(Tucson, AZ) The Tucson Sugar Skulls have opened the free agency period by signing impact players on each side of the ball, welcoming Mike Jones and Robert Rolle IV to Tucson for the 2022 Indoor Football League season.
RB Mike Jones (5’11, 210, Bethune-Cookman) will be returning for his third season with the Sugar Skulls. The longest-tenured Sugar Skull and an original member of the inaugural team, Jones is the all-time leading rusher in franchise history with 1,072 yards. Jones was the IFL rushing champion and a 1st Team All-IFL selection in 2019, rushing for 732 yards (average of 56.3 yards per game).
In 2021, Jones started all 14 games for Tucson, leading the team with 27 touchdowns scored (22 rushing, five receiving). A skilled receiver as well as runner, Jones has caught 65 passes in his IFL career accumulating for 571 yards and nine touchdowns.
“Having Mike Jones back is huge for our organization,” says Sugar Skulls Head Coach and General Manager Dixie Wooten. “He brings a great understanding of the game and is one of the best backs in the IFL. He will make our running game dangerous and is a huge match-up problem in the passing game.”
A native of Sarasota, FL, Jones played collegiately at Bethune-Cookman University, leading the team in rushing in his sophomore and senior years. In his career at BCU, Jones gained 1,842 yards and scored 21 touchdowns.
DB Robert Rolle IV (6’1, 195, Villanova) will be joining the Sugar Skulls for his rookie season in the Indoor Football League. Prior to joining Tucson, Rolle spent time with the Miami Dolphins in 2019. While playing collegiately at Villanova, Rolle was named to the CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team in 2018, his redshirt senior year. Rolle also served as a team captain in 2018, being named a STATS FCS Preseason All-American and posting 53 tackles and a fumble recovery.
The Newfield, New Jersey native earned first team All-South Jersey and Brooks Irvine honors as a senior while playing at Delsea High School. Rolle was a first team all-conference selection as a junior and senior, and a five-time South Jersey Player of the Week. Additionally, he earned Super 100 All-State honors, served as team captain, and led his team to two state championships.
The Sugar Skulls will play eight regular-season home games at Tucson Arena beginning in March, with the 16-game regular season running through July. The IFL playoffs will begin in late July. The 2022 IFL schedule was released last week.
Press Release courtesy of the Tucson Sugar Skulls – Abbey Rarick
