Latest arrivals have big impact
Wade, Gorman making immediate difference for Albany franchise
On the Albany Empire's everevolving roster, two new additions have made an immediate impact.
Coach Tom Menas added wide receiver/defensive back Marquel Wade and defensive back Jabari Gorman last week. Days after joining the team, the duo helped the Empire to their most commanding win of the season, 62-29, against the Jacksonville Sharks.
Wade had two tackles and seven catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns, while Gorman had five tackles.
“They’re spark plugs in an engine. Engine sounds a lot better with new spark plugs,” Menas said.
Wade, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound product of the University of Arkansas, was an ALL-SEC Freshman selection in 2011 for special teams after returning 12 punts for 99 yards and 14 kicks for 358 yards and a touchdown.
But Wade’s time at the school was checkered. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to a count of residential burglary after he and two teammates were arrested for burglarizing dorm rooms. Wade served six months in the Arkansas Department of Community Correction and 60 months supervised probation.
“I was young, dumb, and from that experience I learned a lot. I matured a lot,” Wade said.
Wade, who recently turned 30, has played in arena leagues since 2015, when a former teammate recommended him to Mike Davis, coach of the Indoor Football League’s Nebraska Danger.
Davis “gave me a chance to come play, and I’ve been in the arena ever since,” Wade said.
Gorman, 5-11, 188 pounds, started the season with Jacksonville, where he won a National Arena League title in 2017. He was cut May 15 and signed with Albany two days later, joining a handful of old teammates including Arthur Hobbs, Warren Smith Jr. and Wade.
“They embraced me as soon as I got here,” Gorman, a University of Florida graduate, said of the Empire.
Wade and Gorman both said they were able to click with the rest of the team right away.
“The vibe, the chemistry, it’s there, and I like where I’m at,” Wade said.
As Menas pointed out, the Empire already have big names
at receiver and defensive back.
“How’d you like to be a receiver coming into your new team and you got Darius Prince next to you and Dwayne Hollis, and you got Farrean Toney (helping) out? When (Antwane) Grant’s healthy, it’ll be Grant – can you imagine that receiving corps? I mean, come on,” Menas said after Sunday’s win. “Gorman comes in and he’s next to Kenny Mcgruder and Hollis and Hobbs.”
Prince was named Offensive Player of the Week after a 115-yard, five-touchdown performance against the Sharks.
“It’s crazy for the other teams,” Wade said. “There’s so many different threats out there, they don’t know who to stop.”
Gorman was brought in to help toughen up the Empire’s defense, which allowed the most points in the NAL through three weeks. The 29 points Jacksonville
scored were a season-low for the team.
“What happened last week, it’s just the beginning. We want to do that every week,” Gorman said. “Be disciplined, be consistent and that’s just what you got to do to win the championship.”
That mentality is another reason Menas wanted Wade and Gorman.
“I tell these guys all the time, we want to have a championship culture,” he said after the game against the Sharks. “When you bring in guys like Gorman and Wade who already have a high pedigree, it makes my job a lot easier.”
Notes: Albany released WR/LB Aakiel Greer, who was signed last week and didn’t play. … WR Aaron Wascha signed with the Empire. … Albany traded WR Jared Dangerfield, who had four receptions for 31 yards in four games, for DB Kenny Veal of Jacksonville. Veal has 22 tackles and three interceptions in five games.
Abigail.rubel@timesunion.com @abigail_rubel