Ole Miss Football: Former Rebels LB DeMarquis Gates Signs With AAFL
We Ole Miss football fans love our former Rebels and are excited when we see them furthering their playing careers in the professional ranks.
Wednesday morning it was announced former Rebels linebacker Demarquis Gates had signed a to play with the new Alliance of American football. The AAFL is a new league designed and set up as a developmental league for the NFL and younger players. The AAFL is made up of eight teams which are located in Orlando, Atlanta, Birmingham and Memphis in the East and Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego and San Antonio.
The brainchild of former NFL general manager Bill Polian and NBC executive Dick Ebersol, the Alliance of American Football will be operated by some of the best former NFL players and minds. Operations will be handled by former Pittsburgh Steelers greats Troy Palomalu and Hines Ward, former Giants and Raiders great Justin Tuck, JV McKay, Bill Polian and Dick Ebersol.
The Alliance of American football has already hired coaches for all eight teams. Mike Singletary will be coaching Memphis, Brad Childress will coach Atlanta, Tim Lewis will be in Birmingham and Steve Spurrier will be coaching Orlando. Rick Neuheisel will coach Phoenix, Dennis Erickson will coach Salt Lake City, Mike Riley will coach San Antonio and Mike Martz will be in San Diego.
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DeMarquis Gates played middle linebacker for the Rebels from 2014 thru 2017. In his four seasons in Oxford Gates had 282 total tackles, 17.5 TFL, 6 sacks, 9 pass breakups, 4 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.
Gates was the leading Rebels tackler in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and is the first Rebel to lead the team in tackling three years in a row since Abdul Jackson in the early 90s. Gates 114 tackles in 2017 was the most by any Rebels defender since Patrick Willis.
DeMarquis Gates will join former Ole Miss Rebels Christian Morris and Daronte Bouldin who earlier also signed contracts to play for the NFL legend Mike Singletary with the Memphis Alliance. Coach Mike Singletary will be getting a great middle linebacker in Gates.
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The Alliance of American Football will open its inaugural season February 9, 2019. Please be sure to visit and like our Facebook page and also follow us on Twitter to get the latest updates on future, current and former Rebels. Hotty Toddy!