With the start of training camp, the Panthers have signed former USC defensive lineman Malik Dorton.

"He has great hands, great power and great speed. "said General Manager and Head Coach Darren Arbet.  "I'm excited to see him come in here and compete for a spot."

Dorton finally gets a chance to showcase his skills after some misfortune that took away his opportunities.   Following a camp stint with the then-Oakland Raiders, Dorton signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL.  However, the COVID pandemic led to the season being canceled with Dorton looking for a landing spot.  He thought he found it with the first season of the Major League Football venture playing for the Alabama Airborne.  The developmental league never got off the ground because of financial difficulties.

"It was still a good experience," said Dorton.  "They had a lot of talent out there.  Things were going well and it's just unfortunate how it folded and all those guys who didn't get an opportunity." 

Dorton had communicated with Bay Area defensive coordinator Rob Keefe during Keefe's stint with Northern Arizona and reconnected at a free agent camp in Sacramento that included scouts from the USFL.   Keefe liked what he saw and reached out to sell Dorton on a chance to play for the Panthers.

"I feel like I was one of the guys who slipped through the cracks and I've played a high level.  I was looking for a situation where I could get somewhere and show what I could do."

Playing against the best has been a major part of Dorton's DNA.  At USC, he not only played against conference powers in the Pac-12, but squared off against likes Texas, Alabama  and Notre Dame.  In high school at St. John Bosco, Dorton won a state title with a victory over traditional powerhouse De la Salle, who entered the game undefeated and scored at least 45 points in the five previous games. 

Like many players in the IFL, Dorton views the indoor game as a chance to fine tune to take his game to the next level.

"Over the last couple years, I've had a chance to hone in on my technique.  Playing on the D-line, that's one of the most important things.  I can get off blocks—I'm really strong at that.  I've seen a lot of football and have a high football IQ."

 Bay Area Panthers 2023 Home Schedule

Sunday, March 26, 5:05 PM v. Arizona Rattlers
Sunday, April 16, 5:05 PM v. Tucson Sugar Skulls
Sunday, April 23, 5:05 PM v.  Northern Arizona Wranglers
Monday, May 8, 7:05 PM v. Vegas Knight Hawks
Saturday, May 20, 6:05 PM v. Frisco Fighters
Saturday, June 3, 6:05 PM v. Duke City Gladiators
Monday, July 10, 7:06 PM v. San Diego Strike Force

Single Game and Season tickets for the Bay Area Panthers 2023 season are on sale NOW