Joel Gamble Signed to AF2's Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings

Jan. 18, 2008

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Former Shippensburg University tight end Joel Gamble has been signed to the Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings of arenafootball2, marking his second consecutive season in the league. He is projected to contribute as a fullback and linebacker.

Gamble is currently the only former Red Raider in either of the two arena football leagues and is one of four currently in professional football, joining Rob Davis '92 (Green Bay Packers), John Kuhn '04 (Green Bay Packers) and Brent Grimes (Atlanta Falcons).

In February 2007, Gamble was signed by the Tennessee Valley Vipers of af2 where he appeared in five games as a fullback with two starts, totaling five carries for five yards.

Gamble was then assigned to the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz on June 21 where he played in two of the team's final three games against the 2008 ArenaCup champion Tulsa Talons and the Arkansas Twisters.

A tight end at Shippensburg from 2001-04, Gamble totaled 41 receptions for 631 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 15.4 yards per reception.

In 2004, Gamble helped Shippensburg to its first PSAC Western Division championship since 1988 and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship as a senior, totaling nine catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns.

Gamble's best season came as a junior when he was an All-PSAC Western Division First Team selection in 2003 after he finished third on the team with 20 receptions for 229 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two, two-point conversions and totaled at least one reception in 10 of the team's 11 games.

As a sophomore in 2002, Gamble led the team in both receptions and receiving yards, hauling in 11 passes for 233 yards for an average of 14.6 per catch.

The BattleWings open the 2008 season at home on March 29 in the CenturyTel Center against the Central Valley Coyotes.

In 2007, Bossier-Shreveport recorded the franchise’s best-ever regular season with an 11-5 record while making its first-ever af2 playoff appearance and advanced to the National Conference Championship game.

Gamble will have the opportunity to face his former team on June 21 when the BattleWings travel to Oklahoma City to face the Yard Dawgz.

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