DES MOINES – A busy week of player signings continued for the Iowa Barnstormers on Thursday.  Just 48 hours after completing a deal with WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Head Coach and Director of Football Operations Mike Hohensee announced that the AFL franchise has been assigned DL Greg Banks, DL Rodney Gnat and WR Chris Matthews for the 2012 season.  The Barnstormers now have 28 players invited to their 2012 training camp that begins next month.
 
Banks (6-4, 285) joins the Barnstormers after spending 5 years playing at the University of Michigan. While with the Wolverines, Banks appeared in 43 career games, making 9 starts and compiling 56 tackles, 8.5 for a loss and 3 sacks.   A native of Denver, CO Banks attended Montbello High School, where he was rated the number 5 prospect in the state of Colorado by rivals.com.
 
Gnat (6-3, 253) heads to Iowa after 4 years at the University of Louisville.  In 44 career games, he recorded 55 tackles and 11.5 sacks.  Gnat had a breakout season as a senior in 2010, collecting 28 tackles and 8.5 sacks.  He was named Big East player of the week following a 4.5 sack performance against Eastern Kentucky.  A native of Jacksonville, Gnat was a three year starter and letter winner at Wolfson High School.  
 
Matthews (6-3, 210) comes to the Barnstormers after 2 solid seasons at the University of Kentucky.  In 26 career games with the Wildcats, Matthews registered 93 catches for 1279 yards and 12 Touchdowns.  Prior to his time at Kentucky, Matthews played for Los Angeles Harbor College where he recorded 80 receptions for 1235 and 11 touchdowns in only 9 games as a sophomore.   The Long Beach, CA native played high school football at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles.