Former Colony Knight having success in arena football

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

During his days at Colony High School, Jason Deml wanted nothing more than the opportunity to play football at the next level. He wanted a shot to play in college, and maybe even the pros.

Today, Deml's not in the National Football League. But he's not working a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job either. Deml, a 2000 graduate of CHS, has found another level, and another league where he can show his football talents - the National Indoor Football League.

After playing four years at the Division I ranks, Deml is finding success competing in his first season with the Katy Copperheads of the NIFL.

On March 11 Deml notched his first career professional touchdown, catching a 45-yard touchdown pass in a season-opening 47-40 win over the Beaumont Drillers. Through the first three games Deml leads his team in every receiving category, with 11 receptions, 202 yards and four touchdowns.

When Deml was in high school catching the passes of former Knight standout quarterback Jared Boyd in the high octane Colony offense, he said the idea of playing college football was much more than a goal.

&#8220It wasn't just a goal, it was something I had to do,” Deml said Friday from his home Katy, Texas, located in the Houston suburbs. &#8220Division I, and let it take me from there. And that's pretty much what it's done.”

Deml played four seasons at the Division I ranks, starting at Utah State and ending his career at the University of Louisiana-Monroe.

During his senior year at CHS, Deml said Division I programs such as Washington State, Bowling Green State and Central Florida showed interest. But didn't offer anything concrete. Randy Magner, the head coach of the Knight football program during the Deml era, said Deml certainly had the talent to play at the Division I level, but coaches did not get the chance to see him.

&#8220That was one of those deals that was really frustrating,” Magner said.

Like many of the talented players from Alaska, Deml didn't have the opportunity to hit any offseason camps, Magner said, and that hurt his chances of landing a scholarship from a Division I school.

&#8220He was the best athlete on the field,” Magner said. Those were high marks for an offense that produced three college wide receivers, and now two professional receivers. Deml was featured alongside Cole Magner, who starred at Bowling Green State University and now is on the Atlanta Falcons roster. There was also Cory Creighton, who went on to play at Western Montana.

Many of the schools that contacted Deml may have just talked to the CHS product, but Utah State gave Deml the opportunity to, at least, join the team. And soon he had earned a scholarship with the Aggies.

During his sophomore season Deml played in nine games with Utah State, and posted 11 catches for 86 yards. He also scored his the first college touchdown of his career against the University of Wyoming. After two years in the Aggie program Deml opted to transfer to Louisiana-Monroe.

As a senior at Louisiana-Monroe, Deml had the opportunity to play several positions. He lined up in the slot and on the outside, and also played on special teams. In a crowded ULM receiving corps, he grabbed 19 catches during his senior year.

After his eligibility ran out, Deml stayed in Louisiana for an extra two semesters to finish his degree in marketing. While he was completing the final classes he needed to get his Bachelor's, Deml continued his workouts, and his pursuit of keeping his football career alive.

&#8220Coming from a small school it takes outstanding numbers to even get a shot,” Deml said.

Deml wanted to find a place where he could make a name for himself. In his final year of school he had considered giving the Arena Football League a shot. But he missed the AFL tryouts because of a conflict with his class schedule. So he continued to talk to people in the football world, and got online. Soon, Deml found out about this expansion franchise in the NIFL called the Katy Copperheads. He decided to give Katy and the NIFL a try, and was one of 150 players at the first tryout.

&#8220I saw a lot of people there that just wanted to play football,” Deml said. &#8220Coming from playing Division I, I knew I could make the team.”

Deml made the team, and signed a contract with the club. Deml said the contract is similar to what an NFL player would sign, with a base salary and an opportunity for bonuses.

The Copperhead roster is made up predominately Division I players, with a few small-school athletes mixed in. There are players from programs such as Texas Tech, Indiana and Arkansas. There is even a former NFL player on the roster, Byron &#8220Bam” Morris.

Moving to arena football was an obvious adjustment for someone who had spent their career playing on an outdoor field. Arena leagues use a carpeted field that is just 50 yards long and about 33 yards wide.

&#8220It's so different, but it's awesome,” Deml said. &#8220Being a receiver, I was used to the wide-open field. The routes have to be precise.”

Deml said the adjustments have already made him a better receiver.

Now that he has reached this point in his career, Deml is not sure where football will take him next. He has heard from a few teams in the Canadian Football League. And he is liking life in the ranks of arena football.

&#8220I just want to put up good numbers, and get people talking to me,” Deml said.