from Tampa Bay Storm PR (Tuesday night)
The Tampa Bay Storm is pleased to announce that it has signed defensive backs Paul Stephens and Anthony Shutt along with wide receiver Josh Bush.
“All three of these gentlemen add veteran presence to the football field,” said vice president of football operations Jeff Gooch. “They all have the ability to change the game and will be a spark to their respective units.”
Stephens (5-foot-9, 178 lbs., Central Missouri) joins the Storm for his first season in the blue and gold. The five-year veteran comes to the Storm after spending the past two seasons (2015-16) with the Orlando Predators. He finished his 2016 campaign with 75.0 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, 12 pass breakups and six interceptions.
The Missouri City, TX native began his collegiate career at Blinn College before moving on to Arkansas State and then settling in at Central Missouri. He finished his senior season with 73.0 tackles, five pass breakups, four interceptions with two returned for touchdowns, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
Shutt (6-foot, 185 lbs., Florida A&M), a three-year veteran of the AFL, enters his first season in a Storm uniform. He last played for the Orlando Predators in 2015 when he finished the season with 18.5 tackles and four pass breakups. Shutt played three seasons with the Predators, tallying 141.0 tackles, 15 pass breakups, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, a fumble return and a defensive touchdown.
The Jacksonville native played collegiately at Florida A&M University, finishing his senior season with 50.0 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, three interceptions, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
Bush (5-foot-9, 165 lbs., Western Michigan) enters his first season with the Storm. The nine-year veteran began his AFL career with the Grand Rapids Rampage in 2004. He would go on to spend time with the Columbus Destroyers, Dallas Vigilantes, New Orleans VooDoo and most recently the Orlando Predators.
A player from the Ironman era, Bush can play both offense and defense. Offensively, Bush has reeled in 454 receptions for 5,543 yards and 99 touchdowns to go along with 47 rushing attempts for 205 yards and seven scores. Defensively, Bush has recorded 167.5 tackles, 16 pass breakups, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown. The Miami native can also factor into the return game, as he has 337 kick returns for 6,396 yards and 14 touchdowns.
photo courtesy Tampa Bay Storm