Soul adds local receiver

PHILADELPHIA (January 12, 2012) – The Philadelphia Soul announce the assignment of wide receiver Emery Sammons (6’2, 190, Norfolk State) for the 2012 season.  The third-year veteran’s signing adds depth to the Soul’s receiving corps.

“In order to be a winning football team you must have depth at all positions,” said Soul head coach Doug Plank.  “Emery knows the arena game very well and we look forward to using his talents to exploit defenses in a number of ways.”

Sammons, a native of Willingboro, N.J., spent the last two seasons with the Spokane Shock (2010-11), and helped lead the Shock to the ArenaBowl XXIII Championship in 2010.  In two seasons with the Shock, Sammons tallied 85 receptions, 973 yards, and 11 touchdowns. 

In 2011 he saw his workload increase, hauling in 68 receptions, 739 yards, and 10 touchdowns.  He played in 15 games in 2011 with his best performance coming in Week 6 versus the Utah Blaze, with 11 receptions, 111 yards, and one touchdown.

Prior to joining the Shock, Sammons was part of the Manchester Wolves (2008-09) in the af2.  In 2009 he was named to the All-af2 team with 102 receptions, 1,146 yards, and 26 touchdowns.  Before signing with the Wolves, Sammons was invited to two mini-camps with the Philadelphia Eagles and was part of the preseason roster for both the Soul and the New York Dragons. 

He played his collegiate football for the Norfolk State Spartans (2004-06) and was one of the team’s lone offensive bright spots.  Sammons is second in receiving yards (1,220) at Norfolk State since 1970.