and James English, taking a functional role that might help the NIFL advance in 2002 seems like a great idea. In fact, FreeAgents is already in the process of trying help several NIFL players develop off-season workout schedules. Click here to read the full story!
Michael Hayes, a standout Wide Receiver from Southern University, leads a prospect-intense Class of 2002.
Black College Football is on the Rise By: John Murphy
Historically Black Colleges and Universities have seen a widening growth in all areas of their programs within the last five years, more scholarships, better funding and even increased advertisement of the sports programs in part thanks to the BET Network televising weekly events.
Football has always been a strong part of the curriculum when it comes to conferences like the SWAC, MEAC, CIAA and SIAC, but the surge of prospects that have made the jump from the Black College ranks to the NFL is now at its highest peak.
In fact, the 2002 Class, which features Southern University wide receiver Michael Hayes, Florida A&M quarterback Quinn Gray, Jackson State receiver Lawrence Story, Grambling State linebacker Robert Taylor, Langston running back David Banks, Texas Southern linebacker Lenard Mack, Howard defensive end Oby Arah, Arkansas Pine-Bluff CB Dante Wesley, Tuskeegee LB Kelvin Powell and Alcorn State tight end Marcus Holbert, could be one of the brightest in recent history, considering the pain suffered by most Black College prospects as recently as just five years ago.
In fact, lets take a quick look back five years ago to the 1996 NFL Draft:
Quarterback Aaron Sparrow, who was the feature member of Norfolk State's air attack, has yet to receive a real opportunity to compete in a level of football higher than the AF2. Fellow quarterback Kendrick Nord, a former Grambling State standout, who at 6-3, 210 pounds ran a 4.34 forty time for several NFL teams, never really was given much of a look either.
Running back Richard Huntley, who gained over 6,800 yards at Winston Salem State, has primarily been a backup in the league and is currently a member of the Carolina Panthers. Fullback Chris Ryan, a 270-pound bullish runner from Clark-Atlanta, had a cup of coffee in a few training camps, but several other backs, including Jeff Nichols (Grambling State) and Michael Hicks (South Carolina State) were overlooked completely. Click here to read the full story!
NLFreeAgents Standout and AF2 Defensive MVP: Ernest Certain
NL Free Agents Client Earns Top Honor: Certain Named AF2 Defensive Player of the Year
In a ceremony that took place at the Arena Cup 2001 Reception and Awards Banquet DL/OL Ernest Certain of the Tallahassee Thunder was named the AF2 Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Certain, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound Florida A&M grad, set Tallahassee team records for tackles in a game (11, May 19 vs. Pensacola) and sacks in game, recording four twice (April 7 at Greensboro; June 2 vs. Columbus). With 31 career sacks, Certain is the league's all-time leader in that category, tallying a league record 24.5 sacks this past season.
"This honor was well deserved, all the sacks and big plays, I'm really excited to win the award", according to a smiling Certain, who flew to Davenport, Iowa for the festivities. Click here to read the full story!
Tyrone "Big Dog" Ashley, who scored on a ten-yard run and finished the game with four tackles, receives the Mike Leleaux Spirt Award from NLFreeAgents Director, Steve Brown.
National Indoor Football League Championship: FIREDOGS EXTINGUISH CALVARY TO CAPTURE TITLE
Mississippi Fire Dogs (55) - Wyoming Calvary (21)
By: NL Free Agents Staff
* NL Free Agents sponsored the NIFL Championship Game awards and presented the Championship Game MVP Trophy to QB Derrick Taite (Mississippi State), Mississippi Player Of The Game to the entire Mississippi Defense, Wyoming Player Of The Game to WR Tony Hartley (Univ. of Oregon) and Mike Leleaux Spirit Award (Memorial) to RB/WR Tyrone Ashley (Univ. of Mississippi). Click here to read the full story!
NLFreeAgents' John Murphy to be featured on RealTeam.com, the most popular NFL site.
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.Draft Analysis
CLICK HERE for up to the minute news and notes on the 2002 NFL Draft.
Chris Weinke goes to Carolina in the 4th Round.
Draft Update: Houston Texans Expansion Draft: FEBRUARY 18, 2002 at 2pm in Houston, Texas.
Having a strong midsection not only prevents injury, but allows for better speed and power training. It also creates a strong base for strength and power development. Use this quick and easy 4-Exercise Routine to quickly strengthen your midsection. Click here to read the full story!
..More News
NAFL PLAYOFFS By: FreeAgents Staff
The NAFL announced their 2001 Playoff seeding, as games will start being played this coming Saturday and be completed on October 13, 2001 at the 2001 NAFL Championship game.
Here is a Conference-by-Conference breakdown of all the match ups and what to look forward for in the next couple of weeks. Click here to read the full story!
NAFL'S TOP CONTENDERS FOR 2001 TITLE By: Free Agents Staff
Divisional crowns, playoff positions and long road trips will decide the eventual winner of the 2001 NAFL Championship, but here is an up-to-the-minute look at the NAFL's Top Contenders for the 2001 Title, according to game films, schedule and conversations had by the NL Free Agents Staff.
We have added a brief description of the strengths and faces that have made these ten teams the cream of the crop, as they enter the NAFL Playoffs this weekend. Click here to read the full story!
FREE AGENTS NAMES ALL-IPFL TEAM By: FreeAgents Staff
One week after the Tennessee ThunderCats were victories in "Turf War 4" to capture the IPFL title, FreeAgents has named its All-IPFL team and award winners for the 2001 season.
A total of 22 players earned league honors with Omaha QB Troy Travis being named regular season MVP, while Omaha RB Clinton Childs was named Offensive Player of the Year and Tennessee DT Jamie Beavers won Defensive Player of the Year honors. Omaha head coach Sal Buda, who led his team to an overall record of 16-2, was named the Coach of the Year. Click here to read the full story!
2001 NFL Draft Class making the cut By: John Murphy
Here is an initial look at how the 2001 NFL Draft Class fared after all 31 NFL teams made their moves to get down to the 53-man regular season roster limit. Click here to read the full story!
New Orleans Saints WR/RT Michael Lewis, who has played football in the minor league, spring league, AFL and recently over in NFL Europe, is running or should we say returning his way to fulfilling his dream of playing in the NFL. Click here to read the full story!
Camp News By: John Murphy
NFC
Atlanta: K Jake Arians likely ended the Falcons' kicking competition by converting 43- and 44-yard attempts against the Washington Redskins last week. In fact, Coach Dan Reeves may look to release Jay Feeley this week in order to give him a better chance of hooking on with another team. Click here to read the full story!
QB Darnell "DJ" Dinkins (#11)
NLFreeAgents' John Murphy to be featured on RealTeam.com, the most popular NFL site.
CLICK HERE for up to the minute news and notes on the 2002 NFL Draft.
FREE AGENTS NAMES ALL-IPFL TEAM
2001 NFL Draft Class making the cut
New Orleans Saints WR/RT Michael Lewis, who has played football in the minor league, spring league, AFL and recently over in NFL Europe, is running or should we say returning his way to fulfilling his dream of playing in the NFL.
