The Arena League Rundown: December 7, 2024
Here’s the latest from around the TAL as of 12/7/2024!
NEWS
On Monday, The Eau Claire Axemen announced an open tryout that will take place in early 2025. Per social media post, the tryout will commence on January 18, 2025 at Valley Sports Academy in Chippewa Falls, WI. Interested athletes can click here to register and find out more about the upcoming tryout.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Via Eau Claire Axemen on Facebook)
PLAYER SIGNINGS
Duluth Harbor Monsters
The Duluth Harbor Monsters continue their busy offseason with the signings of seven players this past week. Many familiar names are set to rejoin the TAL franchise for the upcoming 2025 season. Set to join, or rejoin, the Harbour Monsters are: Quarterback Hassan Brockman, Wide Receivers Nathan Chromy and Kevin Felder Jr., Linebacker Lovell Spruce, Defensive Backs Terrance Wenzel, Joshua Murray, and Dontae Mason, and Fullback Travis Whitlock.
Quarterback Hassan Brockman is perhaps the most important signing for Duluth thus far in the offseason. Brockman returns to the Harbor Monsters following a historic, Co-MVP level performance in the 2024 TAL Championship Game. During the regular season, Brockman completed ten passes for 81 yards with three touchdowns. Brockman was a threat with his legs as well, rushing for 66 yards on eight carries with one score. Once the bright lights of the playoffs hit, Brockman took it upon himself to shine. Brockman led the TAL in offensive yards (307), rushing yards (85), rushing touchdowns (4), and points scored (24) during the playoffs. Though Brockman joined the Harbor Monsters midway through the season, the defending TAL Champions head into 2025 with the PA native as its QB1.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Via Duluth Harbor Monsters on Facebook)
Wide Receivers Nathan Chromy and Kevin Felder Jr. have also been re-signed by Duluth. Chromy returns to the Harbor Monsters following an uber successful 2024 season. Appearing in six games before an injury forced an early exit to his season, Chromy compiled 26 receptions for 372 yards and six touchdowns. Look for Chromy to have an even better 2025 season for Duluth.
Kevin Felder Jr. returns to the Harbor Monsters having had great success last season. Serving as both a receiver and a returner, the former Fan Controlled Football star hauled in nine receptions for 132 yards and two scores. Much like his QB above, Felder Jr. came alive during the 2024 playoffs. With 69 yards and a touchdown, Felder Jr’s contributions led to Duluth hoisting the 2024 TAL Championship trophy.
Rounding out the list of Duluth’s offensive re-signings is Fullback Travis Whitlock. Whitlock did a little bit of everything for the Harbor Monsters in 2024. Tasked with protecting the quarterback week in a week out, Whitlock excelled in pass protection and lead blocking for Duluth last season. The former rugby player finished the season with seven receptions for 86 and two touchdowns.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group)
As we switch sides of the ball, Duluth welcomes back one of its 2024 sack leaders. Linebacker Lovell Spruce returns to the Harbor Monsters after a monster season last year. Spruce racked up 24 tackles, two tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and one safety across seven games last year. Spruce will anchor a Duluth defense that got after opposing quarterbacks all year long.
Joining Spruce in Duluth will be the return of the defensive back trio of Terrance Wenzel, Joshua Murray, and Dontae Mason. Murray, who led the team in both tackles (29) and interceptions (4), looks to improve on a stellar 2024 TAL season. Wenzel added 26 tackles and two interceptions of his own across seven games last year. Mason tallied 26 tackles, one sack, and three picks for Duluth in 2024.
Opposing TAL teams will have a tough task trying to throw downfield against this formidable threesome that the Harbor Monsters will field in 2025. All in all, Duluth returns four crucial pieces to its league leading defense from a year ago.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Via Duluth Harbor Monsters on Facebook)
Eau Claire Axemen
The Axemen have signed former Kansas Wesleyan University Running back / Linebacker Zarek Fewell. Originally a transfer from Garden City Community College, this jack of all trades athlete joined the Coyotes on the defensive side of the ball. Transitioning to running back in 2023, Fewell excelled in all facets of his game. Spread across 19 games, Fewell rushed for 670 yards and seven touchdowns. He added 111 receiving yards and a score through the air. As a returner, Fewell tallied 221 scrimmage yards as well. The Axemen will look to Fewell to provide a spark on both sides of the ball in 2025.
Kansas City Goats
Duluth wasn’t the only TAL team to make waves this week via player signings. The Kansas City Goats have signed Defensive Back Angel Mata to its roster. Mata played collegiately at Elmhurst University followed by St. Francis University in Illinois. During his Senior season for the Fighting Saints, Mata nabbed seven interceptions en route to a First Team AP all NAIA award. All in all, Mata put up impressive numbers in college with 149 tackles, seven tackles for loss, one sack, 15, interceptions, and 28 passes defensed across 43 games. The Goats will look to Mata to anchor the boundary in ball-hawking fashion in 2025.
