2016 All-IFL Teams Announced
June 30, 2016 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Spokane Empire News Release
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Indoor Football League announced the All-IFL First and Second Team honors for the 2016 regular season. Six Empire players received recognition.
Three Empire players received All-IFL First Team honors including running back Trevor Kennedy, offensive lineman Dave Lefotu, and defensive back Robert Brown.
Kennedy (RB, 6-0, 205, Mercyhurst) played in 13 games during his rookie season in the IFL before going down with a season-ending injury. Despite missing three games, Kennedy led the IFL in rushing yards per game during the regular season (55.4), rushing touchdowns (28), and scoring touchdowns with 39 (18.2 points per game). He was also ranked third in the league in all-purpose yards per game (124.1). Trevor led the Spokane offense with 162 carries for 720 yards and added 23 receptions for 249 yards with six touchdowns. He also led the Empire with 28 kick returns for 525 yards and one touchdown, plus added three missed field goal returns for 95 yards and one score.
Lefotu (OL, 6-2, 330, Hawaii) was a foundational piece of the Empire's offensive line this season as a rookie in the IFL. Lefotu played in all 16 regular season games and was also a team captain.
Brown (DB, 5-10, 175, Union) led the Empire with 104 total tackles on the season (ranked sixth in IFL) and tied for first in the league with 12 pass breakups. He also hauled in seven interceptions (tied for second in IFL). Robert also served on special teams for Spokane as he returned 17 kickoffs for 262 yards (15.4 yards per return).
Additionally, three Spokane players received All-IFL Second Team honors including quarterback Charles Dowdell, defensive lineman Benjamin Perry, and linebacker Nick Haag.
Dowdell (QB, 6-0, 210, Saginaw Valley State) played in all 16 games for the Empire this season and was tied for first in the IFL with 63 passing touchdowns. He completed 263-of-425 pass attempts (61.9 percent) for 2,735 yards (ranked fourth). On the ground, Charles recorded 99 rush attempts for 442 yards (ranked sixth in IFL) with seven touchdowns.
Perry (DL, 6-5, 280, Minnesota) finished his rookie season ranked fourth in the IFL in sacks (9) and tied for eighth in tackles for loss (13). Perry recorded 41 total tackles, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, two pass breakups, and a blocked kick.
Haag (LB, 6-3, 240, Assumption) received All-IFL honors for the first time in his career. Nick finished the 2016 season with 102 total tackles (ranked seventh) and 13 tackles for loss (tied for eighth). He also added two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup. Haag played in 15-of-16 games this year for the Empire and was a team captain.
"We are very proud of the young men that have received All-IFL honors from our football team this year," said Empire Head Coach Adam Shackleford. "I believe it is a direct reflection of our team chemistry, the hard work of those individuals, hard work of their teammates around them, and the endless effort by my assistance coaches to make them better football players every day."
First Team All-IFL Offense
QB Charles McCullum (Wichita Falls)
RB Trevor Kennedy (Spokane)
WR Demarius Washington (Colorado)
WR Brady Roland (Iowa)
WR Jordan Jolly (Wichita Falls)
OL Myniya Smith (Sioux Falls)
OL Charlie Sanders (Sioux Falls)
OL Dave Lefotu (Spokane)
First Team All-IFL Defense
DL Jermiah Price (Cedar Rapids)
DL Xzavie Jackson (Cedar Rapids)
DL Brandon Peguese (Sioux Falls)
LB Tyler Knight (Sioux Falls)
DB Michael Green (Billings)
DB Rashard Smith (Colorado)
DB Jabari Gorman (Nebraska)
DB Robert Brown (Spokane)
First Team All-IFL Special Teams
K Rockne Belmonte (Wichita Falls)
KR Korey Williams (Sioux Falls)
Second Team All-IFL Offense
QB Charles Dowdell (Spokane)
RB Tyler Williams (Wichita Falls)
WR Markeith Summers (Green Bay)
WR O.J Simpson (Nebraska)
WR Bryan Pray (Iowa)
OL James Atoe (Colorado)
OL Nathaniel Ryan (Billings)
OL A.J Harmon (Cedar Rapids)
Second Team All-IFL Defense
DL Benjamin Perry (Spokane)
DL Walter Thomas (Wichita Falls)
DL Davis (Sioux Falls)
LB Nikolas Sierra (Cedar Rapids)
LB Nick Haag (Spokane)
DB Boubacar Cissoko (Tri-Cities)
DB Elijah Fields (Sioux Falls)
DB Dee Maggitt Jr. (Tri-Cities)
Second Team All-IFL Special Teams
K Nicholas Belcher (Cedar Rapids)
KR Chevelle Buie (Green Bay)
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