***Storm Press Release***
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Storm acquired wide receiver Antoine “T.T.” Toliver and activated wide receiver Joe Hills, announced vice president of football operations Jeff Gooch. The team also acquired defensive lineman Tommie Duhart.
“We’re excited to have both Joe and T.T. on our squad this season,” Gooch said. “Both are playmakers and have the ability to help elevate the team to the next level.”
Toliver (5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Bethune-Cookman) enters his 12th season in the AFL and sixth in a Storm uniform. The Daytona Beach native began his professional career with the Storm in 2002, helping the team win a championship in ArenaBowl XVII. Toliver comes to the Storm after spending the past six seasons with the Orlando Predators. He has a résumé that includes an All-Ironman Team selection in 2004 and a First-Team All-Arena selection in 2008.
Toliver ranks seventh all-time in Storm history with 188 receptions, eighth all-time with 2,237 receiving yards, and third all-time with 2,510 kickoff return yards. Over his career, Toliver has reeled in 909 receptions for 11,916 yards, and 227 touchdowns. He also has 5,373 kickoff return yards and 13 kickoff return touchdowns for his career. The two-way player can also play the position of defensive back. Toliver has recorded 156.5 tackles, 13 pass breakups, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries throughout his career.
Toliver spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He would go on to play for the Nashville Kats (AFL) during the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
Hills (6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Tennessee State) returns to the Storm for his third season. Hills joined the Storm late in the 2012 season and made an immediate impact on the receiving game. In 2013 Hills was a first-team all-arena selection and shattered several Storm single-season records including receptions (133), receiving yards (1,861), receiving touchdowns (42) and points scored (262). In his two-year career, Hills hauled in 186 receptions for 2,651 yards and 56 touchdowns.
“It’s great to be back with the Storm,” Hills said. “I’m just a piece of the puzzle and I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to help this team win.”
Duhart (6-foot-4, 310 pounds, Valdosta State) enters his first season in a Storm uniform. Duhart began his career at Pittsburgh before settling in at Valdosta State.
“Tommie is a two-way player that fits the mold of the type of athlete we want on the Storm,” Gooch said. “He adds depth to the offensive and defensive lines.”
Duhart appeared in 19 games with Pittsburgh and posted 27 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery for the Panthers. At Valdosta State, Duhart started in four of nine games and recorded 20 tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks. He began his professional career in 2010 when he signed with the Carolina Panthers (NFL) as an undrafted rookie free agent.
The team reassigned wide receiver Andrew Helmick. Helmick started in three games for the Storm this season, catching seven passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns.
The team reassigned offensive lineman Byron Isom. Isom appeared in three games for the Storm this season.
The Five-Time World Champion Tampa Bay Storm enters its 27th season in the Arena Football League. The Storm will host “Youth Sports Night,” Saturday, April 26 when it takes on the Spokane Shock on AMALIE Motor Oil Field at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. For more specific details regarding single-game pricing and availability, please contact the Storm ticket office at 813.301.6600 or visitwww.tampabaystorm.com. Season tickets can be purchased by visiting TampaBayStorm.comor by calling 813.301.6600. For group sales fans can contact 813.301.6900. Additionally fans and sponsors can follow the Storm on Facebook (Tampa Bay Storm) or Twitter (@tampabaystorm) for up to date news and exclusive content.