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Two Former Lions to Play Arena Football

By Matt Popchock

(mpopchock@kdka.com)

Believe it or not, there is a story involving Penn State football on our desks that has absolutely nothing to do with its sex abuse scandal--though it doesn't concern the difficult test that awaits the Nittany Lions in Columbus, either.

Two players from the final decade of the Joe Paterno era have agreed to join the Arena Football League in 2012. Defensive back and return specialist Knowledge Timmons has been assigned to the Pittsburgh Power, and record-setting quarterback Daryll Clark, who had a well-received tryout with the Power earlier this fall, has instead accepted an assignment with the Chicago Rush, per league sources.

Timmons starred at William Penn High School in York, PA before playing for the Lions 2005-08. Known for years for his extraordinary speed, he ran track at PSU as well, and he overcame disciplinary issues to help Penn State football capture the Big Ten title in his senior year. After 51 career tackles and one interception, he had a cup of coffee with the New York Jets before gaining some arena football experience with the Sioux Falls Storm of the Indoor Football League.

Power head coach Chris Siegfried has characterized Timmons as someone "who can help us in many facets of the game."

Clark, one of Timmons' former teammates, went undrafted after finishing his college career in 2009, but not before setting five Penn State records, including those for career (43) and single-season touchdown passes (24 that year), and earning 2009 Big Ten Co-MVP honors. He unsuccessfully tried out with the Washington Redskins before playing briefly with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL and the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL.

Timmons, by the way, tried out for the Power on the same day as Clark.

Speaking of open tryouts, the Power will host a second round of those Sun., Nov. 20 at the Southpointe Fieldhouse in Cecil Township. Visit the Pittsburgh Power's official website for more information.

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NOTES: Another former college player from this area, wide receiver Maurice Williams (Pitt), recently accepted an assignment with the arch-rival Cleveland Gladiators after reportedly trying to work out a deal with the Power...the Power have signed a wide receiver nevertheless, as Darius Passmore from the British Columbia Lions of the CFL joined the team Monday...Passmore was a JUCO standout and an All-Conference USA honoree at Marshall in 2009.

(Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/mpopchock)

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