Feb. 10, 2009
Cullowhee, N.C. -
Former Western Carolina running back Darius Fudge has signed a professional football contract with the Wichita Wild of the Indoor Football League (IFL) becoming the fourth Catamount to sign professionally this off-season. Fudge will be reunited with former WCU backfield mate, Lamont Reid, with the Wild.
Fudge and Reid are both in the IFL, with former quarterback Todd Spitzer and running back Mike Malone each assigned to teams in the arenafootball2 league (af2). Spitzer is with the Florida Firecats and Malone in Texas with the Amarillo Dusters.
A native of Riverdale, Ga., Fudge ended his playing career at Western ranked seventh all-time with 2,274 yards on the ground, with his 457 career attempts 10th. His career rushing average of 4.98 ranking fourth all-time.
Fudge finished his playing career at Western Carolina in 2006, garnering team MVP and All-Southern Conference accolades. He led the team in rushing with 1,001 yards on 229 carries during the campaign -- the eighth-best single-season in school history, adding four touchdowns. He is the most recent Catamount to eclipse the 1,000-yard plateau.
As a junior, Fudge gained a team leading 722 yards on the ground and scored three touchdowns and was named All-Southern Conference. In 2004, Fudge played in all 11 games for the Catamounts and gained 473 yards on 81 carries. He played a key role in Western Carolina's come-from-behind upset of Appalachian State when he rushed for 134 yards on just nine carries.
