PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Former Hampton University safety Sam Pope has signed by the Pittsburgh Power of the Arena Football League.

Pope (St. Helena Island, S.C.) played two years for the Pirates after playing at Southwest Mississippi Community College and transferring from South Carolina. He was a First Team All-MEAC selection in 2007, after recording 41 tackles and intercepting five passes that season. Two of those interceptions came in a 48-27 win at Princeton.

Pope played in seven games as a senior in 2008, recording 26 tackles.

After graduation, Pope attended a rookie minicamp with the Green Bay Packers and a summer workout with the Buffalo Bills. Before signing with the Power, Pope had signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

Pope joins former Pirates Nicholas Royal and Jerome Mathis on the Power. The team's first game of the season will be Friday, March 11 against Philadelphia. To learn more about the Pittsburgh Power, visit the team's website at www.pittsburghpowerfootball.com.

For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.