Cullowhee, N.C. ? Former Western Carolina running back and return specialist Mike Malone has been assigned to the Amarillo (Texas) Dusters of the arenafootball2 league, the grassroots understudy of the Arena Football League (AFL). Also, former Catamount Lamont Reid has signed with the Wichita Wild of the Indoor Football League (IFL).
Malone set school-records for kick-off return (1,383 yards) and all-purpose yards in a single-season during his final year for the Catamounts. The Gainesville, Ga., native tallied 2,143 all-purpose yards in 2007 ? the second-most in a single-season in Southern Conference history. He surpassed the previous WCU record on a 71-yard kickoff return for a TD in his final game for the purple and gold.
In his career, Malone scored 11 touchdowns including seven rushing, two receiving and a pair on kickoff returns. He amassed 3,700 career all-purpose yards including 816 on the ground and 243 through the air out of the backfield, and 2,641 on kick returns. He was named All-Southern Conference both on the gridiron and as a member of Western Carolina’s men’s track & field team.
Reid's played four years at Western Carolina. In his senior season in the fall of 2005, he average 4.4 yards per carry for the Catamounts, tallying 402 yards on the ground and led the team with eight touchdowns. In 2004, the Maiden, NC native, played in 10 games carrying the ball 28 times for 108 yards on the season.
As a true freshman, Reid played defense for the Catamounts starting the final four games of the season at safety. Reid collected 44 tackles on the season, which was seventh most on the team. Reid also starred on the track team during his time at Western Carolina, earning All-SoCon honors in numerous events.
Former Catamounts Playing Professional Football:
Brad Hoover, Carolina Panthers (NFL)
David Patten, New Orleans Saints (NFL)
Eddie Cohen, Hamilton TigerCats (CFL)
Michale Spicer, New Orleans VooDoo (AFL*) Kevin McAlmont, New Orleans VooDoo (AFL*) Mike Malone, Amarillo Dusters (af2) Lamont Reid (IFL)
* the Arena Football League has suspended operations for one season, suspending 2009 schedule