AJ Bryant Named Defensive Player of the Week
June 6, 2007 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Evansville BlueCats News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN: The Evansville BlueCats are pleased to announce that defensive back AJ Bryant has been named UIF Defensive Player of the Week for his record breaking performance in last weekend's 58-46 victory over the Bloomington Extreme.
Last Saturday at Bloomington, AJ Bryant pulled down a team record 3 interceptions including, one which he returned 30 yards for a touchdown. He also led the team with 8.5 tackles. 3 interceptions in a game is not only a new BlueCats team record, but it also ties the single game UIF league record, and stands alone as the best single game total in the league this season.
In six games with the BlueCats in 2007, Bryant has recorded 38.5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 5 interceptions. The touchdown he scored on Saturday was not his first of the season, however, as Bryant also scored on an 11-yard pass reception against Rock River back on April 14th and tossed a 32-yard touchdown pass against Omaha back on May 13th.
Evansville BlueCats Head Coach John Hart said, "AJ is one of the best football players I've ever coached. He's good enough to play several positions at an All-Star level and he's always making big plays in big situations."
AJ Bryant played in 6 games with the BlueCats last season and produced astonishingly similar numbers over his first 6 games last season as he has in his first 6 games this season. Last season he made 32.5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 5 interceptions over those 6 games.
His 10 career interceptions in just 12 career games is certainly an impressive pace, and it should come as no surprise that Bryant is already the BlueCats all-time career leader in interceptions and tied for the career lead in interception return yards.
Bryant has been recognized by the UIF before, having previously earned UIF Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 15 of last season and earning UIF Defensive Player of the Week "Honorable Mention" honors in Week 4 of this season.
In college, AJ was one of the defensive leaders for the Georgia Southern football team that finished the 2005 season ranked #9 in the USA Today NCAA Division I-AA final poll. He started at free safety in all 12 games as a senior in 2005, making 59 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, one sack, and lead the team with 4 interceptions and 5 pass break ups. He returned one of his interceptions for 74 yards and a touchdown in a game against Morehead State, which game him 253 career interception return yards, a new school record. He was also the holder on extra point and field goal kicks. AJ was scouted and placed through the Indoor Football Scouting Bureau.
Other players receiving league awards for Week 11 were Billings quarterback Chris Dixon (Offensive Player of the Week), Billings kicker Ha'a Bento (Special Teams Player of the Week), Rock River quarterback Ben Sankey (Offensive "Honorable Mention"), Ohio Valley defensive lineman Jeffrey Candler (Defensive "Honorable Mention"), and Rock River wide receiver/kick returner Antonio Overstreet.
Since the UIF was formed in 2005, no other team in the UIF has had more players earn more Player of the Week awards than the Evansville BlueCats.
Catch the Excitement of AJ Bryant and the Evansville BlueCats when the team returns home this Saturday night, June 9th, when they face the Rock River Raptors at Roberts Stadium. To purchase single game tickets visit ticketmaster.com or contact the Roberts Stadium box office at (812) 476-1383 extension 25. For group rates and Cold Stone Creamery Family 4-Packs, contact the BlueCats office at (812) 437-CATS. For more information on the Evansville BlueCats, please visit the website at www.evansvillebluecats.com.
United Indoor Football Association Stories from June 6, 2007
- Bandits' Jansen Resigns; Luxford and Arens to Take Over - Sioux City Bandits
- Raptors Announce Playoff Ticket Plans - Rock River Raptors
- AJ Bryant Named Defensive Player of the Week - Evansville BlueCats
- Extreme signs Central Catholic graduate Johnson - Bloomington Extreme
- Rage to Hold Christian Family Night Saturday; Hall of Famer Roger Wehrli to Speak - RiverCity Rage
- Fans to have opportunity to vote for UIF All-Stars - UIF
- UIF Players of the Week announced - UIF
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