Coronado High product Poots will be face of new Las Vegas arena football team
Coronado High graduate Tysson Poots, center, signs a contract with the Las Vegas Outlaws of the Arena Football Leagues. Bob Hewko, one of the Outlaws’ owners, is left. Team official Sean Coen is pictured at right.
It’s Vince Neil’s L.V. Outlaws vs. KISS’ L.A. Kiss on April 11, May 4
Motley Crue frontman hoping to pack the arena again — for football
Coronado High graduate Tysson Poots looking for chance in the NFL
The Sun’s sports section
He left the best team in the Arena Football League for the opportunity to return to his hometown and play for a first-year franchise.
Tysson Poots, a Coronado High graduate, will be one of the faces of the Las Vegas Outlaws, the third arena franchise in Las Vegas history. The wide receiver Poots spent the past two seasons helping the Arizona Rattlers win the Arena Bowl.
Now, he’s eager to help build the Outlaws, who host San Jose March 30 at the Thomas & Mack Center for their inaugural game. Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe is one of the Outlaws’ owners.
“It was a big debate whether I should come home or stay in Arizona and compete for another championship,” Poots said. “It comes down to family, No. 1. Vegas deserves a professional team that can bring fans to the game.”
He would have preferred to play in Las Vegas much earlier in his career. Despite being an all-state selection and having more than 2,000 career receiving yards at Coronado, Poots wasn’t offered a scholarship by hometown UNLV. They said he could walk-on, but Poots passed and accepted a scholarship to lower-level Southern Utah.
He broke virtually every receiving record at Southern Utah, finishing with 282 receptions for 3,970 yards and 43 touchdowns. In his final three years, he had more than 80 receptions, 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was Football Championship Subdivision leader in receptions.
“I still feel a little upset about that, not going to lie,” Poots said of the snub by UNLV. “If the new coach keeps Vegas (players) here they could be a top-25 team.”
The opportunity to play, and flourish, immediately at Southern Utah helped set the table for his professional career. He was in training camp and played in exhibition games in 2011 with the Dallas Cowboys, and has also had tryouts with a few other teams.
Being an NFL player, even if it was just in training camp, was an experience Poots still cherishes. The Cowboys had just opened their new stadium.
“Preseason with the Cowboys was pretty intense,” he said. “It felt like the stadium was sold out. It was mind-blowing being in the brand-new stadium. That was amazing.”
While he’s had a few tryouts with NFL teams the past few seasons and he isn’t giving up on his aspirations to play outdoor football, Poots has found his niche in the arena league. He’s played parts of four seasons, catching 239 passes for 2,744 yards and 74 touchdowns.
It’s the type of experience that will make Las Vegas immediately competitive. Teams regularly combine for more than 100 points in arena games, which is played with eight players and 20-man rosters, and on a 50-yard field.
“Arena football is a blast. It’s a lot of fun being a receiver in this league,” he said.
Poots said this season could be the start of something great. He’s been with Neil and likes his vision for the franchise. Plus, the last time he was counted out, Poots put up record-breaking numbers in college.
“It’s good to be the underdog again,” he said. “Let’s go out and play, and shock people. We have the potential to be great. I’m not saying we’re in the ranks of Arizona, but down the road it could be something good.”
Arena football is attempting to stick in Las Vegas for a third time. The Las Vegas Gladiators were here from 2003-07 and the Las Vegas Sting in 1994-95.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
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