Former Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson, out of football since being kicked off the team in the fall of 2002 because of legal issues, has signed with the Indiana Firebirds of the Arena Football League.
The move means McPherson, 20, will give up his remaining college eligibility.
"I'm just happy that the Firebirds gave me an opportunity to play football again," McPherson said in a statement released by the team.
McPherson was dismissed from FSU's football and basketball teams in November 2002 after he lied to school officials about his involvement in the theft of a blank check from a Tallahassee auto-accessories company that later was cashed for $3,500.
McPherson pleaded no contest to gambling and theft charges and was sentenced in July to 30 months of probation.
The Indianapolis Star quoted Firebirds General Manager Jon Kolner as saying McPherson chose the team for the opportunity to work with Coach Steve DeBerg, a former NFL quarterback and assistant coach who also runs an offseason camp for elite college quarterbacks. Last summer, DeBerg worked with current NFL starters Byron Leftwich and Rex Grossman at his camp.
"He is a tremendous athletic talent who is still raw with regards to mechanics and fundamentals," DeBerg said.
McPherson was one of the top high school recruits in the country out of Bradenton, Fla., in 2001.
McPherson played in sixteen games at FSU, completing 98 of 192 passes for 1,215 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was 3-1 as a starter.
The Arena League's 2004 season starts Feb. 3.
www.sun-sentinel.com
The move means McPherson, 20, will give up his remaining college eligibility.
"I'm just happy that the Firebirds gave me an opportunity to play football again," McPherson said in a statement released by the team.
McPherson was dismissed from FSU's football and basketball teams in November 2002 after he lied to school officials about his involvement in the theft of a blank check from a Tallahassee auto-accessories company that later was cashed for $3,500.
McPherson pleaded no contest to gambling and theft charges and was sentenced in July to 30 months of probation.
The Indianapolis Star quoted Firebirds General Manager Jon Kolner as saying McPherson chose the team for the opportunity to work with Coach Steve DeBerg, a former NFL quarterback and assistant coach who also runs an offseason camp for elite college quarterbacks. Last summer, DeBerg worked with current NFL starters Byron Leftwich and Rex Grossman at his camp.
"He is a tremendous athletic talent who is still raw with regards to mechanics and fundamentals," DeBerg said.
McPherson was one of the top high school recruits in the country out of Bradenton, Fla., in 2001.
McPherson played in sixteen games at FSU, completing 98 of 192 passes for 1,215 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was 3-1 as a starter.
The Arena League's 2004 season starts Feb. 3.
www.sun-sentinel.com
