UIF 2006 Individual Awards Announced

Published on July 18, 2006 under United Indoor Football Association (UIF) News Release


Omaha, NE - The United Indoor Football (UIF) association would like to take this time to congratulate all of the teams and players of the UIF for a successful and eventful 2006 season. League awards were voted on by the head coach and the radio announcer of each team, to total twenty ballots for the following awards. Each ballot was scored using a point system. The individual with the most points after all twenty ballots had been totaled, was awarded that respective nomination as the best in the UIF.

Terrance Bryant of the Sioux Falls Storm has been named the United Indoor Football Most Valuable Player for 2006. As a two-year starter at quarterback, Terrance led the Storm to a perfect regular season with a 15-0 record. Bryant threw for 2261 yards this season from 212 of 340 pass attempts for a 62.4% pass completion. On the year, he hit the end zone 52 times and rushed for 8 touchdowns from 115-yards rushing. Bryant's pass efficiency was 106.5 on the year. Terrance ranked in the top three for nearly every quarterback statistical category. Bryant led the Storm offense on the field every game and sat very minimal all season long. He led the team to have one of the best offenses in the UIF as they were ranked in the top five for 11 of 13 offensive team categories; including having the best red zone offense and turnover margin. Under Bryant's leadership, the Storm has won 18 straight games during the end of the 2005 season and all of 2006. One of Terrance's best games came on July 1 against the Bloomington Extreme when he threw 7 touchdowns for 174-yards from only 17 of 21 pass attempts. He also rushed for one touchdown as well to total 48 of the 66 points scored by the Storm that night.

Taking the UIF Offensive Player of the Year is the Ohio Valley Greyhounds, Matt Kohn at quarterback. Kohn broke several UIF records this season. He is now the single season record holder in passing yards per game (189.9), passing yards (2,849), pass attempts (470), pass completions (284), total offensive yards per game (218.7), total offensive yards (3,280) and total plays (566). Matt also broke several single game records with the most touchdown responsibility (9), total offensive yards (394), total offensive plays (51), passing yards (314), passing attempts (47), passes completed (26), and is tied with seven touchdown passes in one game (which he accomplished twice this season). Kohn's Greyhound were just nudged out of the playoff picture this season by the Sioux City Bandits as they both had a 6-9 regular season record.

Nate Fluit (DE), of the Sioux Falls Storm "Thunder Defense," has been named the UIF Defensive Player of the Year. Fluit led the UIF with 15.5 sacks for a loss of 89-yards during his 15 games this season. That mark also broke the single season record that was set last season by Eddie Bynes of the Ohio Valley Greyhounds (13). Nate also broke the single season record in solo sacks (13). On the year, he recorded 46 solo tackles and 24 assisted for a total of 58.0. He led the league with 23.5 tackles for a loss which totaled 103-yards and average 1.57 TFL a game. This was Nate's fourth season with the Storm and he was a part of last year's United Bowl I championship team.

Taking the Special Team's Player of the Year is the Lexington's Horsemen's kick returner, William "Agent" Mulder. Mulder broke a league record with a 26.6-yards kick return average that he had already currently had as he averaged 23.9 last season. He also returned three kicks for a touchdown, which also led the UIF. For the season he returned 26 kicks for 691-yards and had one that he went 55-yards for a score. Mulder also returned seven missed field goals this season for 237 total yards and one touchdown. His 33.9-yards returned average on missed field goals also led the league.

RJ Rollins of the Omaha Beef has taken the Offensive Rookie of the Year as a running back during 2006. Rollins, a graduate from the University of Minnesota - Crookston, led the league in rushing with 815-yards from 221 carries. His 54.3 yards per game was ranked second behind Rocky Harvey's (FTW) 63.3. Rollins had 26 touchdowns (17 rushing) in 2006 which led the UIF. He also ranked second in the UIF with 1,524 all-purpose yards for the Beef.

The UIF Defensive Rookie of the Year award goes to the Evansville BlueCats star linebacker, John Winchester. Winchester is a graduate from the University of Louisiana - Monroe and he ranked second this season in total tackles with 112.5 in 14 games. During the 2006 regular season, John totaled 87 solo tackles, 51 assisted, 19 tackles for a loss for 58-yards, 3.5 sacks for 24 yards, two interceptions, seven break-ups, and one forced fumble. John Winchester's tremendous play helped catapult the BlueCats into only their second playoff appearance in history as they closed out the season with four wins out of their last five games. Unfortunately, Winchester was hurt in the last game of the season early in the second half against the Sioux Falls Storm. John must sit the duration of the 2006 playoffs with a knee injury.

Another Storm player, Marques Smith, received the last player award as the Most Improved Player. Smith was second in the league in rushing with 720-yards from 182 carries for 4.0 yards per carry. He totaled 15 touchdowns on the year and helped lead the Storm to an undefeated season. Last season Marques totaled 271-yards rushing from 47 carries and had 11 touchdowns en route to their Championship run.

The Head Coach of the Sioux Falls Storm, Kurtiss Riggs, has been named the 2006 UIF Coach of the Year. Kurtiss led the Storm last season to a United Bowl I championship and has taken the Storm to an 18-0 record since last seasons playoffs. Riggs has been with the Sioux Falls organization since their existence as the Cobras in the IFL. Riggs quarterbacked the team for two seasons (2000, 2001 as the Storm) and was named the offensive coordinator in 2002. In 2003 Riggs took the Head Coach position and has since signed a multi-year contract. Riggs' team will host the Evansville BlueCats at the Sioux Falls Arena for the Semi-Finals of the 2006 playoffs on Sunday, July 23 at 3:05 pm CST.

Most Valuable Player: Terrance Bryant (QB), Sioux Falls Storm

Offensive MVP: Matt Kohn (QB), Ohio Valley Greyhounds

Defensive MVP: Nate Fluit (DE), Sioux Falls Storm

Sp. Teams MVP: William Mulder (KR), Lexington Horsemen

Offensive Rookie MVP: RJ Rollins (RB), Omaha Beef

Defensive Rookie MVP: John Winchester (LB), Evansville BlueCats

Most Improved: Marques Smith (RB), Sioux Falls Storm

Coach of the Year: Kurtiss Riggs, Sioux Falls Storm

Other notables for awards were as follows:

MVP: Matt Kohn (OVG) & Eddie Eviston (LEX)

Offensive MVP: Eddie Eviston (LEX) & Terrance Bryant (SFS)

Defensive MVP: William Mulder (LEX) & John Winchester (EVA)

Sp. Teams MVP: Ton-Ton Luzayadio (EVA) & Peter Christofilakos (BLO)

Offensive Rookie MVP: Matt Kohn (OVG) & Darrell Dowery (OVG)

Defensive Rookie MVP: Brock Dodrill (OVG) & Winston Taylor (BLO)

Most Improved: Joel Stubbelfield (EVA) & John Cooper (LEX)

Coach of the Year: Mike Zuckerman (LEX) & John Hart (EVA)

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United Indoor Football Association Stories from July 18, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central