All-Arena Teams Named

August 17, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Orlando Predators defensive specialist KENNY MCENTYRE, San Jose SaberCats record-setting quarterback MARK GRIEB, ArizonaÂ’s scoring machine CHRIS HORN and Detroit sack specialist R-KAL TRULUCK head the list of the 2002 All-Arena team.

McEntyre, the two-time AFL Defensive Player of the Year (2000-2001), earned a spot on the first unit for a third consecutive year. McEntyre led the Predators and tied for second in the league with eight interceptions, while tying for the league lead in pass defenses (29).

Grieb led San Jose to 12 consecutive victories to open the season, before breaking his collarbone in the third quarter of a Week 13 loss to Arizona. Although he missed the last game and a half, Grieb still managed to lead the league in pass efficiency rating at 126.4, throwing for 3,346 yards, 70 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

Horn led the league in scoring (218), while finishing in the top three in receptions (104), receiving yards (1324), and receiving touchdowns (29). He also scored five rushing touchdowns and two on returns.

Truluck, last yearÂ’s Rookie of the Year, had another monster season on defense, recording a league-leading nine quarterback sacks and six tackles for loss.

Making his first appearance on the All-Arena team since 1997 is San Jose WR/DB BARRY WAGNER. The most decorated player in Arena Football League history, Wagner earned first team All-Arena honors for six consecutive years (1992-97) and is making an unprecedented seventh appearance on the first unit. The five-season gap between his first and last All-Arena selection is the longest in league history. Wagner scored 156 points this season and had three interceptions for the SaberCats.

Chicago Rush WR/DB DAMEON PORTER was named for a second consecutive season as he led the league in interceptions for a second consecutive season (10), knocked down 12 other passes and added 35 receptions for 532 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Named for a second consecutive year, and fifth time in his AFL career, was Chicago Rush lineman JAMES BARON. One of the AFLÂ’s all-time sack leaders, Baron had three sacks and five tackles for loss this season. New Jersey kicker STEVE VIDETICH earned his second career nod, having also been selected to the first unit in 1997.

Selected for the first time were Indiana Firebirds FB/LB LEROY THOMPSON, teammate OL/DL CHRIS SNYDER, Los Angeles Avengers WR/LB GREG HOPKINS, and San Jose SaberCats DS CLEVAN THOMAS. Hopkins earned a first team spot after grabbing three All-Arena Second Team awards during his career. A 7-year veteran, Hopkins had 102 receptions this season for 1,285 yards and 29 touchdowns. He led the Avengers in scoring with 202 points and had 38.5 tackles and five touchdowns from his “jack” linebacker position. Thomas had eight interceptions for San Jose this season and electrified fans with seven kick returns for touchdowns. Thompson had 10 rushing touchdowns and five sacks for the Firebirds, while Snyder recorded 6.5 sacks.

The second unit was led by Avengers FB/LB CHAD DUKES, Carolina Cobras WR/LB CORY FLEMING, Rattlers QB SHERDRICK BONNER and SaberCats OS JAMES HUNDON. Dukes, who earned first team honors in 1997 and 1998, led the AFL in rushing yards (223) and rushing touchdowns (12). He also averaged close to 20 yards on kickoff returns and had 43.5 tackles with a pair of quarterback sacks. After earning back-to-back first team honors in 1997 and 1998, Fleming rejoins the team as a second unit selection. He tallied 18 receiving touchdowns this season to go with 20 tackles, two interceptions and five pass defended this year.

Bonner was named to the All-Arena team for the fourth time in his career as he threw for 3,219 yards, 69 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. In addition to three Second Team nods, he was named to the first team in 1998. A second-year player out of Portland State, Hundon had an explosive season for the SaberCats, where he led the league in receiving yards (1,464), receiving yards per game (104.6), and receiving touchdowns (35), while placing second in the league in scoring.

San Jose, which finished a league-best 13-1 during the regular season, led all teams five players named to the All-Arena team – including three first team selections. Chicago and Arizona had three players on the all-star squad, while Indiana, Los Angeles, Orlando and New Jersey had two each.

2002 All-ARENA TEAM

FIRST TEAM
QB: Mark Grieb, San Jose
FB/LB: Leroy Thompson, Indiana
OL/DL: R-Kal Truluck, Detroit
OL/DL: Chris Snyder, Indiana
OL/DL: James Baron, Chicago
WR/DB: Dameon Porter, Chicago
WR/DB: Barry Wagner, San Jose
WR/LB: Greg Hopkins, Los Angeles
OS: Chris Horn, Arizona
DS: Clevan Thomas, San Jose
DS: Kenny McEntyre, Orlando
K: Steve Videtich, New Jersey

SECOND TEAM
QB: Sherdrick Bonner, Arizona
FB/LB: Chad Dukes, Los Angeles
OL/DL: John Moyer, Chicago
OL/DL: Ernest Allen, Orlando
OL/DL: Mike Ulufale, San Jose
WR/DB: Mike Furrey, New York
WR/DB: Willis Marshall, Grand Rapids
WR/LB: Cory Fleming, Carolina
OS: James Hundon, San Jose
DS: Cecil Doggette, Arizona
DS: Damon Mason, New Jersey
K: Steve McLaughlin, Buffalo

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