Gill returns to success

If you would have asked Boise Burn quarterback Royal Gill if he could see himself playing Arena Football growing up as a kid, he probably would have laughed at you.

“I really didn’t even know what Arena Football was until they started broadcasting it on TV, and even then I didn’t know much about it,” Gill said.

Gill was a starter for the Eagle High School Mustangs from 1999-2001 and always had dreams of playing at the next level after high school. That chance came when he signed on to play for Pima Junior College from 2003-2004. While playing for PJC, Gill tallied up 156 completions on 265 attempts for 2,126 yards and 18 Touchdowns. He was No. 5 in the NJCAA final ranking. He also led PJC to the Pilgrim Pride Bowl Title and was a JC All Region and a team captain. While Gill was succeeding at the junior college level he got another offer, this time from New Mexico State. Gill embraced the opportunity to play college football at its highest level and decided to enroll at NMSU. In Gill’s only season at NMSU he started 10 games completing 195-of-328 passes for 1,930 yards and 12 touchdowns passes.

“I got to play with and against a lot of great players while playing for New Mexico State,” Gill said. “I was able to go to a bunch of cool places, it was just a great overall experience not only making a Division I team, but being able to start and have the year that I did.”

After only one year at NMSU Gill transferred to Southern Utah where he had planned on finishing his collegiate play with the Thunderbirds, but was declared ineligible because of NCAA transfer rules.

“Once I was done with college I started looking to play professional football somewhere,” Gill said. “The Arena League just always kept coming up, so I decided to pursue it and see what it was all about.”

Gill attended training camp with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League to see what his chances were of being able to play professional football before trying out for the Arena Football Leagues.

When that didn’t work out he decided to tryout for the AFL’s Utah Blaze in Salt Lake City. He made the Blaze’s team and spent January and February with the team before being released on Feb. 23.

Once Gill was released from the Blaze he came back to Boise and tried out for the Burn. He made the team and has had an impact from day-one, competing for the starting job at quarterback and eventually getting it.

“It’s awesome; it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do,” Gill said. “Once Boise got an Arena League team I wanted to give it a try. I am really happy to be here and get the opportunity to help my team and have a good time doing it.”

Gill and the Burn host Stockton this Saturday at Qwest Arena who they defeated earlier this year 51-43 in a come from behind victory.

TRENT LOOTENS
Sports Writer

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