Former Owl Makes Columbus New Home For 2021

The Columbus Lions are starting 2021 signing period off big, literally. The former Temple Owl Romond Deloatch played 5 seasons from 2012-16. The 6’4”, 245-pound new signee is coming on as a wide receiver, but also played tight end and defensive line for the Owls. He would finish his career with 643 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Defensively, he finished with 12 total tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
The three-star recruit from Temple would prove to be a journeyman around the country and his story is not an easy one. According to the Ottawa Sun writer Tim Baines Deloatch sports a tattoo with a face of his mother with the words “Always With Me”. Deloatch’s mother Wanda passed away from cancer in early 2013 before he enrolled at Temple. One of her wishes was for him to earn his degree which he would when he graduated with a degree in criminology. Wanda talked to then Temple coach and current Baylor coach Matt Rhule to make sure it happened.
“I was a Momma’s Boy,” said Deloatch to the Ottawa Sun. “I’m following in her footsteps so much. I’m down to earth, I can gravitate to any crowd. That’s what she was pretty good at, keeping a smile on her face. I think I got that from her. She’d been sick for like two years. We didn’t know that. She was walking around with cancer. She helped me pass my SATs, she’d help me study. If she’d died the year before, I probably wouldn’t be here right now, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what I did.”
Deloatch would play for Ottawa Redblacks in the CFL in 2018. He would then find himself on the Baltimore Brigade of the AFL for a short stint in 2019. 2020 will land him in Columbus where the big man with the big heart will look to make his home in the Lions’ offense. “We want to build our offense with mismatches and play makers. Romond checks off both of those. Excited to get him here to Columbus for the fans.” Said head coach Jason Gibson.
The Columbus Lions open the season Friday, April 17th at home against the defending NAL Champions the Jacksonville Sharks.

ABOUT THE COLUMBUS LIONS

The Columbus Lions are members of the National Arena League (NAL). Founded in 2007, the Columbus Lions are starting their 14th season in 2021. The Lions are a 3x league champion and 13 playoff appearances in their rich history. The Lions play their home games at Hughston Field in the Columbus Civic Center. Lions Season Ticket Memberships are on sale now call (706) 322-3336 or visit columbuslions.com. Follow the Lions on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Lionsfootball/, twitter @columbuslions and instagram.com/Columbuslions.

ABOUT NATIONAL ARENA LEAGUE

The National Arena League was founded in 2016 and hosted its inaugural season in 2017 as the premier league in arena football. The National Arena League will kick off its fourth season in 2020. For more information regarding expansion opportunities or partnerships, contact Commissioner Chris Siegfried at chris@nationalarenaleague.com . For more information about the NAL visit www.nationalarenaleague.com, facebook.com/nationalarenaleauge, twitter.com/NALfootball, Instagram.com/nationalarenaleague.