Fans Vote Five Soul Players on Top 25 of 2012 List
July 23, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
PHILADELPHIA (July 23, 2012) - A league-high five members of the Philadelphia Soul were voted into the top 25 players of the Arena Football League in 2012. The list was voted on by Arena Football Field Pass members for the 2012 season. Two Soul players were included in the top five of the rankings.
The highest ranked member of the Soul was wide receiver Tiger Jones ranking No. 2, just behind Utah Blaze quarterback Tommy Grady. The Cutter's Wide Receiver of the Year candidate caught 133 passes for a franchise-record 2,010 yards and caught 47 touchdowns. Jones is the only player in League history to top 2,000 yards receiving in consecutive seasons. His record-breaking performance earned him an invitation to training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The next Soul player on the list, fullback and All-Arena candidate Derrick Ross, was voted the fifth-best player in the league. Ross earned his spot on the list after leading the League in rushing with an AFL record 645 yards and 32 touchdowns. His yards, touchdowns and his 146 rushing attempts are all franchise records. Ross's finest game came against the Orlando Predators in Week 13 where he broke franchise records with 84 yards and scored five touchdowns on his way to winning National Guard MVP of the Week. He's won the award twice this season.
Right behind Ross is his teammate in the backfield, quarterback Dan Raudabaugh, who was voted the sixth-best player in Arena Football. Raudabaugh has completed 362-of-540 passes for 4,790 yards and 115 touchdowns. Raudabaugh's yardage and touchdown totals are both new franchise records once held by former AFL great Tony Graziani. The National Guard MVP candidate ranks No. 3 in touchdown passes, No. 4 in completion percentage (67.0) and No. 7 in yards.
Coming in at No. 18 on the list was defensive back Kent Richardson after his breakout performance in 2012. In only his second season, Richardson has emerged as one of the most feared defenders in the League today. The All-Arena candidate leads the League with 14 interceptions, a franchise record once held by Eddie Moten. He is also tied for fifth in the League in passes defended with 29. Richardson is third on the team with 80.5 tackles.
The final member of the Soul voted onto the list was wide receiver Donovan Morgan at No. 22. Morgan makes the list despite playing in only 10 games due to injury, putting a big dent in his overall numbers on the season. When he's on the field, however, Morgan continues to make a big impact, catching 79 passes for 1020 yards and 26 touchdowns. Morgan averages almost 100 yards per game (92.7) and averages two touchdowns per game.
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