The Arena League Rundown: December 14, 2024
Here’s this week's update on all things TAL!
LEAGUE NEWS
Though it’s unconfirmed with the league at this time, reports surfaced late last week of an exciting change to The Arena League heading into the 2025 season. As first reported by WDIO in Duluth, MN, the TAL will be transitioning to the traditional 7-on-7 model next season. Duluth Harbor Monsters General Manager Steve Walters confirmed the news with WDIO stating:
“We’re looking for a more national branded style of football and we believe as a league that the 7-on-7 look is a much more user friendly experience”
In addition to his comments regarding the format change, Walters also pointed out that with it comes an uptick in roster size. According to Walters, each team’s roster will “increase to about 20 men” with 16 suiting up on game day. Last season’s roster sat at just 15 players suiting up each week.
TEAM NEWS
Duluth Harbor Monsters
The Harbor Monsters have announced a tryout that will take place on January 11, 2025. For more information or to register, head to www.duluthmonsters.com/tryouts.
Hot Springs Wiseguys
The Hot Springs Wiseguys have announced their first head coach in team history. Former arena football player and Massachusetts Pirates Assistant Coach Bones Bagaunte is set to take the reins in Hot Springs as Head Coach. A former wide receiver in leagues such as the National Arena League and Indoor Football League, Bagaunte has a unique journey in the professional football ranks. Dating back to 2016, Bagaunte has coached and/or played for the IFL’s Billings Wolves and Cedar Rapids Titans. In 2019, Bagaunte would transition into a front-office role with the NAL’s Columbus Lions. Then in 2020, the former receiver would be hired by Fan Controlled Football as an operations assistant during the league’s inaugural season.
After five seasons coaching in various arena leagues, Bagaunte was hired by New Mexico Highlands University as a Wide Receivers Coach. Next, Bagaunte joined the Massachusetts Pirates of the IFL as its Offensive Coordinator in 2021. After a successful season with the Pirates, Bagaunte briefly joined the coaching staff as OC of the Spokane Shock before the team folded in 2022. He would quickly find himself joining the coaching ranks and front office of the IFL’s Duke City Gladiators. Duke City would bring Bagaunte in to serve as both a receivers coach while assisting with player personnel. Bagaunte would then head back to Massachusetts in 2023. For each of the next two seasons, Bagaunte served as both Assistant Head Coach and Wide Receivers coach for the Pirates.
Hot Springs is in good hands with new Head Coach Bones Bagaunte at the helm. As highlighted above, the former player-turned-coach has over a decade of experience in both the coaching and personnel ranks. Bagaunte will likely have his fingerprints all over the Wiseguys roster as it is being assembled. This appears to be an excellent hire for Hot Springs.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Via Hot Springs Wiseguys on Facebook)
Ozarks Lunkers
The Ozarks Lunkers have announced that 2025 season tickets are now on sale. For more information, head to www.ozarkslunkers.com/tickets. The team also announced a tryout that will take place on January 25, 2025.
PLAYER SIGNINGS
Duluth Harbor Monsters
Duluth continues its busy offseason with another player returning for the Harbor Monsters. Safety Henry G Pigeé has been signed back for the 2025 season. In six games last season, Pigeé recorded 25 tackles and two interceptions. With Pigeé returning, the Harbor Monsters have now signed back five of its top seven leading tacklers from their ArenaMania championship squad.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Via Duluth Harbor Monsters on Facebook)
Duluth has also signed former IFL, FCF, and TAL Running back James Harden. Harden has been around the arena game since 2019. He’s played in the IFL with the Cedar Rapids River Kings and Fan Controlled Football’s Wild Aces and Zappers up until 2022. He’s lined up all over the field but has most recently settled in at running back during his time in The Arena League with the Kansas City Goats. In six games in 2024 with KC, Harden totaled 132 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns. Harden added 10 tackles on defense last season for the Goats. Interestingly enough, Harden was also announced as signing with AF1’s Oregon Lightning this week. Look for Duluth to use Harden in a multitude of ways next season should he suit up for the Harbor Monsters.
(AUTHOR NOTE: I was lucky enough to meet James Harden when I attended the 2022 Fan Controlled Football Playoffs in Atlanta, GA. Harden was the first guy out of the Zappers locker room for warmups and the last one off the field before kickoff. It was a treat to watch him work on his craft and carry himself in the manner in which he did. Duluth will be getting a great player, and person in James Harden, in my opinion!)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Via Duluth Harbor Monsters on Facebook)
Eau Claire Axemen
The Axemen were busy this week rounding up a player on the defensive side of the ball. Eau Claire has signed Linebacker Quantay Person. Person began his collegiate career at JUCO Northland Community & Tech College in Minnesota. He would then transfer to William Jewell College, posting ten tackles and one sack in two games for the Cardinals. Person would transfer once again, this time landing at Western New Mexico University for his senior season. Person tallied six total tackles across four games of action. The outside linebacker will get his first taste of professional football with Eau Claire in 2025.
That concludes this TAL rundown. Be sure to follow us on X @TPANetwork!