As Gerry McManus prepares his squad for a tough trip to Bristol this Sunday, one of the first names on the teamsheet will be cornerback Danny Wardell. The former Iowa Central Community College Triton has returned for a second spell with the Jets and recorded his first interception last week in the 20-7 victory over Sussex. Wardell is joined by former Yorkshire Rams and Huddersfield Hawks team-mate Olivier Rougeot as well as Sheffield Sabres linebacker Chris Jackson.
Jackson made his debut against the London Blitz, getting on for one play late in the game and, making an immediate impact. It was pressure from the 25 year old Chester native that forced Blitz quarterback Fred Boyle into a wayward throw that Daniel Smallman-Gough intercepted. Currently studying for an MA in Landscape Architecture, Jackson has signed for the Jets to "participate within the highest standard of American Football" stated the energetic Sheffield resident, continuing "I want to push myself to new levels, and to have fun whilst doing so".
Rougeot has little experience but adds fantastic athleticism to the Jets' defensive backfield. Born in Paris the 23 year old student of Logistics and Supply Chain Management is thrilled at the prospect of pushing himself at the highest level. "It's a real opportunity to improve myself and discover what I can do against the best players in Britain. The Jets are like a family and have a great sense of team spirit that motivates me to give 100% all of the time. I only really found out about American Football since I moved here and playing with the best players in the Country is a real challenge that I'm looking forward to".
Wardell will be looking for a big day in his first match against the Aztecs this Sunday. In the clubs last meeting in early May Bristol threw 4 interceptions as they went down 16-7 at the Sphinx, the sixth time they've fallen to the Jets in six meetings. Signing from the Rams in 2007, at just 18, Wardell had already constructed an impressive resume having represented England Youth in 2004 and 2005. Seeing limited action behind Britball legend Mike Dunson, Wardell left mid-season to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.
A redshirt freshman in his initial season, Wardell transferred from the Mustangs to Iowa Central where he continued his football education before returning to Europe where he briefly joined Dunson with Italy's Bergamo Lions. Late in 2008 the rangy defensive back rejoined his local club, the Yorkshire Rams, for two games, before his desire to play Premier football brought him back to the midlands.
At twenty two, Wardell, currently studying Sports Coaching at the University of Huddersfield, sites the opportunity to work with former England youth team mate and current Jets' Defensive Co-ordinator Simon Vardy as well as former London Monarch Rowelle Blenman as reasons to return to Coventry. "The coaching staff here at the Jets is first rate, working with them in practice and against receivers like Jeremy Simms, Mark Cohen, Dale Hawes and now Courtney Pope can only help me develop into an even better player".
"My first two games have been great to be involved with and I can't wait to get back out there against Bristol. I've never faced them before but I know that they're the team Coventry has faced most over the years and therefore have built up quite a rivalry. They're a big outfit and like to run the ball so I don't expect to be seeing much through the air". The Jets defence has been one of the stingiest this season, having great success in stopping opponents rushing attacks, including holding the Aztecs to just 39 yards earlier this season.
McManus expects a much tougher contest than the first meeting this season "Bristol weren't anywhere near up to their usual high standard back in May. We were under prepared and on another day could easily have lost. I've been back with the club for almost two months now though and have seen progress every week, it's only a matter of time before we really click, fingers crossed it'll be this Sunday and we can go into the summer break on a real high".