By: Mick Moninghoff
Pirates Broadcaster
May 19, 2023

WORCESTER, MA - The Massachusetts Pirates have signed six new players heading into this week's match up against the Quad City Steamwheelers Saturday night at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center. A defensive lineman, a running back, an offensive lineman, a linebacker, and two defensive backs make up the new group.
 
Defensive lineman Darius Stills had a stellar career at the University of West Virginia where he played four seasons. In 2020 Stills was the Big 12 Defensive lineman of the year and was an NCAA Consensus First Team All-American.
 
The 6'0", 295 lb. product of Fairmont, West Virginia, was also a two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection. Stills started 21 of 43 games in his career with the Mountaineers. He made 85 tackles with 25 for a loss with 11.5 sacks. He also defended three passes, had one interception along with a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
 
In 2021, Stills was signed as an undrafted free agent with the Las Vegas Raiders. The following season he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2023 he had a brief stint with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL.
 
Linebacker Emmett Rice spent six years at Florida State University but only played in five seasons as he lost the 2021 season to a leg injury. Still, his ability earned him a mini-camp invite from the New York Giants last season. The 6'2", 223 lb. native of Miami Gardens, FL appeared in 51 games from 2016 through 2020 and made 18 starts. In 2020 he recorded a career high 11 tackles against North Carolina State and he led Seminoles with 7.5 tackles for a loss. His most tackles in a season was in 2019 when he registered 72 stops. In his career in Tallahassee he made 165 tackles with 13 for a loss with 2.5 sacks while defending four passes.
 
Defensive back Stephen Roberts joins the Pirates after playing in five games with one start this season for the Vegas Vipers of the XFL where he recorded 13 tackles with one sack. Roberts started his professional career as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. He later signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. In 2022 he was drafted with the 88th pick in the XFL Draft by Vegas. Roberts enjoyed a four-year career at Auburn University where he played in 51 games from 2014-2017. He recorded 136 tackles for the Tigers with 7.5 tackles for a loss. He also had one interception, defended 14 passes and forced two fumbles. Roberts, who hails from Opelika, AL, checks in at 6'0" and 190 lbs.
 
Defensive back Kiante Northington returns to the Pirates. The 5'10" Northington played with the Indoor Football League Champion Northern Arizona Wranglers last season as he appeared in four games making 14 tackles with one interception and two forced fumbles.
 
Northington began his indoor football career in 2018 with the Pirates and was a First Team All-National Arena League performer as he led the league with 12 interceptions and was third with 18 passes broken up. The 5' 10", 190 lb. DB out of Eastern Kentucky was also eighth in the league with 63.5 tackles (55 solo, 17 assisted). The Louisville, KY native returned one interception for a TD, led the NAL with 132 interception return yards, forced one fumble and recovered two for the Pirates.
 
In 2019, he joined the Atlantic City Blackjacks of the Arena Football League and in 12 games was their leading tackler with 65 stops while breaking up eight passes and intercepting two others. In 2020 he was set to return to the Pirates but the season was lost to the pandemic. 2021 saw him sign with the Jacksonville Sharks of the NAL.

In addition, The Pirates have also signed former Pirates offensive lineman Tommy Champion. Champion was most recently on the roster of the DC Defenders of the XFL. Earlier this season Champion started five games for the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL.,
 
Last season, Champion appeared in two games for Massachusetts. Prior to the Pirates, the former Mississippi State Bulldog was in camp with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.
 
The 6'5" 330 lb. native of Jackson, MS, signed with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League in 2020 and spent that season on the team's practice squad.
 
Champion, who graduated in 2019 with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, played two seasons in Starkville, seeing action in a total of 18 games. In 2019 he started six games as a senior. In his redshirt junior year he allowed only one quarterback hurry and helped the Bulldogs to be second in the Southeast Conference as they averaged 223.6 rushing yards per game. They were also second in the SEC with 5.7 yards per carry.
 
In 2017, Champion redshirted his first season at Mississippi State. He transferred to the program after playing at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi. There he earned First-Team All-State honors.
 
Champion isn't the only former Pirate making his return. After finishing his XFL season, the Massachusetts Pirates signed running back Deddrick Thomas who excelled in Worcester in 2022.
 
Thomas played in all with the Orlando Guardians, making two starts. He rushed nine times for 39 yards and added 16 receptions for 136 yards. Thomas also was a returner, bringing back 25 punts for 543 yards for an average of 21.7 per return.
 
In 12 games for the Pirates last season, Thomas was the teams leading rusher with 60 carries for 330 yards for an average of 5.5 yards per carry and scored six touchdowns. Thomas also had 16 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns. He returned nine kickoffs for 167 yards, averaging 18.6 yards per return.
 
His marquee games were in a 51-30 win over San Diego on May 9 where he had an eight carry performance gaining 61 yards with two scores and on June 25 in a 69-55 victory at Sioux Falls he averaged 10.3 per carry, rushing four times for 41 yards. His best receiving day came in a June 11 win over Green Bay as Thomas had four receptions for 46 yards and a score as the Pirates won 48-30 at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center. In the postseason Thomas rushed five times for 16 yards with two touchdowns and pulled in a pair of passes for 37 yards against Quad City.
 
Thomas played his college ball at Mississippi State and was a member of the program for five seasons from 2015 through 2019 where he excelled as a slot receiver and kick returner. The 5'9" 190 lb. wideout played in 49 games making 19 starts. He finished his career with the Bulldogs with 76 receptions for 928 yards with nine touchdowns averaging 12.2 yards per catch. Thomas also carried the ball three times for 13 yards.
 
Thomas, who calls Memphis, TN home, also returned 15 kicks for 278 yards averaging 18.5 yards per return and fielded 14 punts for 133 yards, including an 83- yard touchdown vs. UMass as a sophomore. As a senior he set career highs with 30 receptions and 401 receiving yards.
 
The 2021 United Bowl Champions; Massachusetts Pirates are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Pirates play all home games at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center located at 50 Foster St. Worcester, MA, 01608. For more information on the Massachusetts Pirates please call (508)452-MASS (6277), email contact@masspiratesfootball.com or visit http://www.masspiratesfootball.com. For 2023 season, half-season, luxury, or group ticket packages please call 508-452-MASS (6277) or visit www.masspiratesfootball.com/tickets. Follow the Pirates on Facebook via Facebook.com/MAPirates, Instagram @mass.pirates, and Twitter @mass_pirates.