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BUFFALO, NY - Four former University at Buffalo standouts will be playing in the Arena Football League this summer, continuing to chase their dreams of playing in the NFL one day.

All four of the players - quarterback Chad Salisbury, fullback/linebacker Josh Roth, offensive and defensive lineman Hardy Mitchell and defensive back Noah Burroughs - have spent time in NFL training camps and are hoping to springboard their way back through the Arena League.

Salisbury is spending his third season with the Toronto Phantoms and has had excellent success in his AFL career. The former UB signal-caller -who ranks in the top five all-time in pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns at UB despite playing just two seasons - led the Phantoms to the playoffs last season after taking over when starter Pat O'Hara was injured late in the season.

Salisbury threw for 1,186 yards with 21 touchdowns and only nine interceptions while seeing action in seven games. In the first round of the playoffs, Salisbury threw for a team-record seven touchdowns in a win over the New York Dragons. Salisbury led Toronto to five straight wins and a playoff berth after taking over at quarterback.

Roth and Mitchell, meanwhile, will both be playing for the hometown Buffalo Destroyers after signing contracts this winter. Roth, who was with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent in 2000 and the 2001 training camp, was one of the great fullbacks in UB history. He is expected to play both fullback and linebacker with the Destroyers. Mitchell, who was also in the Bills camp back in 1998, has spent three years in the Arena League. He was a three-year starter on the UB defensive line during a standout career.

Burroughs, meanwhile, spent last fall in the New York Jets camp as a free agent and recently signed with the New York Dragons. Burroughs, an outstanding athlete, is expected to be a defensive specialist with the Dragons.