2015 Individual Awards Announced
July 2, 2015 - Indoor Football League (IFL) News Release
IFL Adam Pringle Award Winner Brady Beeson
(Tri-Cities Fever)
The Indoor Football League (IFL) is proud to announce the winners of the 2015 Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: Jameel Sewell (QB, Nebraska Danger)
Nebraska Danger QB Jameel Sewell (6'3, 220lbs., Virginia) is the 2015 IFL Most Valuable Player. This is Sewell's second MVP award having also been named MVP following the 2013 IFL season. Sewell joins IFL Hall of Fame QB Chris Dixon as the only players in IFL history to have earned multiple League MVP awards.
Sewell led the Danger to a 10-4 record during the regular season, 7-0 at home, and the #1 seed in the Intense Conference. Under Sewell's steady guidance, the Danger have advanced to their third consecutive United Bowl. During the 2015 season, the dual-threat signal caller ranked at or near the top of every passing and rushing category. Sewell finished the regular season throwing for 1,739 yards and 38 TDs against just three interceptions. Sewell's 38 TD passes ranked third in the IFL while his three interceptions were the fewest of any QB in the IFL. Sewell continued to prove that he can be equally as dangerous on the ground, finishing second in the IFL in rushing yards (525) and rushing touchdowns (20). His 4.9 yards per carry led the IFL.
Sewell will look to add a United Bowl Championship to his resume next Saturday, July 11th, as he and the Nebraska Danger take on four-time defending United Bowl Champions, the Sioux Falls Storm.
Coach of the Year: Kurtiss Riggs (Sioux Falls Storm)
Sioux Falls Storm Head Coach Kurtiss Riggs is the 2015 IFL Coach of the Year. The most accomplished head coach in the history of the IFL, Riggs guided the Storm to a perfect 14-0 regular season in 2015 and the team's sixth consecutive berth in the United Bowl.
En route to the #1 seed in the United Conference, the Storm had the #1 ranked offense in the IFL, leading the league in points per game (63.1), yards per game (272.2), and rushing yards per game (124.6). Defensively, the Storm pride themselves on stifling opposing offenses, and this season was no different. The Storm led the league in points allowed per game (34.4), interceptions (23) and defensive touchdowns (11).
Under Riggs' tutelage, the Storm had eight players named to the All-IFL teams in 2015 including; OL Myniya Smith, OL Charlie Sanders, WR Judd Harrold, DL Cory Johnsen, DB Dequan Starling DB Elijah Fields, LB Tyler Knight and OL Rashaud Mungro. Next Saturday, Riggs and the Storm are seeking a 5th consecutive United Bowl Championship.
Offensive Player of the Year: Steven Whitehead (WR, Tri-Cities Fever)
Tri-Cities Fever WR Steven Whitehead is the 2015 IFL Offensive Player of the Year. A long time IFL veteran, Whitehead (5'8, 180lbs., McNeese State) had a career year in 2015 despite several Fever quarterbacks missing time due to injury, including former All-IFL QB Houston Lillard.
During the 2015 season, Whitehead led the IFL in receiving yards (1,032) and receptions (81). He also added 17 TD receptions, ranking second in the IFL. Whitehead was a threat on the ground as well, rushing for a career-high six touchdowns. Whitehead is the 11th player in IFL history to top 1,000 receiving yards in a single season and is the first wide receiver to be named Offensive Player of the Year.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jermiah Price (DL, Cedar Rapids Titans)
Cedar Rapids Titans DL Jermiah Price is the 2015 IFL Defensive Player of the Year. Price, the 2012 United Bowl MVP as a member of the Storm, concluded his second season with Cedar Rapids helping the team to allow the fewest yards per game in the IFL (179.4). Price (6'2, 255lbs., Oklahoma State) set the tone for the Titans defense all season starting in Week One, where he recorded four sacks. He would finish the season leading the league with 12.5 sacks. In addition, he registered 64 tackles, 24 for loss, which lead the IFL. Price also led the league with four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
Special Teams Player of the Year: Mulku Kalokoh (KR, Bemidji Axemen)
Bemidji Axemen KR Mulku Kalokoh (5'10, 195lbs., Southern Illinois) is the 2015 IFL Special Teams Player of the Year. The talented rookie kick returner finished at or near the top of the every major kick return statistic during the 2015 season including; kick returns (59), kick return yards (991), and kick return touchdowns (5). He also led the Axemen in rushing with 500 yards and added 11 touchdowns on the ground. Kalokoh and Danger RB Waymon James are the only players to be named both Offensive Player of the Week (Week 4) and Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 5) during the 2015 season.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Waymon James (RB, Nebraska Danger)
Nebraska Danger RB Waymon James is the 2015 IFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. James (5'8, 205lbs., TCU) quickly emerged as one of the most explosive playmakers in the IFL. He finished the season leading the IFL in rushing yards (632) and all-purpose yards (1,605). James reached the end zone 20 times in 2015, ranking tied for fifth in the IFL with 122 points.
James' versatility was on full display during the Danger's 86-43 Intense Conference Championship victory over the Tri-Cities Fever. James reached the end zone in three different ways; rushing, receiving, and he also returned a kick for a TD. The Danger will hope for a similar effort in next week's United Bowl.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Michael Green (DB, Billings Wolves)
Billings Wolves DB Michael Green (5'11, 200lbs., Lenoir-Rhyne) is the 2015 IFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. During his rookie campaign, and under the guidance of first year Head Coach and IFL Hall of Famer Chris Dixon, Green became one of the most feared ballhawks in the IFL, intercepting seven passes (2nd in the IFL). He concluded the 2015 season with 114 tackles (2nd in the IFL), 2 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 159 interception return yards (1st in IFL). Green and the Wolves won four of their final five games and will look to build off of that momentum heading into 2016.
Adam Pringle Award: Brady Beeson (K, Tri-Cities Fever)
Tri-Cities Fever K Brady Beeson is the recipient of the 2015 Adam Pringle Award. The award, named after a very influential and highly respected member of the former West Michigan Thunderhawks, is given to the player or coach who exemplified outstanding service and dedication to their surrounding community.
Beeson helped spearhead a benefit involving the Tri-Cities Fever and Colleen's Dream Foundation. Beeson partnered with the Foundation and former NFL kicker Billy Cundiff to bring awareness to ovarian cancer in the Tri-Cities community. Their efforts resulted in thousands of dollars being raised for the cause.
The 2015 IFL season culminates on Saturday July 11th with the United Bowl. The Sioux Falls Storm will host the Nebraska Danger at the Denny Sanford Premier Center with kickoff scheduled for 5:05pm. Tickets are available by calling the Storm office at (605) 274-6686. The game can also been seen live online at www.IFLlive.tv!
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