Former SUNY Cortland cornerback Joe Lopez (Port Jefferson Station/Comsewogue) recently signed a contract to play professionally with the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League (AFL).

Lopez made his debut with the Blaze on Saturday, July 16, and recorded a pass breakup, three unassisted tackles and one assisted tackle in a 62-58 victory over the New Orleans VooDoo in Salt Lake City. The Blaze play their final game of the season on Friday, July 22, on the road versus the Cleveland Gladiators.

A four-year player and three-year starter at Cortland from 2007-10, Lopez tied a school record during his senior season with eight interceptions. He also set a new school mark by intercepting a pass in six consecutive games. Lopez was selected as an honorable mention All-American and first-team All-East cornerback by D3football.com and was also a first-team All-ECAC Southeast and All-New Jersey Athletic Conference honoree. He finished his collegiate career with 12 interceptions.

The Utah Blaze are in their fifth season in the AFL. The league, which currently consists of 18 teams, was founded in 1987 and has conducted play every year since except 2009. Arena football is played indoors on a 50-yard field with eight players per side. Former Cortland defensive lineman R-Kal Truluck was the 2001 AFL Rookie of the Year with the Detroit Fury before playing four years in the National Football League with the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals.

Utah Blaze Web Site