As April draws ever closer, the Jacksonville Sharks continue to fortify their defense in preparation for the upcoming NAL season.
The team recently announced that it has re-signed defensive linemen Keith Bowers and Damien Jacobs. Bowers is returning for his fifth season as a Shark, having played all 16 games last season compiling 12.5 tackles, 5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. Jacobs is coming back for a fourth year with the franchise; he was the league’s Most Improved Player back in 2018 and won two national titles with East Mississippi Community College, better known as the original subject of Netflix’s “Last Chance U.”
The team made two other acquisitions to bolster its defensive depth, signing defensive back Kyle Chandler and defensive back / kick returner Keiron Jones. Chandler comes to the Sharks after spending 2019 with the AFL’s Philadelphia Soul; he joins former Soul teammates Jaamaal Burgess, Mike Knight, and Jordan Williams on the Sharks’ 2020 roster. Jones, meanwhile, comes over from the AFL’s Atlantic City Blackjacks after previously playing for the Sharks in 2014 and 2015.
With the latest round of acquisitions, the Sharks have now scooped up five players from the AFL, which ceased operations late last year. The Sharks, of course, were originally part of the AFL prior before moving to the NAL in pursuit of a more stable league.
Here’s where the Sharks’ roster stands as of today:
QB – Mike Fafaul
FB – Alstevis Squirewell / Zack Brown / Jaleel Brown / Javan Christian
WR – Devin Wilson / Chris Gilchrist / Marquel Wade / Kamrin Solomon / Caleb Holmes / Prince Shonola / Jordan Williams
OL – Derrick Zeigler / Mike Williams / Jaleel Brown / Justin Cook / Taylor Warner / Marley Conley / Javan Christian / Isaiah Hardy / Jabari Buckley
DL – Aaron Bellazin / Jonathan Taylor / Keith Bowers / Damien Jacobs / Seyvon Lowry / LaMichael Fanning / Justin Marcus / Kevin Thompson
DB – Tony Goodman / Zack Brown / Fred Williams / Joe Blount / Dallas Jackson / Quron Hall / Keith Lewis / Jamaal Burgess / Ken Walton II / Mike Knight / Joel Ross / Keiron Jones / Kyle Chandler
Special teams – Tony Goodman / Prince Shonola / Keiron Jones
The Sharks open their season on Saturday, April 4 in West Virginia.
