Landers Signs with Richmond Revolution
November 5, 2009 • By James Gwinn,
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HARRISONBURG, Va. — No one would ever envision a JMU football player wearing Richmond across his chest, but it will soon be a reality. Former JMU quarterback Rodney Landers (’08) has signed to play with the Richmond Revolution of the Indoor Football League for the 2010 season.
The Indoor Football League was created in 2008 as a merger of the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. It is made up 22 teams from all over country. Richmond, an expansion team, begins its inaugural season in March.
“I’m very excited about the signing and the chance to play again,” Landers said. “I’m looking forward to an exciting new style in the Indoor Football League.”
The IFL is the third major league in indoor/arena football. The other two are Arena Football 1, created in 2009 to replace the Arena Football League, and the American Indoor Football Association, created in 2006. The IFL is expected to be on the same par as the AIFA and slightly less competitive than AF1.
Although an expansion team, the Revolution is full of talented and experienced players that played at highly regarded colleges. Landers is joined by fellow Colonial Athletic Association players Sherman Logan and Stephen Howell of Richmond and Stephen Cason of William & Mary. He is excited about the possibilities of this team and is intrigued at how quickly they can mesh together and form a championship caliber squad.
“He can get the job done,” said former teammate and JMU kick returner Scotty McGee. “Whether it be at, you know, running back, quarterback. I mean, we called him Superman here. He can do it all.”
The JMU star was high on the Revolution’s priority list. Landers was also approached by the United Football League, an outdoor football league, but he decided that the IFL gave him the best chance to use his talents.
“He is a different player,” JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. “He’s a great athlete. I mean, its football, whether its indoor or outdoor, he’ll perform very well.”
During the 2008 season at JMU, Landers led the Dukes to a perfect 8-0 record in conference and the national semi-finals. Landers won awards including Offensive Player of the Year for the conference and the Dudley Award, which is given to the top Division I player in Virginia.
Landers finished his college career as the Madison’s second all-time leading rusher. He was also second in career rushing touchdowns, seventh all time in passing yards and fourth in touchdown passes. As a dual-threat quarterback through his career, Landers compiled over 6,700 yards.
A Virginia Beach native, Landers is happy to be playing back in the state of Virginia.
“That played a part in it,” he said. “Just from a standpoint that my family and friends have the opportunity to see me play. It definitely played a part in my decision.”
Landers’ devastating ankle injury, sustained during the national semi-finals last season, prohibited him from participating in the NFL Combine. After going undrafted, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers invited him to tryout as a quarterback at their rookie mini-camp. He also tried out for the team as a cornerback and special teams player, but he didn’t get a contract offer.
“Football is a very easy game for Rodney Landers,” Matthews said. “I mean he’s — Rodney is an NFL player. I’m still upset he’s never gotten the opportunity to play [there].”
His dreams are still to play on Sundays, and he sees the Revolution as a definite springboard for playing in the NFL one day.
“I’m just very excited about getting the opportunity to play,” Landers said. “A lot of teams and a lot of people just wanted to get a chance to see me on tape doing things — how I react, how I move in space, how I do some things that I did playing quarterback at James Madison.”
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I can’t wait to see Landers back in action!