(Tucson, AZ) The Tucson Sugar Skulls continue to build their roster with off-season signings, bringing on three rookie players, wide receiver Tamarick Vanover, Linebacker Rayshad Jackson, and Defensive Lineman Nick Dawson.
WR Tamarick Vanover (5’10”, 185, Morehouse College) joins the Sugar Skulls for his second season in the IFL and first in Tucson. Vanover appeared in one game for the Cedar Rapids River Kings in 2020 before the season was canceled.
Vanover attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was a four-year starter at wide receiver/return specialist. In 34 games with the Maroon Tigers, he compiled 1,118 yards of total offense and averaged 23.4 yards on kickoff returns. A native of Gainesville, Florida, Vanover attended P.K. Yonge High School.
LB Rayshad Jackson (6’1”, 230, University of Florida) joins the Sugar Skulls for his IFL rookie season. In 2019 Jackson played as a graduate transfer at UNLV, and was named to the school’s All-Decade Team by unlvrebels.com. Jackson was also named an All-Mountain West Conference Honorable Mention, playing all 12 games and ranking fifth in the conference with 99 total tackles.
Prior to playing at UNLV, Jackson spent four years in the SEC at the University of Florida, playing in all 13 games during his redshirt junior season in 2018. Across three seasons with the Gators, Jackson appeared in 33 games and registered 52 total tackles. A native of Miami, Florida, Jackson attended Miami Norland High School and was named to the 2014 All-Dade County Second Team.
DL Nick Dawson (6’3”, 260, Southern Mississippi) joins the Sugar Skulls for his IFL rookie season. Dawson played collegiately at Southern Mississippi, appearing in nine games from 2018-2019, logging six total tackles, 0.5 tackles-for-loss, 0.5 sacks, and a quarterback hurry. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Dawson attended Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, Georgia and was a three-star recruit at defensive end in the class of 2015.
Press Release courtesy of the Tucson Sugar Skulls – James Tanner
