GLENDALE, Arizona - (October 22, 2025) – The Arizona Rattlers have added a quarterback and two wide receivers as they continue to build their roster for the 2026 season.

Michael Hiers, Quarterback
Hiers, 6-1, 215 pounds, was the 2022 Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year and earned second-team All-American honors when he helped take Samford University to a conference championship reaching the FCS playoffs for the first time since 1991.

In two years at Samford, he completed 74% of his passes for 6,600 yards, 54 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions. He was invited to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie camp before the 2024 season and the Saskatchewan Roughriders prior to the current season.

Arland Bruce IV, Wide Receiver, Kick Returner
Bruce, 5-10, 190 pounds, was the IFL's All-Rookie kick returner and one of the top receivers for the Northern Arizona Wranglers last season. Playing in only nine games, he made the All-Rookie team by virtue of his 19 kick returns for 409 yards and three touchdowns. His 21.5 average yards per return put him fifth in the IFL.

At wide receiver, Bruce was third on the Wranglers in receptions and yards with 40 catches and 395 yards. His 43.9 average yards per game put him second on the team. He had 10 touchdowns, one behind the Wranglers' top pass catcher. He also rushed 15 times for 28 yards and two touchdowns.

Kasey Hawthorne, Wide Receiver
Hawthorne, 6-0, 195 pounds, played four years at Howard University where he piled up 1,689 receiving yards with 11 touchdowns. He also rushed for 14 TDs during his career. He was in the top 10 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and total scoring in his final season.

He was named to post-season All-MEAC teams in three of his four years at Howard, which won the 2023 MEAC championship. Hawthorne was a first-team all-conference player that season when he led the league with 35 receptions. He had a career high five TD catches that season.

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