New Soul lineman Lenny Sanelli. Played high school football at Shawnee. Photo from millersvilleathletics.com

The Arena Football League ran its version of roster filling over the last two weeks, allocating players to the four teams that will make up this year’s AFL.

The two-time defending Arena Bowl champion Philadelphia Soul went through several days of the process and on the first day announced that the following returning players including longtime quarterback Dan Raudabaugh, defensive back James Romain, linebacker Joe Goosby plus Poppy Livers (WR), Torez Jones (DB) and Tommy Dover (DL).

“We’re very happy with how today went,” said Head Coach Clint Dolezel at the time. “Any time you’re able to welcome back guys that were not only key members, but leaders, on Championship teams it’s a good day. The most exciting part is that we’re just getting started.”

During his time with the Soul, Raudabaugh has completed 2,108 passes for a total of 26,920 yards and 598 touchdowns. Throughout his career, he has earned AFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year while also receiving First and Second Team All-Arena honors and has helped lead the Soul to back-to-back AFL Championships.

Romain tallied 299 tackles, 107 pass break-ups, 12 forced fumbles and 28 interceptions for a total of 356 yards and five touchdowns during his last five seasons with the Soul. He is also a two-time First Team All-Arena defensive back.

Jones will begin his third season with the Soul and has previously tallied 21 tackles, five pass break-ups and two interceptions for a total of five yards with the team.

Goosby has recorded 204 tackles, 4 sacks, 17 interceptions, 13 forced fumbles and 19 pass break-ups during his career with the Soul.

Livers returned six kicks for a total of 58 yards during his rookie season witf the Soul.

At Villanova, he recorded 141 receptions for 1,792 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Dover had a brief stint with the Soul last season and is back to start the year on the roster.

The Soul also will bring in WR Aaron Wascha, who attended training camp with the Soul last season after impressing coaches at an Open Tryout. Wascha is from Michigan State.

New Soul lineman Lenny Sanelli during his days blocking for Millersville. He played high school football at Shawnee. Photo from millersvilleathletics.com

The Soul followed up the next day announcing returning players Dwayne Hollis (DB), Darius Prince (WR), Neal Tivis (OL) and Keith Newell (OL). PhillipKeith Manley (OL) was also added to the roster.

“We’ve had another great day of Free Agency so far,” Dolezel said. “We are excited for more of our veteran players and some new guys coming in and are looking forward to a competitive training camp.”

During his time with the Soul, Hollis collected 169 tackles, 23 pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and 16 interceptions for 230 yards and five touchdowns. In ArenaBowl XXX, Hollis picked off Tampa Bay Storm Quarterback Randy Hippeard to seal the team’s victory and was awarded First Team All-Arena honors.

In his rookie season, Prince took home ArenaBowl XXX MVP honors, as he played a key part in the Soul’s win over the Tampa Bay Storm with two touchdown receptions. Prince has had previous stints with the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks, Sioux Falls Storm, and Cleveland Gladiators.

Tivis, who is entering his fifth season with the Soul, started in 17 games on the offensive line for the Soul in 2015 and was named Second Team All-Arena at his position in 2016.

Newell appeared in three games with three starts as a guard. Before the Soul, Newell appeared in 14 games with 10 starts with the Pittsburgh Power (2014). Newell attended Delaware State University.

Manley is entering his third AFL season and has had stints with the Cleveland Gladiators, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons. He played at Toledo.

The Soul also brought in fullback Adrian Ferns. Before joining the Soul, Ferns made his professional debut in the China Arena Football League as a member of the Shenzhen Naja.

In 2016, he ranked third in total rushing yards for the CAFL. He attended Chowan University in North Carolina where he broke the all-time rushing record.

Quarterback Dan Raudabaugh and head coach Clint Dolezel are back for another championship run. Photo by Todd Bauders / contrastphotography.com

Not done yet, the Soul brought back two standout Temple football alumni in Sean Daniels (DE) and Wayne Tribue (OL).

“We always look for quality talent, but being able to find local talent is even more special,” Dolezel said. “Having played their college ball right up the road, these guys have a chance to connect with our community on a totally different level and it proves the quality of players right here in our backyard.”

Daniels, the brother of Green Bay Packer Mike Daniels, had a breakout season with the Soul in 2017, which included two of the season’s most memorable moments.

In Week 6 last year, he earned AFL Defensive Player of the Week after returning a fumble for the go-ahead touchdown with only seconds remaining in the 4th quarter.

He followed that up with a sack for a safety in ArenaBowl XXX which proved to be one of the turning points in the Soul’s eventual Championship victory.

On the season, he tallied 32 total tackles, 9.5 sacks for 43 yards, three quarterback hurries, three fumble recoveries for 47 yards and a tryout with the Green Bay Packers.

Tribue continued to anchor the league’s best offensive line in 2017, being named the AFL Offensive Lineman of the Year. Throughout his time with the Soul, Tribue has earned both First and Second Team All-Arena honors. Prior to joining the league, Tribue had stints with the Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints and the Dallas Cowboys.

Soul grabbed a newcomer with local ties in offensive lineman Lenny Sanelli. He attended the Soul’s Open Tryout on January 20 and impressed.

Sanelli, originally of Medford, NJ, started every game during in his 4-year career at Millersville.

He was awarded Offensive Line MVP and was the anchor of a group that totaled six 100-yard rushing games in 2013. His former teammates talked about their former big man.

“Lenny is one tough [player],” said Sanelli’s Quarterback at Millersville, JJ Paige. “He dominated the PSAC trenches for four straight years without missing a single start. He is a great player but an even better person and teammate.”

At Shawnee High School, Sanelli played both Offensive and Defensive Tackle for Coach Tim Gushue. He tallied 45 tackles his Junior year and 65 tackles and two sacks as a Senior. Sanelli was named to the West Jersey National Division Second-Team Defense and was involved in various non-profits in his personal time.

“We are looking forward to seeing what Sanelli can bring to the team dynamic,” Dolezel said. “He impressed us back in January and now he’ll have a chance to compete for roster spot in camp.”

The Soul continued to form their roster announcing they added veteran Shaun “SK” Kauleinamoku (WR), Robert Brown (DB), John Sheehy (DL) and Reuben Frank (DE/FB).

Kauleinamoku will be entering his fourth season with the Soul. In his time with the team, he has tallied an impressive 239 receptions for 3,244 yards and 70 touchdowns. He was named MVP of the Soul’s ArenaBowl XXIX victory and prior to joining the Soul, had stints with the Spokane Shock, San Antonio Talons, Utah Blaze and the Pittsburgh Power.

“We are thrilled to have SK back,” Dolezel said. “It’s always great to have not only great talent but great personalities return to the team.”

DE Sean Daniels and OL Wayne Tribue – both Temple Alumni – ham it up in locker room after Soul’s ArenaBowl victory last season. They hope to do it again. Photo by Al Thompson.

Brown, who recently completed his rookie season in the AFL with the Soul, attended Seton Hill University and is from Virginia Beach, VA.

Sheehy went from Open Tryout participant to ArenaBowl Champion during his rookie season with the Soul in 2017. He competed in nine games and recorded seven total tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Sheehy played defensive tackle and defensive end at Blinn College before transferring to Western Texas A&M.

Reuben Frank was also added to the 2018 roster. Although this will be Frank’s rookie AFL season, he has had stints with the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Frank played at U-Conn.

Soul media relations contributed all stats.