Former All-ACC University of Miami punter and Taft Union High School quarterback Dalton Botts, 6-3, 215, officially signed Wednesday with the two-time champion SoCal Coyotes, and will also compete for the number-two spot at quarterback, team officials announced.

“I’m thrilled to join the Coyote program,” Botts said today. “This is a tremendous opportunity. I’m all about faith, family and football. I’m exactly where God wants me, and I can’t wait to give Coyote fans something more to be excited about — even on fourth down.”

He will report to training camp in April when the team prepares for its first season in the Professional Spring American Football League. Botts participated in the 2013 NFL Combine and went to rookie camp with the New Orleans Saints after a stellar career at Miami, where he averaged 42.7 yards a kick.

At Taft High School, Dalton was a three-year varsity starter, where he was All-League, All-State, and put up 2,261 yards and 23 touchdowns as a read-option quarterback. He earned a full ride at Miami after becoming the nation’s number-one punter at Moorpark Community College.

Recently, Botts has worked out with Elite Kicking in preparation for his next opportunity (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsR5hRtNJQM). During his Elite camp, he routinely hit 4.8 to 5.1 hang times. Botts gives the Coyotes one of the best kicking tandems in the nation.

Long-ball kicker Dan Kelly is the University of Hawaii’s fourth all-time leading scorer, and hit a franchise-record 59-yarder for the Coyotes last season. Botts will hold for Kelly, where he is also a threat to run or throw. He will compete for the number-two spot at quarterback behind veteran Nate Lewis, the nation’s most prolific AAA quarterback.

“I’m looking forward to working in behind Nate,” he said. “I’ve been a quarterback my whole life. It just worked out that I’m a better punter.” In 2014, the Coyotes were selected as one of four teams in the new PSAFL, which in its first season will play an intense four-game spring schedule with a championship in Tampa Bay. Combine-quality athletes will be showcased in competitive games and enjoy game film to market their skills.

Fans, meanwhile, will enjoy entertaining spring football from thirsty players fighting for jobs in the NFL, CFL and AFL. The Coyotes will also play a 10-game schedule this fall in the National Developmental Professional Football League. For more information, call 760.250.2514, or email sam@thesocalcoyotes.com. Fans are invited to research the Coyotes at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SoCal_Coyotes.


(taftmidwaydriller.com)

Seattle cut proCane LB Ramon Buchanan after rookie minicamp, and Tampa did not sign ex-Cane Robert Marve, Dalton Botts and Jeremy Lewis after tryouts.

Jacory Harris, will be competing to make the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos.



(miamiherald.com)

Dalton Botts didn't get drafted, but he's still getting his shot at signing with an NFL team.

After the annual draft wrapped up on Saturday, teams start looking for players they might sign as free agents.

Botts, a former Taft High quarterback who just completed his collegiate career at the University of Miami, has at least two teams interested in him – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints.

He'll be in Tampa Bay Thursday for what appears to be a four-day tryout camp, and the former Wildcat valley champion is scheduled to be at the Saints' training facility the following week.

"If Tampa Bay likes him and signs him then he probably won't go to New Orleans," his mother, Andrea, said Sunday evening.

Seven NFL teams had called Botts prior to the draft, asking him to stay by the phone during the two-day draft period.

He didn't get a call then, but the phone rang twice on Sunday.

His mom said he's thrilled to have an opportunity to achieve his dream.

Andrea Botts said she recently discovered an "I have a dream" paper Dalton wrote when he was in the third grade.

"It was around the time of Martin Luther King's birthday and his teacher assigned the class to write about their own dream," she said.

Dalton's dream that day in his third grade class was to play professional football.

It still is.

He's scheduled to receive his bachelor's degree in criminal justice on May 10, but if things work out the way he hopes a career in law enforcement might have to wait a while.


(taftmidwaydriller.com)

Every MONDAY Night proCanes.com joins All Canes Radio to bring the latest news on not only current Hurricane football but also proCane news and exclusive interviews with current and former proCanes live from Shake Shack in Coral Gables.

Click here to listen to this week’s show and hear our exclusive interviews with future proCane punter Dalton Botts and proCane Leonard Myers.

Listen to future NFL P Dalton Botts talk about his days at The U, what he is doing to get ready for the NFL Draft and much more! Also listen in to what former proCane DB Leonard Myers has to say about his days at The U, his days as a Patriot with Coach Bill Belichick and much more!

THIS COMING MONDAY, APRIL 1st AllCanes Radio has as guests proCane LB DJ WILLIAMS & proCane WR AC TELLISON. FREE BEER from 7-9pm at Shake Shack Coral Gables. JOIN US!