San Antonio's Sykes, Arizona's Eisenhardt Named Linemen of the Year
August 12, 2013 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release
CHICAGO - The Arena Football League Office announced today that San Antonio Talons DE JOE SYKES has been named Game Tape Exchange Defensive Lineman of the Year and Arizona Rattlers C BILLY EISENHARDT has been named the Spalding Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Sykes (6-5, 280, Southern) earned his second consecutive Game Tape Exchange Defensive Lineman of the Year honor in 2013, following up his record-breaking 16-sack performance a year ago by totaling 34.5 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks this season. Sykes has tallied 30.5 sacks over the last two years, an AFL record for most sacks over a two-year period.
Sykes also contributed 16 quarterback hurries, five passes broken up, four forced fumbles and one interception for the 10-8 Talons. The third-year pro turned in a particularly strong performance on April 12, when he accumulated three sacks and one forced fumble against the Tampa Bay Storm. In the Talons' regular season finale, Sykes recorded 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one interception against the Philadelphia Soul.
Eisenhardt (6-3, 305, Grand Valley State) started 17 games in his first season in Arizona. The fourth-year pro played for Cleveland from 2010-2011 and Chicago in 2012 before joining the Rattlers. The two-time All-Arena selection is a part of an offensive line that gave up only 16 sacks to rank third in the AFL this season. Eisenhardt's consistency at the center position and blocking contributed to Arizona leading the League in scoring offense with 66.8 points per game. The Rattlers had the second best passing offense with 292.3 yards per game.
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