Cobras Announce 2004 Team Award Recipients
June 3, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
CHARLOTTE – The Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League announced the club’s fifth annual team award winners. Offensive specialist Damien Groce was named as the team’s Most Valuable Player, wide receiver/defensive back Jarrick Hillery received the Ironman Award, offensive/defensive lineman Bryan Ray was selected as the Most Improved Player and offensive/defensive lineman Troy Pelshak was chosen as the Cobras Award winner for community service and leadership.
Groce (5-10, 192, Iowa State) was selected as the team MVP by his teammates after emerging as the clubÂ’s most dangerous all-around talent. During the 2004 campaign he set career-highs in every major offensive, defensive and special teams category, including receptions (73), receiving yards (881) and touchdowns catches (19). The three-year veteran led the squad with 50 kickoff returns for 903 yards, including a 56-yard return for a score, for a total of 1,836 all-purpose yards. The California native also finished the season sixth on the team with 21.5 tackles.
Hillery (5-10, 200, Tennessee State) earned the Ironman Award for his efforts on offense, defense and special teams. The former All-Arena and All-Rookie performer ranked second on the team with 42.0 tackles and was the Cobras most consistent defensive back throughout the season, even spending several games at defensive specialist. A four-year veteran, Hillery also played an integral role in the Cobras offensive attack, ranking fifth on the team with 33 receptions for 386 yards and five touchdowns, while also leading the team with 18.2 yards per kickoff return. He earned AFL Ironman of the Week honors on March 23 after he returned two kickoffs for a touchdown, including a franchise-record 58-yard return, to spark the Cobras 54-43 win over the defending ArenaBowl ch ampion Tampa Bay Storm.
Ray (6-3, 280, Wake Forest) was named as the teamÂ’s most improved player by the Carolina coaching staff after developing into one of the teamÂ’s strongest linemen in 2004. The first-year player spent the first four weeks of the season on the Cobras practice squad, but saw consistent progress after making his AFL debut against the Austin Wranglers on March 7. He completed the season ranked first among Carolina linemen with 15.5 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss. Ray also added 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Pelshak (6-3, 258, North Carolina A&T) made an immediate impact on and off the field in his first season in the AFL. The former Garinger High School became an integral part of the Carolina line before suffering a season-ending leg injury with three games remaining in the 2004 campaign. In eight games, Pelshak posted 11.0 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. The Charlotte native also played a key part in the Cobras community relations efforts, volunteering countless hours to working with local youth and underprivileged.
Previous Cobras team award winners:
MVP Fred McNair (2000), Fred McNair (2001), Aaron Bailey (2002), Bernard Holmes (2003)
Ironman Cornelius White (2000), Marrio Grier (2001), Cory Fleming (2002), Nick Ward (2003)
Most Improved Dary Myricks (2001), Brian Schmitz (2002), Tim McGill (2003)
Cobras Award Carl Reeves (2000), Carl Reeves (2001), Carl Bond (2002), Derek Stingley (2003)
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