Top 25 Players of 2012: No. 16-20
July 18, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release
CHICAGO - Throughout the 2012 season, the Arena Football League has been counting down a number of "Top 25" lists to celebrate the League's Silver Anniversary. The lists have ranged from the "25 Greatest Uniforms in AFL History" to the "25 Greatest Players in AFL History". The majority of these lists have been voted on by the Silver Anniversary Committee, group consisting of longtime AFL executives, media members and former players.
The League also wanted to include fans in select voting categories. Subscribers to AFL Field Pass, the official fan club of the Arena Football League, were tasked with deciding upon the Top 25 Players of the 2012 regular season. During Week 19 of the AFL season, the League office collected ballots from members and tallied the votes. The results will be divided into five segments, beginning with numbers 21-25 and ending with the announcement of the Top 5 Players of 2012 on Friday night. The list continues with numbers 16 through 20 below.
16. New Orleans VooDoo JLB Alvin Ray Jackson
Tied for a League-high 14 interceptions in 2012, Alvin Ray Jackson has snagged more picks than any Jack linebacker in AFL history this season. Jackson also became the franchise's career leader in interceptions this season, totaling 21 to his name thus far. In addition, the VooDoo's all-time leader in tackles has tallied 67.5 tackles and two forced fumbles on the year. He was awarded Riddell Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 4 after collecting three interceptions against Tommy Grady and the Utah Blaze and is a candidate for Riddell Defensive Player of the Year.
17. San Jose SaberCats DL Joe Sykes
One would be hard-pressed to find a more dominant defensive lineman in 2012 than Joe Sykes. The second-year man has notched an AFL-record 16 sacks in 2012 to go along with 18 tackles for loss. Sykes was awarded Riddell Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording a single-game franchise record four sacks against Iowa. He would earn the award again in Week 14 by recording 2.5 sacks and a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown against Orlando. With 33 tackles and five forced fumbles to his name, Sykes is a candidate for both the Game Tape Exchange Defensive Lineman of the Year and Riddell Defensive Player of the Year.
18. Philadelphia Soul DB Kent Richardson
On a team that entered the season with a secondary crowded with All-Arena defensive backs, Kent Richardson has emerged as the brightest star in 2012. Richardson's 14 interceptions ties him for the League-high and places him two picks shy of teammate Rayshaun Kizer's single-season AFL record of 16, set in 2011. Richardson has also collected 73.5 tackles, including two tackles for loss, to go along with 13 pass breakups and three forced fumbles this season. Richardson is a candidate for RevHoney Defensive Back of the Year and Riddell Defensive Player of the Year.
19. Spokane Shock DB Terrance Sanders
A midseason injury may have stalled Terrance Sanders' record-breaking season, but it did not stop him from cracking the Top 25 list. In Week 10, Sanders was awarded Riddell Defensive Player of the Week, J. Lewis Small Ironman of the Week and National Guard MVP of the Week after recording five kick returns for 153 and two touchdowns, as well as totaling eight tackles and two interceptions. The next week, he was named Riddell Defensive Player of the Week again after recording a franchise-record three interceptions against Philadelphia. In 12 games of action, Sanders led the Shock with 82.5 tackles and eight interceptions. He has also totaled 1,527 kickoff return yards and four touchdowns as a return man this season. Sanders is a candidate for RevHoney Defensive Back of the Year, J. Lewis Small Ironman of the Year and Riddell Defensive Player of the Year.
20. Chicago Rush WR Jared Perry
In 17 games played, Perry has totaled the second-highest single-season receiving yardage total in AFL history for a rookie with 1,777 yards on the season. It is also the fifth-highest yardage total in the League this year. Perry has hauled in 129 passes and recorded 31 as a receiver, but has also relished in a handful of opportunities to run the ball, taking two to the house this year.
Top 25 Players of 2012 (as voted on by AFL Field Pass subscribers)
16. New Orleans VooDoo JLB Alvin Ray Jackson
17. San Jose SaberCats DL Joe Sykes
18. Philadelphia Soul DB Kent Richardson
19. Spokane Shock DB Terrance Sanders
20. Chicago Rush WR Jared Perry
21. San Antonio Talons WR Jomo Wilson
22. Philadelphia Soul WR Donovan Morgan
23. Iowa Barnstormers QB J.J. Raterink
24. San Antonio Talons DB Fred Shaw
25. Chicago Rush JLB Kelvin Morris
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Arena Football League Stories from July 18, 2012
- Numerous SaberCats Candidates for AFL's Year-End Awards - San Jose SaberCats
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- Children Put Smile on Faces of Storm Players - Tampa Bay Storm
- ATI Two-Minute Drill with VooDoo Head Coach Pat O'Hara, Episode 19 - New Orleans VooDoo
- Final Gladiators Game of the Season Marks Fan Appreciation Night - Cleveland Gladiators
- Talons Finish Atop Final Coaches' Poll of Season - AFL
- Soul up for Numerous Year-End League Awards - Philadelphia Soul
- Tampa Bay Storm Re-Launches Surge Fan Club - Tampa Bay Storm
- 21 Questions with VooDoo Doll Brittany - New Orleans VooDoo
- Top 25 Players of 2012: No. 16-20 - AFL
- Sharks Eye Division Title in Regular Season Finale - Jacksonville Sharks
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