January 5, 2015 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) Trenton Freedom LANGHORNE, Pennsylvania- The Trenton Freedom arena football team heads into the new year with 23 of the 35 players signed to the training camp roster being from 60 miles or less from Trenton. Head Coach Kevin O'Hanlon stated, "If you told me a year ago when I took this job that I could fill my roster with guys from the NJ and Philadelphia area I would have disagreed, but the fact is that there is an extremely high level of talent here and we are lucky to be so fortunate." Most notably the Freedom have signed:

FB/DL Melik Brown (6-5 280; Camden, NJ) starred at Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, NJ before going on to play collegiately for the University of North Carolina from 2003-2006. Brown began his pro career in 2008 with the BC Lions of the CFL, then played 4 season with the Philadelphia Soul (AFL), before joing the Freedom last season. He was voted the PIFL's "Iron Man of the Year," which is awarded to the top performing two-way player.

LB Jerome Hayes (6-2 250; Bayonne, NJ) won a 2002 state championship for Bayonne High School alongside St. Louis Rams wide receiver Kenny Britt, and former Nebraska quarterback Jamal Lord. He earned Army All-American status and was one of the highest recruited linebackers in the country before deciding to play at Penn State from 2006-2010 under legendary Coach Joe Paterno. Hayes played arena football with the Philadelphia Soul from 2011-2012 before joining the Freedom last season. He is a Pilot 1 elementary teacher in his hometown teaching reading and math.

WR Nijha White (6-3 220; Wayne, PA) played at Conestoga High School in Berwyn, PA before signing with the University of Delaware. A four-year starter under former coach K.C. Keeler, White was an All-CAA receiver from 2010 to 2012. His streak of 42 consecutive games with at least one reception is a school record and his 188 career catches are good for third all-time in Blue Hens' annals. After college, White worked out for various NFL teams before signing with the Arizona Rattlers and Orlando Predators of the AFL. 2015 marks Whites first year with the Freedom. White's father Whitney, was the Head of Security for former President, Bill Clinton.

WR Shawney Kearsey (6-3 220; Woodbury, NJ) starred at Woodbury High School and captured New Jersey state championship honors in the 100, 200, 400, and 4x400 from 2007-2009. The track champ signed with Penn State out of high school and went on to play under current Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien from 2010-2011. Kearsey earned letters as a wide receiver and kick returner from 2010-2011 before transferring to Marshall. He ended his career playing in 3 bowl games (Capital One, Outback, and Insight Bowls), and was found at an open tryout held by the Freedom last November.

DL Michael Atunrase (6-4 265; Yardley, PA) played high school football at Conwell-Egan up until his sophomore season where he transferred to Lawrenceville Prep Academy in New Jersey. At Lawrenceville Prep, he earned All-State and All-Maple honors in 2006. Atunrase then signed with University of Delaware where he starred on the opposite side of the ball from teammate Joe Flacco. He was a pre-season All-American, and two time All-Conference CAA selection during his career earning Defensive Most Valuable Player his senior season. Atunrase participated in two FCA championship games in 2007 and 2011 while at Delaware. 2015 marks his first year playing in the PIFL.

The Trenton Freedom is a professional arena football team that plays in the Professional Indoor Football League. The PIFL (www.proifl.com) is a eight team league with franchises in six states located throughout the east coast. The league holds a 12-game regular season schedule that runs March through June with playoffs culminating in early July. Season ticket packages start as low as $15 per game (or $90 for the full season). The fast passed, hard hitting, family football games are played at the Sun National Bank Center which is centrally located for fans of Bucks, Mercer, Burlington, Middlesex counties and the City of Trenton, NJ to attend on Saturday evenings.

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Freedom Focus on Local Talent