PHOENIX, Ariz. – Having put up some of the top numbers of any receiver during the 2013 season, former Western New Mexico University football player Ronnell Pompey has landed a spot with the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League.
The Rattlers, one of the top AFL teams, already has one former Mustang on its roster in Rod Windsor. The team has claimed four ArenaBowl championships, with two coming in 2012 and 2013.
Pompey went through multiple tryouts before landing a spot on the team.
“I went to an open tryout, then got invited to a private workout and then eventually to camp,” he said. “I went into camp with roughly 50 or so people and only 24-26 make the team. Overall the tryouts were great.”
Making a strong first and lat impression became a hallmark of Pompey’s efforts throughout camp.
“Camp was an everyday grind as I would be up every morning at 5:30 a.m. and try to be at the practice facility by 6:10 a.m. I always wanted to be the first or second person there,” he said.
Having to change to the style of play in which arena ball presents can always lead to a few challenges.
“I just kept working hard trying to learn a whole new game,” he said. “I kept praying and having faith. I worked hard every day and even putting extra time in with watching film, running routes and catching the football.”
He has also been able to utilize the WNMU connection with Windsor to help him through the whole process.
“He’s been one of the veterans that have been helping me since I arrived,” he said.
Pompey was a First-Team All-RMAC recipient after a 2013 season that watched him pile up 63 catches for 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led the RMAC in both yards and touchdowns, while finishing 11th in the nation in receiving yards per game. He averaged 19.7 yards per catch and 124.1 yards per game. He went for over 100 yards in five games including a 226 yard game against Colorado Mines that garnered him RMAC Player of the Week honors. He caught a touchdown in nine games that season with a high of three against Western State.
His junior season in 2012 he posted 46 receptions for 557 yards and four touchdowns. He had similar numbers as a sophomore in 2011 with 48 catches for 519 yards and three touchdowns.
Pompey will look to get a chance to play in his first game this Saturday when the Rattlers open the season against the Spokane Shock.
“It’s looking like I have a good chance on playing Saturday,” he said. “It’s all a blessing as it all happened in a three to four day span.”
