Wes Stephens Named af2 Lineman of the Year
August 15, 2003 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE, AL - The af2 office announced today that the Tennessee Valley Vipers offensive/defensive lineman, Wes Stephens, has been named Lineman of the Year.
Stephens joins Kelly Snell and Matt Sauk as the only Viper award winners. Snell was selected ADT Defensive Player of the Year last season and Sauk was named af2 Rookie of the Year in 2001.
"I want to thank Coach (Kevin) Guy for giving me this opportunity," Stephens said. "This is a group award for all the linemen. They opened it up for me to be able to put pressure on the quarterback and it is my job to open it up for them. Coach (John) Kirk does a great job of putting us in the position to make plays. It is also special to be a part of an offensive line that only gave up three sacks. We all worked extremely hard on the offensive side of the ball all season."
Stephens set a Vipers record by recording 11.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles this season. He also added 22.5 tackles, 2.0 tackles for a loss of five yards, two pass break ups and a team high 39 quarterback hits. He also caught four passes for 33 yards and one touchdown. Two sacks resulted in safeties and another forced a fumble that was recovered by the Vipers for a touchdown.
"I am very happy for Wes," Vipers head coach, Kevin Guy said. "He deserves this award. You will not meet another guy that comes to work everyday like he does. He has a motor that doesn't stop and he is what an arena football player is all about. He is a great role model for the kids off the field and has unbelievable character. When you see a person like Wes, a great all-around person, you know that he comes from a good family and has great parents."
In only 24 career games for the Vipers, he ranks second in Vipers history with 14.5 sacks and is tied for second in forced fumbles with nine.
United Indoor Football Association Stories from August 15, 2003
- FireAnts Team Up With Local Youth Tackle Football Program - Tupelo FireAnts
- Wes Stephens Named af2 Lineman of the Year - Tennessee Valley Raptors
- FireAnts First Open Tryout Tomorrow - Tupelo FireAnts
- Late Macon Field Goal Ends Vipers' Title Dreams - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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