CLEVELAND – Former Carson-Newman football offensive lineman Robby Ignagni (Gallatin, Tenn.) has joined the Arena Football League's Cleveland Gladiators, the organization announced earlier this week.

Ignagni becomes just the third Eagle alum to enter the Arena Football League.  Carson-Newman has produced a South Atlantic conference best 48 pro players.  The Eagles have sent 39 players to the NFL, four to the Canadian Football league and two to the now-defunct USFL.

The 6-3, 320-pound offensive lineman signs on with the same team that former cornerback Oliver Davis began his AFL career.  Davis now plays for the Portland Thunder. 

Ignagni finished his Carson-Newman career as the program's all-time leader in knockdowns with 45. 

The Gallatin, Tenn.-native started 38 consecutive games at right guard for the Eagles and helped clear the way for Eagle offenses that ranked first, fourth and third in the nation in rushing in his three seasons as a starter.

Ignagni helped lead the way for three different 1,000-yard rushers.  Carson-Newman averaged 38 points, 360 yards rushing and 479 yards of total offense with him starting.  

The senior is also the strongest member of the team with the best squat and bench press numbers of anyone on the offense or defense. In his senior season he finished with a 71.5 overall grade (the second highest single season grade in school history) and 17 knockdowns.

His four, three-knockdown games are the most in school history.  He earned first team All-America honors from the Beyond Sports Network and was also first team all-region and first team All-SAC as a senior.