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af2 Weekly Awards

Published on July 26, 2007 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Quad City wide receiver/linebacker JACK WALKER, JR., Alabama quarterback MITCH TANNEY and defensive backs DEON GIDDENS (Manchester) and JASON SIMPSON (Arkansas) have been named the U.S. Army Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Co-Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 17 of the 2007 season. In addition to these three awards, the af2 is also highlighting the player who makes the best catch of the week. The Cutters Catch of the Week Award for Week 17 goes to Bakersfield wide receiver/linebacker JOSH POWELL.

U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Walker (6-4, 195, Kent State), in his fifth af2 season, had another impressive all-around effort for Quad City in the team's 83-33 home win against Cincinnati in Week 17. The veteran from Kent State made his presence felt on offense with five catches for 56 yards and three touchdowns. Walker was also an impact player on defense with a 17-yard interception return for a touchdown, one fumble recovery and one tackle. This is Walker's fourth Ironman of the Week Award this season. He was also honored for his Week 14, Week 10 and Week 8 performances. Offensively, Walker leads the Steamwheelers with 116 catches (7th in af2) and ranks second on the squad in scoring (208 points), total touchdowns (33) and receiving yards (1,165). He is also tied for the league lead in fumble recoveries with six. Walker, in his third year with Quad City, earned American Conference All-af2 Second Team honors in 2006.

SCHUTT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Tanney (6-3, 215, Monmouth) directed Alabama to an important, 71-61, Week 17 road win at South Georgia. The Steeldogs' signal caller, in his first af2 season, had his best outing of the season to keep Alabama's playoff hopes alive heading into the final week. Tanney completed 28-of-40 passes for a season-high 324 yards and five touchdowns without an interception as the Steeldogs scored a season-high 71 points. The Monmouth alum also set a new Alabama team record with four rushing touchdowns in the contest. In 15 games played, Tanney has thrown for 3,272 yards and 63 touchdowns with just nine interceptions to go along with a team-high eight rushing scores.

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Giddens (5-11, 185, Tennessee State) had a stellar night defensively in Week 17 for Manchester in the team's, 69-56, playoff-clinching road win at Albany. The former Tennessee State standout, now in his third af2 season (first with Manchester) was a big reason why the Wolves defeated their long-time East Division rivals for the third time in 2007. Playing without two defensive starters in the secondary, Giddens played a starring role with four interceptions against the Conquest, tying an af2 single-game record. He also contributed two pass breakups and one tackle. Giddens, in just six games played, is currently second on the team in interceptions (5) and fifth in total tackles with 35. Simpson (6-0, 210, Missouri) was an impact player on defense in Arkansas' 58-28 Week 17 road win against Central Division rival Oklahoma City. The Twisters rookie from Missouri made quite an impression with 11.5 tackles, three pass breakups and two interceptions, one of which he returned 41 yards for a touchdown. Simpson's recent effort was even more notable because he became the first player in af2 history to record 130 tackles in a single season. He currently has 132 total stops with one game left to play. He also ranks second on the Twisters with eight interceptions.

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK

Powell (6-3, 225, San Jose State), who is in his first af2 campaign, earned the Cutters Catch of the Week Award, an honor that emerged last year to highlight the player who makes the best catch of the week. Powell's catch was quite impressive as the 225-pound rookie from San Jose State snared a 35-yard touchdown pass in stride down the right sideline with one hand. The play came in the first quarter of Bakersfield's 50-36 home win against Stockton. The result eliminated the Lightning from playoff contention. Powell was a difference maker for the Blitz in the victory, catching a game-high 13 passes for 126 yards and four touchdowns in just his second game start of 2007. He also contributed one tackle on defense.

U.S. Army Ironman of the Week candidates included:

Tennessee Valley's Henry Freeman, Bakersfield's Nathan Munson, Tri-Cities' Robert Garth, Boise's Emmett White, Tulsa's Don McGee, Oklahoma City's Fred Shaw, Lubbock's James McCoy, Corpus Christi's Tyrell McCrea, Spokane's Anthony Brown, Green Bay's Gerald Harris, Manchester's Adam Fichter and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Doug Harding.

Schutt Offensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Quad City's Kris Peters and Tom Anthony, Corpus Christi's Steve Smith, Tulsa's Jermaine Landrum, Bakersfield's Josh Powell, Spokane's Chico Mackey, Tennessee Valley's Chris Gunn, Arkansas' Brian Villanueva, Green Bay's Gino Guidugli, Boise's Casey Allen, Manchester's Mark Radlinski, Everett's LaMonte Jones, Rio Grande Valley's George Williams, Lubbock's Alvance Robinson and Bossier's Jamaal Perry.

ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included:

Quad City's Jermaine Petty, Corpus Christi's Sean McKinney, Tri-Cities' Jamie Hattley, Lubbock's Jerome Braziel, Tennessee Valley's Carlos Campbell, Alabama's Rico Reese, Bakersfield's Nigel Eldridge, Spokane's Nygel Rogers and Kelvin Morris, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Chris Royal, Green Bay's Ronnie Amadi, Boise's Sullivan Beard and Tulsa's C.J. McLain.

Previous 2007 Winners:

Week 16: Mahoning Valley's Chris Johnson (Offensive), Manchester's Travis Pugh (Co-Defensive), Louisville's Rusty Midlam (Co-Defensive), Bakersfield's Nathan Munson (Ironman), Central Valley's Donyell Booker (Catch)

Week 15: Everett's Josh Richey (Offensive), Tri-Cities' Shannon Davis (Defensive), Oklahoma City's Al Hunt (Ironman), Mahoning Valley's Chris Johnson (Catch)

Week 14: Spokane's Antwone Savage (Offensive), Texas' Stanley Smith (Defensive), Quad City's Jack Walker, Jr. (Ironman), Texas' Jason Deml (Catch)

Week 13: W-B/Scranton's Ryan Vena (Offensive), Spokane's Nygel Rogers (Defensive), Arkansas' Kevin Williams (Ironman), Corpus Christi's Randy Davis (Catch)

Week 12: W-B/Scranton's Ryan Vena (Offensive), Arkansas' Pierre Thomas (Defensive), Alabama's Herman Bell (Ironman), Laredo's Corey Ready (Catch)

Week 11: South Georgia's Chavis McCollister (Offensive), Rio Grande Valley's Curtis Jeter (Defensive), Green Bay's Danny Donaldson (Ironman), Bossier-Shreveport's Jamaal Perry (Catch)

Week 10: Spokane's Antwone Savage (Offensive), Oklahoma City's Aaron Chavers (Defensive), Quad City's Jack Walker, Jr. (Ironman), Florida's Chris McKinney (Catch)

Week 9: Tri-Cities' Brian Baker (Offensive), Everett's Johnny Jackson (Defensive), Tri-Cities' Robert Garth (Ironman), Lubbock's Chris Highshaw (Catch)

Week 8: Everett's Josh Richey (Offensive), Central Valley's Aaron Miller (Defensive), Quad City's Jack Walker, Jr., (Ironman), Bossier-Shreveport's P.J. Winston (Catch)

Week 7: Central Valley's Clay Groefsema (Offensive), W-B/Scranton's William Ferguson (Defensive), Stockton's Kenyatte Morgan (Ironman), Albany's Antwun Williams (Catch)

Week 6: Albany's Bakari Brown (Offensive), Tennessee Valley's Farouk Adelekan (Defensive), Texas' Jarrod Fuller (Ironman), W-B/Scranton's Jim Jones (Catch)

Week 5: Oklahoma City's Danny Howard (Offensive), W-B/Scranton's Chris Royal (Defensive), W-B/Scranton's Larry Kendrick (Ironman), Arkansas' Kevin Williams (Catch)

Week 4: W-B/Scranton's Ryan Vena (Offensive), Tri-Cities' Jamie Hattley (Defensive), Boise's Emmett White (Ironman), Manchester's David Bailey (Catch)

Week 3: Oklahoma City's Stan Hill (Offensive), Bossier-Shreveport's Elex Reed (Defensive), Florida's Chris McKinney (Ironman), Lubbock's Alvance Robinson (Catch)

Week 2: South Georgia's D. Bryant (Offensive), Bossier-Shreveport's Kendrick Walker (Defensive), Central Valley's Wes Borba (Ironman), Amarillo's Steve Bergeski (Catch)

Week 1: Florida's Chris Wallace (Offensive), Tennessee Valley's Quentin Burrell (Defensive), Quad City's Jermaine Petty (Ironman), Mahoning Valley's Chris Archie (Catch)

About U.S. Army

The U.S. Army Accessions Command, USAAC, headquartered at Fort Monroe, Va., is charged with overseeing recruiting and training of both enlisted soldiers and officers for the Army. USAAC is composed of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Ky., the U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Monroe, Va. and the U.S. Army Training Center at Fort Jackson, S.C.

About Schutt Sports, Inc.

Schutt Sports is synonymous with innovation in sports equipment, from the pros to youth leagues. Schutt Sports is the largest provider of football helmets and faceguards in the world and has introduced many of the game's most important advances in protective equipment, from its first football faceguard in 1935 to breakthrough helmet technology in 2003 via the Schutt DNA helmet with SKYDEX material. Schutt Sports also markets innovative, quality, protective and field/court equipment for baseball, basketball, and softball, and is the Official Base Supplier of Major League Baseball. The Litchfield, Ill. based company also markets collectible football helmets and bases to promote fan enjoyment. Schutt Sports is The Gear That Makes The Game.

About ADT

Celebrating its 131st anniversary, ADT Security Services is the largest single provider of electronic security services to more than six million commercial, federal and residential customers throughout the United States. ADT's total security solutions include intrusion, fire protection, closed circuit television, access control, critical condition monitoring, electronic article surveillance and integrated systems. ADT's Web site address is www.adt.com.

About Cutters

Cutters is the innovator of performance grip material. Other gloves have attempted to meet their standards and may look similar, but they don't match their grip, durability, or overall performance. No other glove performs like this. IT'S IN YOUR HANDS.

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