About Our Sponsored Athletes
Mike Bell JR
College: Fresno State
Sport: Football
Position: Safety, Linebacker
Pro Experience: Buffalo Bills, New Jersey Generals (USFL)
Mike Bell Jr. will be representing IE Cryo from the New Jersey Generals USFL football club in 2023. We will be working closely with Mike to help with injury prevention and keeping his body feeling 100% all season long.
Standing at an impressive 6-3 210 lbs., Mike Bell Jr. is a defensive specimen playing linebacker for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL. He has had 3 stints with the Buffalo Bills since he declared for the 2019 NFL Draft after playing a key role for the 2018 Fresno State Bulldogs’ Mountain West Conference Championship run. Bell is widely known for his physicality and hit-stick abilities, but his instincts and versatility in the secondary
Bell finished his collegiate career at Fresno State with 198 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, four interceptions, 16 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble … made 23 consecutive starts at free safety for Fresno State and played in 38 career games. He was also a force on special teams, showing up on the depth chart for kickoff, punt, and punt return.
DelVon Hardaway
College: Fresno State
Sport: Football
Position: WR
Pro Experience: Pittsburg Maulers (USFL)
DelVon will be representing IE Cryo during his second year in the USFL with the Pittsburg Maulers. We are partnering with DelVon and his personal training staff to ensure he reaches all his training goals this offseason while still feeling like he is in mid-season form.
Hardaway put together a stellar rookie season in the USFL, amassing 23 catches for 288 yards. His 12.5 yards per touch makes him one of the most efficient WRs in the USFL. His athleticism and route-running expertise are going to make him a focal point for defenses in 2023.
Hardaway had an impressive freshman season for Fresno State back in 2014 where he reeled in 23 balls for 279 yards and a couple of TDs. Although injuries contributed to him seeing limited snaps throughout his college career, Hardaway rebounded tremendously by posting incredible numbers at his NFL Pro Day. His 40-yard dash time of 4.40s wowed NFL scouts and his 35-inch vertical jump only further confirmed his physical prowess.
Hardaway looks to come back to Pittsburg with a renewed energy in 2023. In the right offensive scheme, he could rewrite the USFL record books.
James Butler
College: University of Iowa
Sport: Football
Position: RB
Pro Experience: Oakland Raiders, BC Lions (CFL), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL)
James will be representing IE Cryo from the greater-Toronto area in his 3rd year as a CFL running back. As an experienced running back, James understands the value keeping his body healthy from the first day of training camp to the final whistle of a championship game. We will be working closely with James to ensure he surpasses 1,000 rushing yards for the second consecutive season!
In his second CFL season, Butler made a name for himself with the BC Lions. He ran for 1,060 yards and scored seven touchdowns on the ground and tacked on 384 receiving yards with four more touchdowns. He was the league’s second-leading rusher in 2022, falling behind Ka’Deem Carey by just 28 yards at season’s end.
Butler provided the perfect ground complement to the Lions’ aerial attack in 2022. He’ll look to make that same impact this season with the Eastern Conference powerhouse in Hamilton, Ontario.
The University of Iowa product also spent time in the CFL with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2019) after beginning his professional career in the National Football League with the Oakland Raiders (2019). He also spent time in the XFL with the Houston Roughnecks (2020).
KiAnte Hardin
College: University of Minnesota
Sport: Football
Position: Defensive Back
Pro Experience: BC Lions (CFL), Michigan Panthers (USFL)
KiAnte will be representing IE Cryo from Detroit, MI in 2023 as he prepares for his first season in the USFL with the Michigan Panthers. Long seasons tend to put mileage on the bodies of any athlete, so we will be working closely with KiAnte to make sure his body is feeling refreshed and rejuvenated during every game, practice, and workout!
Hardin was one of the most electrifying young cornerbacks in the Canadian Football League in 2021. In his first two starts, the 5-11 ballhawk snagged two stellar interceptions versus two of the most experimented QBs in Canadian Football. Hardin went on to start 11 games as a rookie and continues to make a reputation for himself as a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball.
KiAnte Hardin started his career at the University of Minnesota and was the Gophers’ best coverage cornerback and blooming star as a sophomore in 2016.
In terms of his football ability, he has the coverage skills of an outside corner and the speed of a slot receiver. At 5’11” 185 pounds, he locks down receivers with ease. He also posted a 4.39 at his pro day.
Hardin has very quick hips and mirroring ability, is good in press, and hits really hard for his size. He has the versatility to play in a variety of schemes due to his athleticism.
