Soul gets six back

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Soul and the Arena Football League announced the assignment of six players to the squad for the 2013 season. 

Defensive lineman and East Stroundburg product Dustin Barno headlines the list and enters his third year with the Soul.

Barno will be joined by defensive lineman/linebacker Morkeith Brown (Temple), quarterback Steven Gachette (Southwest Baptist), defensive back Darius Pettigrew (West Georgia), wide receiver Armand Robinson (Miami, OH) and defensive back James Romain (Delaware State).

“We are pleased with this group of players coming to Philadelphia,” said Soul head coach Clint Dolezel.  “The road to the ArenaBowl begins with a competitive training camp and these signings demonstrate that we are moving in that direction.”

Barno, who became his AFL career in 2004, played four-plus seasons with the Colorado Crush before finishing the 2008 season with the Arizona Rattlers.  In 2005, he was a member of Colorado’s ArenaBowl championship team.  The standout defensive lineman tallied 128.5 total tackles, 31.0 sacks, 14 pass breakups, eight forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and five blocked kicks over his AFL career.

During his four years at East Stroudsburg State (1999-2002), the Easton, Pa. native tallied 143 tackles, 17.5 sacks and 36 tackles-for-a-loss.  He was named the NSCA 2003 Strength-and-Conditioning Athlete of the Year and also named to the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference First-Team Defense (in both 2001 and 2002).

Barno played in the 2003 Cactus Bowl, setting a bowl record with two sacks.  As a senior, he posted 45 tackles (26 solo), 11 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.  He finished junior season tied for No. 4 in the conference with 7.0 sacks and finished with 39 tackles, 10 for a loss.  As a sophomore, he totaled 46 tackles, 5.0 sacks and 12 tackles for loss and appeared in nine games as a freshman in 1999.