Tryouts to begin at 9 a.m. at New Town High School in Owings Mills
Baltimore’s new pro football team, the Baltimore Lightning, will have open tryouts for its 2025 season beginning 9 a.m. this Saturday at New Town High School in Owings Mills, Md.
Photo: Courtesy photo
Tryouts will serve as an incredible opportunity for young people who have long chased the dream of playing professional football to realize those dreams by becoming a member of the Baltimore Lightning, a new professional football team that recently became a part of the International Football Alliance (IFA) in its inaugural season. A new pro league, the IFA is bridging the gap in international professional football by delivering the highest level of American Football within the strategic locations of Mexico and the United States.
“This is an incredible opportunity for talented football players to come out, try out and be considered for a spot on one of the most exciting teams in professional football,” says Will Hanna, the team’s General Manager. “We have a talented roster of team members who have already been signed to the team, however we do have a few spots available for a few special players.”
Members of the team will receive salaries of undisclosed amounts when the season kicks off in May of 2025. Players chosen at tryouts will join a roster of team members who will be ready to start training camp May 15 – 30, 2025. The league has issued Baltimore’s first 30 signed camp invites, which include an impressive group of pro football talent to include former Michigan Panther (USFL) Ray Bolden, former Jackson State and Chicago Bears Defensive back, De’Jahn “Nugget” Warren, and Todd Simmons, who recently attended camp for The Baltimore Ravens.
Simmons received a camp invite this summer and is excited to play for the Baltimore Lightning and to continue his football career. The Washington D.C. native who now resides in Frederick, Md is a wide receiver who has played in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 as well as junior college throughout his football career.
“Just getting in the door is huge, but being able to keep your foot in the door is very hard,” he says. A former star of the Netflix Show, Last Chance U, which chronicles the lives of elite athletes with difficult pasts turn to junior college football for a last shot at turning their lives around and achieving their dreams, Simmons says he has sacrificed a lot for his love of football. He was also invited to join the Las Vegas Raiders and the Chicago Bears.
Linebacker and Baltimore native, Joshua Holley, has also been invited to be a part of the team, and has been able to come back to football after a serious car accident a few months ago. Coming out of college at Morgan State University, he played1 year semi-pro, with that film, went to the spring league before it turned into the USFL.
“This is a huge moment for me,” Holley says. “It just shows that you can go through adversity and come back from it. To have that determination and perseverance to keep going – it shows that anything can happen.”
“I really want to encourage the City to come out and support,” Holley adds. “This new pro team is a big deal for the City of Baltimore and beyond.”
Tryouts are being sponsored by The Greene Turtle, Weary Arts Group, M4 Security and HMG Sports.
For more information about the Baltimore Lightning Football Team, visit LightningFootball.net, or call 301-971-BOLT.
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