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4 Signed in Thunder Tryouts

FINDING THE TALENT: THUNDER SIGN FOUR IN MERRITT ISLAND TRYOUT

MERRITT ISLAND , Fla. -- Monmouth University’s on the map. Aaron Suozzo’s helping the fledgling I-AA program become a bigger blip on the pro scouts’ radar.

Workouts like the one he had Saturday for the Daytona Beach Thunder can only improve the situation.

After an impressive showing, Suozza was one of four players signed from a tryout held at Merriit Island High School, where Thunder Head Coach Leon Bright was a high school All-American back in the day.

This day belonged to Suozzo, though. “A big-time raw talent,’’ Bright said of Suozzo. “He’s very coachable and hasn’t developed any of those bad habits. He can play both sides of the ball. I look forward to him testing some of the people we have coming back.”

Souzzo, a 6-1, 235 pound tight end/fullback, appeared in 43 games for the Hawks as they posted back-to-back 10-win seasons and shares of the Northeast Conference title in consecutive years. In 2004, Monmouth take a huge step onto the national scene by winning the Division I-AA Mid-Major National titleawarded the Sports Network Cup. Monmouth just produced its first NFL player since 1937 when Miles Austin signed with the Dallas Cowboys.

The Thunder will invite three other players to training camp from Saturday’s workout, including
* WR/DB/KR Alex Bernadotte (6-4, 203), a former Miles College standout
* QB Michael DiGristine (5-10, 155), an all-state honorable mention player at Titusville Astronaut
* WR Jeroy Stephens (6-1, 175), semi-pro experience.
Preparing for its upcoming World Indoor Football League season, the Thunder will have another tryout on Saturday, October 14 at Sperling Sports Complex in DeLand.