Atlanta Silverbacks News Release - www.atlantasilverbacks.com

Thursday, March 20, 2008

ATLANTA, GA -- The Silverbacks added considerable depth and experience with the signing of four players this week. Georgia products Blake Camp and Zach Kirby, USL veteran Nathan Knox, and rookie Andre Sherard signed contracts for 2008, pending USSF approval.

"We've added a lot of depth with these new signings," head coach Jason Smith said. "They are all very talented players. I expect a lot out of them from the beginning."

Camp, a central midfielder, is an Athens, Georgia native and Clark Central High School graduate. He joins the Silverbacks after two years with MLS' Red Bull New York.

"He gives us a lot of creativity and depth in the attacking central midfield position," Smith said.

A two-time All-American at Duke University (2002-2005), Camp was drafted by New York in the fourth round (41st overall) in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft. He made his professional debut September 3, 2006 in a 2-1 loss to Chicago, and made two additional first team appearances, all as a substitute. Camp also featured in all 12 reserve team matches his rookie year, tallying a team-high four goals. A preseason injury limited his playing time in 2007 to four reserve team matches.

As a schoolboy, Camp spent time with the youth teams of Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Real Valladolid in Spain, and Parleiras in Brazil while earning All-State and All-Region recognition at Clark Central High in Athens. At Duke he earned a regular starting spot his sophomore year, garnering All-ACC honors. He was named All-American his junior and senior year, and was named the ACC Tournament MVP in 2005, tallying 24 career goals for the Blue Devils.

In 2004 he made four appearances for the PDL Chicago Fire Premier, moving to PDL club Raleigh CASL Elite in 2005, where he scored one goal in 11 appearances.

Kirby, a Marietta, Georgia native and Pope High School standout, joins the Silverbacks from USL-2 Wilmington Hammerheads. The defender appeared five times from Wilmington after transferring from MLS' Los Angeles Galaxy.

"Zach comes in filling a place where we were weak last year," Smith said. "We had tried to get him last year, but he went to the Galaxy. We are very happy to have him with us this year."

Kirby was selected by the Galaxy in the fourth round of the 2007 Supplemental Draft out of Boston University (2003-2006). At BU Kirby earned America East Conference Defender of the Year honors in 2006, was named to the NSCAA All-New England Second Team in 2005, the All-New England Third Team in 2004, and to the America East All-Conference Second Team in 2004 and 2005. At Pope High School Kirby earned Cobb County Player of the Year honors and was a finalist for Georgia Player of the Year in 2003. He played his club soccer for United Quest, winning four state championships, and was in the US National Under-17 pool in 2001 and 2002.

Knox, a striker from Christchurch, New Zealand, joins the Silverbacks from 2007 USL-1 champion Seattle Sounders. In 2007 he made 15 appearances in his only season with Seattle, tallying three goals.

"Knox is a big, strong target up top we hope can replace Daniel Antoniuk up front," Smith said.

In 2006 Knox made 20 appearances for the Minnesota Thunder, tallying five goals and four assists. A two-time All-American at Mcalester College (2000-2003) in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Knox began his professional career in 2003 in his native New Zealand with Rangers before moving to Canterbury United for the 2004-2005 season, netting four goals. At Mcalester College, Knox was named MIAC Player of the Year in 2003, and picked up All-American honors in 2002 and 2003.

Sherard, a defender from Greenville, North Carolina, joins the Silverbacks for his first professional season after a standout career at the University of North Carolina (2004-2007).

"Sherard brings some much needed speed to the right side," Smith said. "He will give us some depth were we were very thin last year."

A Hermann Trophy candidate his senior year, Sherard was selected by Chivas USA in the fourth round (51st overall) in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft. At UNC, Sherard appeared 86 times, earning All-Region and All-ACC honors in 2005, 2006, and 2007.