1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Adam Barnhardt, General Manager
abarnhardt@bemidjiaxemen.com
218.444.8216
AXEMEN DEFENISVE LINE BREAKDOWN
A position by position breakdown of the Axemen
Bemidji, MN –
 Jordan Morgan, 6’4/250, Ferris State University
Morgan is returning for his second season with the Axemen. He played in 14 games in 2014 where he racked up
41.5 total tackles (30 solo,23 assisted),11.0 tackles for a loss,seven sacks and three fumble recoveries.Morgan
played collegiatelyat Ferris State University. Morgan was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs along the defensive
line and a four-time all-conference honoree.He earned All-GLIAC Second Team recognition for the Bulldogs in both
2010 and 2011 after starting 10 contests and attaining league honorable mention laurels as a redshirtfreshman in
2009. In 2012,Morgan recorded 65 tackles,10.5 sacks,and 2 fumble recoveries. After college,Morgan received
an NFL workoutfrom the New York Giants. Morgan played prep football at Mount Carmel High School,in Chicago,
IL.
 Rony Nelson, 6’2/265, Iowa State University
Nelson was acquired bythe Axemen in 2014 but was placed on the season-ending IR.Before coming to the
Axemen he played with the Iowa Barnstormers.He played his college football at Iowa State where stacked up 25
tackles,seven career tackles and three sacks.Before going to Iowa State, Nelson played at Yuba Community
College where excelled with 27.5 sacks,44 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.Earned All-Dade honorable
mention his senior year at Miami-Jackson High School in Miami,Florida.
 Silvio Diaz, 6’1/270,University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Diaz played his college football at Mary Hardin-Baylor where he setthe school’s single-season record with 11.0
sacks.Also during his senior season he racked up 14.0 tackles for a loss along with 50 total tackles,three forced
fumbles and recovered one fumble.Diaz accumulated multiple awards and honors such as 2013 Associated Press
Little All-American Second team,American SouthwestConference Defensive Player of the Year and ASC
Defensive Lineman ofthe Year, Division III All-America Team,Division III South Region Defensive Player of the
Year, and 2013 AFCA Division III Coaches’ All-America Team.
 Ino Vitale, 6’6/310, Southwest Baptist University
Vitale joins the Axemen for his rookie season in the IFL. He played for the Los Angeles Marauders of the
Professional Spring American Football League in 2014.Vitale played his college football at Southwest Baptist
University where he was a first-team All-Independents selection.His senior season he notched 48 tackles with five
sacks and led the team with 11.5 tackles for a loss.
 Gerald Blockmon, 6’5/320, Santa Monica College
Blockmon played his college football at Santa Monica College.
 Johnathon Elmo, 6’3/270,No College

2. Elmo did not play college football.He played for the Texas Revolution in 2014.
The Bemidji Axemen kick off their season in February of 2015 on Palace Casino Field atthe Sanford Center. Season tickets ar e now
on sale starting as low as $56 each and can be purchased online through www.bemidjiaxemen.com. For more information,please
contact the Axemen offices as (218)444-8216.
# # #
The Bemidji Axemen are a second-year franchise playing in the Indoor Football League. The Axemen player their games on Palace Casino Field at the Sanford Center. For more
information on the team, visit www.bemidjiaxemen.com.
The Indoor Football League (www.goifl.com) is a 10-team league with franchises in 9 states. The league holds a 14-game regular season schedule that runs February through June. The
IFL's playoffs culminate in July with the IFL United Bowl.
The Sanford Center opened on October 15, 2010. It has a full arena seating capacity of 6,500 and is home ice for the Bemidji State University Beavers Hockey program. The attached
George M. Neilson Convention Center features four break-out rooms with a combined space of 4,000 square feet facing Lake Bemidji and a grand ballroom space of 10,000 sq. feet .