(January 31, 2005) ?C Former Fordham University football standouts Javarus Dudley and Prince Poitier have signed free agent contracts with the Florida Firecats of the Arena Football League 2 it was announced today. They will join the Firecats, the 2004 AFL2 champions, when they open training camp on March 16th.
Dudley, a consensus 2003 First Team All-American as a senior, is Fordham??s all-time leading receiver. A three-time First Team All-Patriot League wide out, he caught 101 passes for 1,439 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior, setting Fordham school records for both receptions in a season and receiving yards in a season, breaking the record of 77 receptions for 1,106 yards which he set in 2002. He finished the year leading the NCAA I-AA in receptions per game (8.42) and was third in receiving yards per game (119.9) as well as being ranked 18th in scoring (8.00 points/game). He also set Patriot League records for most receptions in a season, breaking the old record of 88 set by Lehigh??s Dave Cecchini in 1993, and receiving yards in a season, breaking the former record of 1,322 set by Towson??s Jamal White in 1999.
Over his career, Dudley caught 278 passes for 3,879 yards and 34 touchdowns, all Patriot League and school career records. He also returned 91 career kickoffs for 2,172 yards and two touchdowns, both Patriot League and school records. His career all-purpose yard total of 7,120 shattered the Patriot League career record of 5,952 set by Bucknell??s Rich Lemon from 1993-96.
Poitier, a three-year starter on the Fordham offensive line, was a First Team All-Patriot League pick as a senior in 2003. He was a main cog on an offensive line that allowed the Fordham offense to set numerous school records during his tenure, including most rushing yards, most passing yards and most points scored.
