Jimmy Fryzel
Encyclopedia
James David Fryzel was an Arena Football League wide receiver
for the Orlando Predators
. The Predators cut Fryzel prior to the 2008 season after he tore his ACL
. Previous to signing with Orlando, he played wide receiver with the Miami Dolphins
, the Atlanta Falcons
, the Tennessee Titans
, and the Chicago Bears
.
in Lakeland, Florida
, where he was active in Student Council
, National Honor Society
, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes
, as well as becoming an All-County selection as a junior and senior in football
. Fryzel lettered in track
and soccer, as well, and served as junior class president.
, including starting 23 games in his final two seasons. After establishing career-highs with 58 catches for 1,126 yards and 5 TDs, Fryzel obtained Second-Team All-Mid-American Conference
Honors as a senior. He also earned a MAC Offensive Player-of-the-Week award for his game against Miami University
, in which he caught 6 passes for 174 yards and 2 TDs. He finished his collegiate career with 137 receptions for 2,469 yards and 10 TDs. Then following his senior year, he played in the Rotary Gridiron Classic
All-Star Game. Fryzel earned a bachelors degree in accounting.
as an undrafted free agent in May 2003. Later in 2003, he spent time on the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons
, the Tennessee Titans
, and the Chicago Bears
. In 2004, he attended the Chicago Bears training camp, but was waived during pre-season, then signed on again to the team's practice squad in October 2004.
to a one year contract. Fryzel compiled big numbers in his first season with the Predators, despite having missed the first four games on the inactive list. Nevertheless, Fryzel led the Predators in receiving yards (1,159), finishing second in receptions (78), as well as second in receiving touchdowns (18). Fryzel also ended the season ranked second on team in both scoring (108 points) and all-purpose yards (1,356). He picked up an Offensive Player-of-the-Game award in his first game for his efforts, which included nine passes for 133 yards and 3 TDs versus the Chicago Rush
. Fryzel might have complied four touchdowns in that game, but his last was called back when officials ruled the back of his head hit the line in the back-of-end zone on a spectacular leaping catch. After four consecutive 100-yard games, Fryzel earned his second Offensive Player-of-the-Game after his fifth consecutive 100-yard game against arch-rival, Tampa Bay Storm
. In which he compiled 10 receptions for a career-high 159 yards and 3 TDs. He tied the club record for five consecutive games with at least 100-yards in receiving, but left early in the 3rd quarter with fractured ribs in a game versus Georgia. He missed two games because of the injury, but returned in the regular season finale, posting 170 receiving yards and 12 receptions, both of which were career highs. Fryzel posted 12 receptions for 128 yards and 3 TDs in a pair of playoff games, but his season was cut short after a semi-final loss to the Georgia Force
. He resigned with Orlando to another one-year deal in July 2005.
in receptions (87), receiving yards (1,108) and receiving touchdowns (23) for the 2006 season. He also led club in scoring with 138 total points. Fryzel caught 3 TD passes in a single game three times in his first three games. Then in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Storm
, Fryzel compiled 11 receptions for 158 yards and 3 TDs. But after Week 4, Fryzel was placed on Injured Reserve after being diagnosed with diabetes. Upon his return, he posted four, 100-yard receiving games during the final games of the regular season. He then caught 18 balls for 222 yards and 4 TDs in the post-season, including a game-high 10 receptions against the Chicago Rush
in ArenaBowl XX, which the Predators came up short in defeating. Fryzel signed a one year contract in July, allowing himself to continue to post big numbers with Orlando for the 2007 season.
, grabbing nine balls for 105 yards and one touchdown, in which he completed two key grabs on third down to keep the drives alive. In Week 12, Fryzel posted his third 100-yard game of the 2007 season, even completing his second score on the final play of game, producing winning points in a 46-45 come-from-behind win versus Austin. Then in the final game of the Predators 2007 season, he was limited to 39 yards on four catches, but he did manage a key eight-yard touchdown reception on third down at beginning of fourth quarter. In that game, Fryzel experienced his first taste of defense in the AFL, playing safety in the final seconds of the game against New York. Fryzel was also active in Predators off-season community service program, making multiple appearances in schools and charity functions on behalf of the Predators.
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
. The Predators cut Fryzel prior to the 2008 season after he tore his ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
. Previous to signing with Orlando, he played wide receiver with the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, and the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
High school
As a youth, Fryzel attended Lakeland High SchoolLakeland High School (Lakeland, Florida)
Lakeland Senior High School is the oldest public high school in Lakeland, Florida, United States. Lakeland Senior High School belongs to the Polk County School Board and is a member of Polk District Schools. Lakeland High School was the original high school in the city. It also shares its campus...
in Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
, where he was active in Student Council
Student council
Student council is a curricular or extra-curricular activity for students within elementary and secondary schools around the world. Present in most public and private K-12 school systems across the United States, Canada and Australia these bodies are alternatively entitled student council, student...
, National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
, as well as becoming an All-County selection as a junior and senior in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
. Fryzel lettered in track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
and soccer, as well, and served as junior class president.
College career
From 1999 to 2002, Fryzel played 43 games for the UCF KnightsUCF Knights
The UCF Knights are the athletics teams of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. All of UCF's varsity sports teams are known as the Knights, with the women's teams sometimes referred to as the "Lady Knights." The Knights, which includes the university's 16 varsity sports teams,...
, including starting 23 games in his final two seasons. After establishing career-highs with 58 catches for 1,126 yards and 5 TDs, Fryzel obtained Second-Team All-Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
Honors as a senior. He also earned a MAC Offensive Player-of-the-Week award for his game against Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, in which he caught 6 passes for 174 yards and 2 TDs. He finished his collegiate career with 137 receptions for 2,469 yards and 10 TDs. Then following his senior year, he played in the Rotary Gridiron Classic
Gridiron Classic
The Gridiron Classic was the name given to a college football game played between teams from the Pioneer Football League and Northeast Conference at the end of the 2006-2009 seasons...
All-Star Game. Fryzel earned a bachelors degree in accounting.
NFL career
After college, Fryzel began his pro career by signing with the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in May 2003. Later in 2003, he spent time on the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, and the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In 2004, he attended the Chicago Bears training camp, but was waived during pre-season, then signed on again to the team's practice squad in October 2004.
Early AFL Career
On October 14, 2005, Fryzel signed on with the Orlando PredatorsOrlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
to a one year contract. Fryzel compiled big numbers in his first season with the Predators, despite having missed the first four games on the inactive list. Nevertheless, Fryzel led the Predators in receiving yards (1,159), finishing second in receptions (78), as well as second in receiving touchdowns (18). Fryzel also ended the season ranked second on team in both scoring (108 points) and all-purpose yards (1,356). He picked up an Offensive Player-of-the-Game award in his first game for his efforts, which included nine passes for 133 yards and 3 TDs versus the Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
. Fryzel might have complied four touchdowns in that game, but his last was called back when officials ruled the back of his head hit the line in the back-of-end zone on a spectacular leaping catch. After four consecutive 100-yard games, Fryzel earned his second Offensive Player-of-the-Game after his fifth consecutive 100-yard game against arch-rival, Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
. In which he compiled 10 receptions for a career-high 159 yards and 3 TDs. He tied the club record for five consecutive games with at least 100-yards in receiving, but left early in the 3rd quarter with fractured ribs in a game versus Georgia. He missed two games because of the injury, but returned in the regular season finale, posting 170 receiving yards and 12 receptions, both of which were career highs. Fryzel posted 12 receptions for 128 yards and 3 TDs in a pair of playoff games, but his season was cut short after a semi-final loss to the Georgia Force
Georgia Force
The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...
. He resigned with Orlando to another one-year deal in July 2005.
2006 Season
Fryzel led the Orlando PredatorsOrlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
in receptions (87), receiving yards (1,108) and receiving touchdowns (23) for the 2006 season. He also led club in scoring with 138 total points. Fryzel caught 3 TD passes in a single game three times in his first three games. Then in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
, Fryzel compiled 11 receptions for 158 yards and 3 TDs. But after Week 4, Fryzel was placed on Injured Reserve after being diagnosed with diabetes. Upon his return, he posted four, 100-yard receiving games during the final games of the regular season. He then caught 18 balls for 222 yards and 4 TDs in the post-season, including a game-high 10 receptions against the Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
in ArenaBowl XX, which the Predators came up short in defeating. Fryzel signed a one year contract in July, allowing himself to continue to post big numbers with Orlando for the 2007 season.
2007 season
In his first week against the Storm, Fryzel led team in receptions, grabbing 10 receptions for 107 yards and one score, in which his play was slightly hampered with a hamstring injury. Jimmy started in the second game, but reinjured his hamstring and his play-time was severely limited. From Week 3 to Week 9, he was sitting on the Injured Reserve list, but he returned in Week 10, catching five passes for 36 yards and one score. The old Fryzel returned the next week versus the New Orleans VooDooNew Orleans VooDoo
The New Orleans VooDoo are an Arena Football League team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play their home games in New Orleans Arena....
, grabbing nine balls for 105 yards and one touchdown, in which he completed two key grabs on third down to keep the drives alive. In Week 12, Fryzel posted his third 100-yard game of the 2007 season, even completing his second score on the final play of game, producing winning points in a 46-45 come-from-behind win versus Austin. Then in the final game of the Predators 2007 season, he was limited to 39 yards on four catches, but he did manage a key eight-yard touchdown reception on third down at beginning of fourth quarter. In that game, Fryzel experienced his first taste of defense in the AFL, playing safety in the final seconds of the game against New York. Fryzel was also active in Predators off-season community service program, making multiple appearances in schools and charity functions on behalf of the Predators.
2008 season
Fryzel tore his ACL prior to the 2008 AFL season. The Orlando Predators then released Fryzel. The current AFL Collective Bargaining Agreement states a team must place a player on IR (injured reserve) if he has been with the team for four seasons. Fryzel had played only three. So, despite being a league-leading receiver, and a fan favorite, the Predators cut him. The Predators were not obligated to cut Fryzel; he like many other players under the four-year requirement according to the CBA, could have been placed on IR. He could have received his salary without bonuses, his housing allowance, etc., however in a "business decision" the Predators cut Fryzel, obligated only to pay for his surgery, rehab, and minuscule workman's compensation.Career Receiving Statistics
| Season | Rec | Yds | Avg | TDs | Long | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Orlando Predators season 2005 Arena Football League season The 2005 Arena Football League season was the 19th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Colorado Crush, who defeated the Georgia Force in ArenaBowl XIX. The AFL changed its playoff format to allow the top four teams per conference to make the playoffs. Previously, the... |
78 | 1149 | 14.7 | 18 | 44 | |
| 2006 Orlando Preators season 2006 Arena Football League season The 2006 Arena Football League season was the 20th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Chicago Rush, who defeated the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl XX.... |
87 | 1110 | 12.8 | 23 | 45 | |
| 2007 Orlando Predators season 2007 Arena Football League season The 2007 Arena Football League season was the 21st season of the Arena Football League. The regular season began play on March 1, 2007 and concluded on June 25... |
55 | 581 | 10.6 | 8 | 31 | |
| Career statistics | 220 | 2840 | 12.7 | 49 | 45 |