AFL honors five players with monthly awards for May

Published on May 26, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

NEW YORK - Georgia Force wide receiver/linebacker CHRIS JACKSON, Las Vegas Gladiators offensive specialist MARCUS NASH, Grand Rapids Rampage defensive specialist DAMON MASON, Georgia Force wide receiver/linebacker DEREK LEE, and Chicago Rush kicker KEITH GISPERT have been named U.S. Army Ironman, Offensive Player, ADT Defensive Player, Rookie, and Kicker of the Month, respectively, for the month of May of the 2005 season.

U.S. ARMY IRONMAN: Jackson (6-2, 220, Washington State), who is in his sixth season, helped lead the Georgia Force (11-5) to a 2-1 record in May and to their first playoff berth in franchise history. In three games, Jackson hauled in 28 passes for 352 yards and nine touchdowns. Defensively, Jackson made 2.0 tackles (1 solo). On special teams he returned 10 kickoffs for 197 yards and a score. Jackson was named Offensive Player of the Week for Week 15 in the Force's playoff-clinching win over Southern Division rival Tampa Bay Storm. The Force clinched the Southern Division title in May and play the Storm (10-6) this Sunday, May 29 at Philips Arena in the first round of the playoffs. This marks the second time that the former Cougar has earned an AFL monthly honor.

OFFENSIVE: Nash (6-3, 210, Tennessee) led the Las Vegas Gladiators (8-8) in receiving this season with 131 receptions (No. 2 in AFL) for 1,769 yards (No. 1 in AFL) and 41 touchdowns (t-2nd AFL). In the month of May, Nash ranked No. 1 in the League in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. The three-year veteran grabbed 36 passes for 415 yards and 13 touchdowns. This marks the second time that the former Volunteer has earned an AFL monthly honor.

ADT DEFENSIVE: Mason (5-9, 180, SW Louisiana), who is in his eighth season, helped lead the Grand Rapids Rampage (4-12) to a 2-1 record during the month of May. Mason finished the season with a new AFL record of 133.5 tackles in a single season. In the past three games, he has recorded 33.0 tackles (29 solo), one interception and 12 passes defended including 17.5 tackles (15 solo) and eight passes defended in last week's 71-65 win over the Western Division Champion Los Angeles Avengers (10-6). This marks the first time that he has earned an AFL monthly honor.

ROOKIE: Lee (6-5, 215, Tennessee Tech), a Rookie of the Year candidate, helped lead the Georgia Force (11-5) to a 2-1 record in May and to their first playoff berth in franchise history. Selected to the 2005 AFL All-Rookie Team, Lee caught 19 passes for 199 yards and six touchdowns in the final three games of the regular season. Defensively, he recorded 4.0 tackles (2 solo) and one pass defended and was named Defensive Player of the Game in Week 16 against Dallas. This marks the first time the former Golden Eagle has earned an AFL monthly honor.

KICKER: Gispert (6-2, 175, Georgia State), who is in his third season, connected on 16-of-16 extra points in May including 6-of-6 in a Week 17 win over the Nashville Kats (6-9), 45-21, to secure the Rush the No. 3 spot in the American Conference playoffs. He went 2-of-5 on field goals, including a 35-yarder against Grand Rapids. This marks the second time Gispert has earned an AFL monthly honor.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

OFFENSIVE: New Orleans' QB Andy Kelly (February); San Jose WR/DB Rashied Davis (March); San Jose QB Mark Grieb (February).

DEFENSIVE: Colorado's DS Rashad Floyd (February); Georgia DS Kevin Gaines (March); Los Angeles OL/DL Silas Demary (April).

IRONMAN: Dallas WR/DB Will Pettis (February); Philadelphia OS Marcus Knight (March); San Jose WR/DB Rodney Wright (April).

ROOKIE: Georgia OS Troy Bergeron (February); San Jose DS Tremain Mack (March); Dallas QB Clint Stoerner.

KICKER: Los Angeles K Remy Hamilton (February); Dallas K Carlos Martinez (March); Tampa Bay K Matt George (April).

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 26, 2005

• AFL quick hitters: divisional round - AFL I
• Roe named to All-Ironman Team - San Jose SaberCats
• Force's Jackson and Lee earn player of the month honors - Georgia Force
• Nash named AFL Offensive Player of the Month - Las Vegas Gladiators
• AFL honors five players with monthly awards for May - AFL I
• VooDoo OL/DL B.J. Cohen named to AFL's All-Ironman Team - New Orleans VooDoo
• Molden named All-Ironman - Chicago Rush
• Cornelius White named to AFL's All-Ironman Team - Columbus Destroyers
• AFL must-see matchups: divisional round - AFL I
• Arena Football League names All-Ironman Team - AFL I
• Marcus Owen Earns First AFL Award - New York Dragons
• Hammond Named To All-Ironman Team - Nashville Kats
• Avery named to All-Ironman team - Grand Rapids Rampage
• Destroyers re-sign receiver/defensive back Jeremy Unertl - Columbus Destroyers
• AFL stars Bishop, Hamilton and Molden to compete in ArenaBattle Celebrity Skills Challenge - AFL I
• Soul quarterback Tony Graziani's bobbleheads arrive...finally - Philadelphia Soul

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