Former FSU Student Signs With Indoor Football League
The Amarillo Venom of the Indoor Football League (IFL) announced recently the signing of former Fayetteville State University (FSU) student Torrey Grissett to a one-year contract through January 1, 2012. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Grissett attended Boyd Anderson High School in Miami, Florida and Douglas Byrd High School here in Fayetteville. He played his collegiate football at neighboring Campbell University before transferring to FSU to earn his degree.
Before signing with the Venom, Grissett, a wide receiver and kick returner, nearly landed a spot with division rival Bricktown Brawlers of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. When he failed to land a spot on its roster, he then made contacts with theVenom organization. “Torrey contacted us asking for an opportunity,” said Venom General Manager Joe Morgado. “He represented himself well and we decided he was a good young man on a mission and those are the players we want – guys that have been overlooked for whatever reason. Those guys are hungry to prove to others they belong in the NFL.”
The IFL was formed from the merger of what was then the Intense Football League and a former indoor football league. In 2008, the two leagues dissolved to become the new Indoor Football League. In its inagural season in 2009, the league had 19 teams. That year, the Billings Outlaws defeat the RiverCity Rage for the first championship.
In 2010, the IFL expanded to 25 teams. The Billings Outlaws defeated the Sioux Falls Storm to become repeat as champions. This season, teams in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Wyoming have joined the league.
“This has been a long time coming,” Grissett said. “Running a 4.32, 40-yard dash, you would think that being drafted or signed would be easy, but not in this business. It took time, therefore my faith was tested. However, with the prayers of my family, my girlfriend Jazmine Woods, my church home, Nehemiah Building Ministries of Lillington, God finally opened a door.”
The Venom opens its season February 25 agains the Colorado Ice.
For more information, please call (910) 672-1474.