Four SaberCats Earn All-AFL Honors
Published on June 28, 2007 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (June 28, 2007) - Clevan Thomas is no stranger to year-end awards. The 6-year veteran was today named a First-Team All-Arena Football League defensive back and honored with the league's Defensive Player of the Month award for June.
Receiver James Roe, defensive lineman Ron Jones and kicker A.J. Haglund were voted to the All-AFL Second-Team.
Thomas (5-10, 195, Florida State) had one of his finest all-round seasons of his career in 2007 leading the SaberCats to a 13-3 record, a Western Division title and the top seed in the American Conference playoff race.
The 2002 and 2003 Defensive Player of the Year topped the team with nine interceptions, including one in each of the team's final four games, and 21 pass breakups while adding 86.0 total tackles, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries playing in all 16 games.
Thomas became the eighth player in AFL history to record 40 career interceptions and is tied for 5th place all-time with 41.
"I have won accolades throughout my career," said Thomas after learning of his selections. "But we are focused on getting to the ArenaBowl right now. I am thankful for the awards because they show that we have great guys around here and great coaches that put us in position to make plays."
"It's no secret Clevan changed the way defense is played in Arena Football since he came into the league," said SaberCats defensive coordinator Kevin Guy.
Roe (6-1, 197, Norfolk State) earned All-AFL recognition for the first time in his career by setting team season records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches in 2007. Already the team's career leader in all three categories, Roe was a three-time All-Ironman Team pick (2003-05).
Jones (6-3, 283, Southern Mississippi) led the team in sacks and tackles for loss in his first season with the SaberCats. His 7.0 sacks on the year tied for 8th in the league and is the third-highest season total in franchise history. The Gulfport, Miss., native also tallied four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three pass breakups and 19.5 tackles in 13 games.
Recently named to the AFL's All-Rookie Team, Haglund (5-7, 175, Central Oklahoma) earned another honor with his second-team selection. Haglund set AFL records for PATs made and attempted in 2007 and topped the circuit with 158 kicking points. Haglund missed just 10 PATs on the year (128-of-138) and his 10 field goals are the most by a San Jose kicker since 2002.
A premier franchise in the AFL, the San Jose SaberCats have captured two ArenaBowl titles, seven Western Division championships, eight consecutive playoff appearances and own the league's best regular season record this decade. The SaberCats are the top-seed heading into the American Conference playoffs and will host their first postseason game July 7 at 11:50 a.m. on ESPN.
Playoff tickets are available and can be purchased through any Northern California Ticketmaster outlet, by phone at (408) 998-TIXS (8497), online at Ticketmaser.com or by visiting the box office at the HP Pavilion at San Jose.
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