Muskegon, MI: The West Michigan Ironmen professional arena football team, members of the American Indoor Football League, are set to start training camp this weekend. Players will report on Friday February 12th to their hotel for orientation and team activities. Saturday, February 13th, will be their first opportunity to show their skills on the field. The team will hold its first practice, open to the public, at the L. C. Walker arena immediately following the Muskegon Risers indoor soccer game. Ticket holders from the Risers game will have an opportunity to check out the West Michigan Ironmen football team at no additional cost. The practice will run from 8:45 pm until 10:45 pm.
The Ironmen will come into the weekend with a camp roster of 40 players, which includes Muskegon Natives Ronald and Corey Johnson. That number will be cut down to a final roster of 25 players for the season. Team owner, Terrence Williams experience working in an NFL agency seems to be paying off for the Ironmen roster. The roster consists of 7 players with NFL experience, highlighted by Ronald Johnson (WR/USC). RoJo is returning home to play for the first time since leaving for USC. Johnson was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, and also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks. After suffering through a few injuries, this is an opportunity for RoJo to show the football world that he still has what it takes. Other notable players on the camp roster include Johnson’s younger brother Corey, Mike Lewis (2nd all time leader in sacks in the AFL), Donovan Campbell (2 time All-American WR), and Derek VandenBosch (LB/ Orchard View).
While Williams experience with the NFL has helped bring quality players in the door, it is also helping to send those players out, but in a good way. 3 players signed to the Ironmen have already received opportunities to move up to the AFL, CFL, and MLFL (the new NFL development league) before the season has started. Ronald Johnson (OL/Western Michigan University), Isiah Dunning (DL/Grand Valley), and Rony Nelson (LB/Iowa State) have all received offers. Rony Nelson will start the season with the Ironmen before going to his tryout with the Cleveland Gladiators. Williams said, “That’s a big reason why I wanted to do this. I have been around it and I know the business. Sometimes guys just need the right opportunity and the right person pushing them, and I want to be a part of creating opportunities for guys to live their dream.” Ironmen coach Ty Lynk was not surprised or discouraged by the offers either, “They are still a part of the Ironmen family. That’s part of our goal, I expect to have a number of other players move on to the AFL, CFL, and even NFL; that’s just the type of talent we have here.” Other players on the roster are gaining interest from teams around the country and will likely move on during the year, so catch them while you can.
2016 schedule and season ticket packages to watch the Ironmen play inside the LC Walker Arena are on sale now! Keep checking for the latest news and events from the Ironmen! For further information please reach out to our General Manager at nsmith@westmichiganironmen.com or visit our website at www.WestMichiganIronmen.com for the latest Ironmen news!
Photo credits: Ironman logo PrintScreen Ironmen web
