SAN JOSE, Calif.- The SaberCats today announced the additions of former Kansas City Chiefs draft choice, defensive lineman Brian Johnston, former Sacramento State wide receiver Tony Washington, former Holy Cross quarterback Ryan Taggart and former Arizona Rattlers defensive lineman Randy Earl.
"As camp approaches, we are bringing in more quality guys to come in and compete," said Owner/Head Coach Darren Arbet. "These additions will continue to add depth and experience to our group for 2012."
Johnston (6-5, 270, Gardner-Webb) was a seventh round draft choice of the Chiefs in the National Football League in 2008 and appeared in nine games for them that season, posting three tackles. The former Gardner-Webb standout then signed a futures contract in 2010 with the Miami Dolphins, where he spent the offseason. At Gardner-Webb, Johnston was a consensus Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) All-America, and earned a spot on seven different All-America teams as a senior. He was named Big South Defensive Player of the Year twice.
Washington (5-11, 195, Sacramento State) most recently spent time with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League in the preseason of 2010. He also spent a minicamp with the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL in 2008, immediately after his time with Sacramento State. As a senior, he took home first team All-Big Sky Conference honors, catching a team-high 83 passes for 1,279 yards (both team single-season records) and 12 touchdowns, which ranked second in school history for a single season. In his junior year, Washington earned honorable mention all-Big Sky honors during his first season with the Hornets and ranked second on the team with 29 receptions for 414 yards and three touchdowns. The Simi Valley, Calif. native spent his first two collegiate seasons at Moorpark Junior College in Moorpark, Calif.
Taggart (6-2, 215, Holy Cross) appeared in 11 games during his senior season, completing 62.3 percent of his passes for 2,948 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also carried the ball 132 times for 496 yards and seven more scores. The Bedford, Texas native earned second team All-Patriot League honors in 2011. In his junior year, his first as a starter with the Crusaders, Taggart threw for 1,899 yards with a 58.4 percent completion rate for 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He joins his brother, Tom, a fullback, on the SaberCats roster for 2012.
Earl (6-4, 275, Minnesota State) most recently spent time with the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League in the 2011 preseason. He also spent time in a minicamp in 2010 with the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. A standout at Minnesota State, Earl made 190 total tackles in his four seasons, registered 19.5 sacks, intercepted a pair of passes and recovered three fumbles. He was an All-Conference performer in his first three seasons as a Maverick. Earl made an immediate impact on campus, as he recorded 118 total tackles and 15.5 sacks with three fumble recoveries and two interceptions in his first two seasons.
