Who: Kats vs. Columbus Destroyers.
Where: Gaylord Entertainment Center.
Kats storyline: The Kats' first game serves as the AFL's kickoff to its 21st season. ? Third-year quarterback Clint Stoerner will start for Nashville. He threw five touchdowns in a 53-27 win over Columbus last season. ? New offensive coordinator Lary Kuharich will make his Kats coaching debut. ? Head coach Pat Sperduto is 3-2 on opening day, having won the last three.
Destroyers storyline: Columbus finished a franchise-best 8-8 last season under the direction of first-year coach Doug Kay, who returns this season. ? Fifth-year QB Matt Nagy will make his debut with the Destroyers after being acquired in a trade with Georgia. ? DB Jerald Brown enters 2007 as the reigning AFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Kats injuries: DL Anthony Herron (knee), FB Rupert Grant (knee), OL Isaiah Ross (shoulder), DB Monty Montgomery (hand), OL Shawn Draper (knee), QB Matt Kohn (shoulder), DL Demoine Adams (shoulder), and WR O.J. Small (knee) are all on injured reserve.
QUICK LOOK AT KATS
n QUARTERBACK: Clint Stoerner, the 2006 starter, retains the reins as he enters his third season in the league. Last year, Stoerner led a Kats offense that set franchise season records for touchdowns (113), passing yards (3,847) and total offense (4,357). Michigan State's Jeff Smoker, an AFL rookie, will serve as the backup.
n DEFENSIVE LINE: The deepest position on the Kats roster features Nashville's all-time sack leader James Baron (32.5), 2006 second-team all-arena selection Joe Minucci, and the consistent Aaron McConnell. Adding a boost is nine-year AFL veteran and 2006 All-Ironman selection Hugh Hunter, who signed as a free agent.
n OFFENSIVE LINE: Kats veterans Carey Clayton and Charlie Morris anchor a line that made way for one of the league's top offensive units in 2006. Rookie Julius Franklin hopes to leave his mark.
n FULLBACK/LINEBACKERS: Dan Alexander returns after leading the Kats in rushing yards in 2006 (170) and 2005 (105). He is joined by rookie Liam Ezekial, who played for the Bills in 2005. Eight-year pro Rupert Grant is on injured reserve.
n DEFENSIVE BACK: Last season's leader in interception and tackles, Monty Montgomery, starts his second season with the Kats on injured reserve. Taking over the leadership role is three-year veteran Thal Woods, who was acquired in a trade with Utah. Former MTSU star Keon Raymond will also start.
n WIDE RECEIVER: After five seasons with Dallas where he ranked second on the team's all-time list in receiving yards (3,525) and receptions (286), Jason Shelley becomes a main target for the Kats. Alonzo Nix looks to continue on last year's breakout season along with six-year veteran Cornelius Bonner.
Where: Gaylord Entertainment Center.
Kats storyline: The Kats' first game serves as the AFL's kickoff to its 21st season. ? Third-year quarterback Clint Stoerner will start for Nashville. He threw five touchdowns in a 53-27 win over Columbus last season. ? New offensive coordinator Lary Kuharich will make his Kats coaching debut. ? Head coach Pat Sperduto is 3-2 on opening day, having won the last three.
Destroyers storyline: Columbus finished a franchise-best 8-8 last season under the direction of first-year coach Doug Kay, who returns this season. ? Fifth-year QB Matt Nagy will make his debut with the Destroyers after being acquired in a trade with Georgia. ? DB Jerald Brown enters 2007 as the reigning AFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Kats injuries: DL Anthony Herron (knee), FB Rupert Grant (knee), OL Isaiah Ross (shoulder), DB Monty Montgomery (hand), OL Shawn Draper (knee), QB Matt Kohn (shoulder), DL Demoine Adams (shoulder), and WR O.J. Small (knee) are all on injured reserve.
QUICK LOOK AT KATS
n QUARTERBACK: Clint Stoerner, the 2006 starter, retains the reins as he enters his third season in the league. Last year, Stoerner led a Kats offense that set franchise season records for touchdowns (113), passing yards (3,847) and total offense (4,357). Michigan State's Jeff Smoker, an AFL rookie, will serve as the backup.
n DEFENSIVE LINE: The deepest position on the Kats roster features Nashville's all-time sack leader James Baron (32.5), 2006 second-team all-arena selection Joe Minucci, and the consistent Aaron McConnell. Adding a boost is nine-year AFL veteran and 2006 All-Ironman selection Hugh Hunter, who signed as a free agent.
n OFFENSIVE LINE: Kats veterans Carey Clayton and Charlie Morris anchor a line that made way for one of the league's top offensive units in 2006. Rookie Julius Franklin hopes to leave his mark.
n FULLBACK/LINEBACKERS: Dan Alexander returns after leading the Kats in rushing yards in 2006 (170) and 2005 (105). He is joined by rookie Liam Ezekial, who played for the Bills in 2005. Eight-year pro Rupert Grant is on injured reserve.
n DEFENSIVE BACK: Last season's leader in interception and tackles, Monty Montgomery, starts his second season with the Kats on injured reserve. Taking over the leadership role is three-year veteran Thal Woods, who was acquired in a trade with Utah. Former MTSU star Keon Raymond will also start.
n WIDE RECEIVER: After five seasons with Dallas where he ranked second on the team's all-time list in receiving yards (3,525) and receptions (286), Jason Shelley becomes a main target for the Kats. Alonzo Nix looks to continue on last year's breakout season along with six-year veteran Cornelius Bonner.
