Kayne Farquharson to lead strong receiving corps for Danger

Kayne Farquharson has found a home away from home in Grand Island.

The Nebraska Danger receiver is from Miami, but February finds him back in Central Nebraska and there is no place he’d rather be.

“It feels good to be home,” Farquharson said. “Like I’ve said in the past, Grand Island is my second home. It’s good to see the people in the community. It’s just great to be back.”

Farquharson will likely be the leader of a very strong group of receivers when the Danger open the season with an exhibition game against the Lincoln Haymakers Monday at the Heartland Events Center.

Farquharson, an All-IFL performer last season, led the league with 1,081 yards last year and was second in touchdown receptions (21) and third in catches (73).

Andre Piper-Jordan (50 catches, 6-2 yards, 11 TDs), Marcus Barnett (19 catches, 298 yards, 4 TDs) and Maurice Avery (10 catches, 124 yards, 4 TDs) are also returning this season.

Not only that, but the Danger also signed Troy Evans, who led the IFL in catches with 79 while playing for Wyoming last year. Evans was also fifth in the league in both receiving yards (728) and touchdowns (16).

“The nice thing about it is we have some new receivers who are going to push the veterans for starting positions and to make the team,” Danger coach Mike Davis said. “Talent-wise it’s going to be really competitive.

“I told them at the team meeting that there will be guys here who don’t make it. They’ll go to other teams and start and play. Unfortunately it’s just the nature of the beast.”

Farquharson said all the receivers know that they are battling for jobs.

“That’s why every rep counts,” Farquharson said. “Guys better give their maximum effort because guys might be playing for other teams or guys might be going home. Even though a lot of these guys can play, it’s a business at the end of the day.”

Danger quarterback Jameel Sewell said it’s great to have so many familiar faces lined up at receiver.

“I realize I can throw the ball anywhere, and those receivers I have will give everything they’ve got to got get it,” Sewell said. “That just makes my job a whole lot easier.”

The Danger return a large group of veteran players from last year’s team that fell to Sioux Falls in the United Bowl. Farquharson said that’s important.

“If you look at the history of the league, that’s the key to success,” Farquharson said. “Sioux Falls, they always keep their same core of guys. One or two might change, but that’s their key to success.”

Farquharson said the veterans wanted to come back because of people like owner Charlie Bosselman, general manager Mike McCoy and the entire Danger coaching staff.

“It’s great to be a part of a first-class organization,” he said.

Sewell said the new players will be impressed with the Danger and Grand Island.

“We have guys who are coming from different teams and guys who haven’t even played this game of arena football yet, and they’ve adjusted very well to this atmosphere,” Sewell said. “It’s totally different from outdoor to indoor. Every time you run a rout it’s different, the way you throw the ball is different, the way you run the ball is different.”

Barnett said the chemistry between the players already feels pretty good.

“It feels good to be back,” Barnett said. “I just told the guys the other day, it just felt like we had a bye week. When everybody got back together, we seemed to click. We got out here running around (Monday). We were a little rusty, but I’m sure we’re going to pick it up.


(theindependent.com)