NEW ORLEANS – The Arena Football League assigned DL Brian Johnston and New Orleans native WR Courtney Smith, announced the front office on Wednesday afternoon.

The VooDoo also activated DL Lolomana Mikaele from the injured reserve list, and placed DL Brian Coulter and OL Mark Fisher on the injured reserve list. Coulter suffered a season-ending injury against Tampa Bay.

Johnston (6'5" 270 lbs. Gardner-Webb) enters his fourth season of professional football, having most recently played with the San Jose Sabercats as a member of their team in training camp.

Johnston was a seventh round (210th overall) selection of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2008 NFL Draft, following a distinguished career at Gardner-Webb. Johnston played in nine games as a rookie for the Chiefs before being waived by the team in 2009. He was out football for the 2009 season before signing a contract with the Miami Dolphins in 2010, but was released in preseason.

After his stint in the NFL, Johnston played with the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL in 2011.

Smith (6'5" 230 lbs. South Alabama) is entering his first season between the walls, and second season of professional football. Smith is a New Orleans native and attended John F. Kennedy High School before Hurricane Katrina ransacked the city, sending Smith to Prattville High School (Prattville, Ala.) where he finished his prep career.

After high school, Smith continued his stay in Alabama, signing with UAB and he went on to finish his career at South Alabama. In his senior season with USA, Smith had 59 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Smith then signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2011, but was released after preseason. Smith most recently played with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

TRANSACTIONS – The Arena Football League (AFL) assigned DL Brian Johnston and WR Courtney Smith to the New Orleans VooDoo; the VooDoo activate DL Lolomana Mikaele from the Injured Reserve, place DL Brian Coulter and OL Mark Fisher on the Injured Reserve List.

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