Gray, Harrell, and Thomas earn weekly honors
Tuesday June 2, 2015
Lacey and Richardson also awarded for weekend’s highlights
CHICAGO – San Jose SaberCats wide receiver Reggie Gray has been awarded Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week, while Tampa Bay Storm defensive back James Harrell has been awarded Riddell Defensive Player of the Week, and Philadelphia Soul wide receiver Marco Thomas has been awarded J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Week for Week 10 of the 2015 Arena Football League season. In addition to these awards, the AFL is also awarding the Cutters Catch of the Week and AFL Highlight of the Week. The Cutters Catch of the Week has been awarded to Portland Thunder wide receiver V’Keon Lacey, while the AFL Highlight of the Week has been awarded to Philadelphia Soul defensive back Kent Richardson.
RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Gray (5-10, 185, Western Illinois) led the SaberCats with 15 receptions for 137 yards and five touchdowns in San Jose’s 61-42 victory over the Portland Thunder in Week 10. It was his second consecutive game with five touchdown receptions, bringing his career total to 196 – four shy of the 200-touchdown plateau. Gray has tallied triple-digit all-purpose yards and at least one touchdown reception in each of the last seven games.
RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Harrell (5-10, 195, Arkansas-Pine Bluff) continued to make his push for Riddell Defensive Player of the Year consideration in Week 10, recording three tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup in Tampa Bay’s 35-34 victory over the New Orleans VooDoo. The third-year defensive back’s second interception came with 46 seconds left in regulation, sealing the Storm’s fourth victory of the year. He leads the team with 10 takeaways this season, the second-highest total in the AFL.
J. LEWIS SMALL PLAYMAKER OF THE WEEK
Thomas (6-0, 190, Western Illinois) hauled in eight passes for 125 yards and a season-high five touchdowns in Philadelphia’s 51-43 victory over the Las Vegas Outlaws in Week 10. The sixth-year receiver has caught a touchdown pass in all but one game this season. Thomas leads the AFL with an average of 11.7 receptions per game in 2015.
CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK
Lacey (6-4, 220, Angelo State) made a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch between two SaberCat defenders in the fourth quarter of Portland’s 42-61 loss to San Jose in Week 10. The third-year wideout led the Thunder with five receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown in the game. He will receive a Cutters hat and shirt in recognition of the catch.
AFL HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Richardson (6-0, 200, West Virginia) kept the Outlaws from closing the gap by snagging a would-be touchdown reception away from Las Vegas wide receiver Clinton Solomon late in the third quarter of Philadelphia’s 51-43 win over the Outlaws last week. Richardson logged 4.5 tackles, two pass breakups, and one key interception in Week 10.
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Arizona’s Shane Boyd, LA’s DeMarco Sampson, Orlando’s Michael Simons, Philadelphia’s Dan Raudabaugh, and Tampa Bay’s Julius Gregory.
Riddell Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Arizona’s Jeremy Kellem, Jacksonville’s Greg Reid, Orlando’s Emanuel Cook, Philadelphia’s James Romain, and San Jose’s Ken Fontenette.
J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Week candidates included: Jacksonville’s Anthony Jones, New Orleans’ Roosevelt Falls, Orlando’s Bernard Morris, San Jose’s Reggie Gray, and Spokane’s Samuel Charles.
The Arena Football League is also awarding the MVP of the Week, where fans are given the opportunity to select the winner. Candidates include Arizona Rattlers defensive back Jeremy Kellem, Jacksonville Sharks defensive back Greg Reid, and San Jose SaberCats defensive back Ken Fontenette. Fans will have 24 hours to vote on ArenaFootball.com beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 3. The winner will be announced on Thursday, June 4.
About the AFL
Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased a fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. The ESPN family of networks and CBS Sports Network will nationally broadcast AFL games each week for the entire 2015 season. This season will also be the first with Scott C. Butera leading the way as Commissioner. The AFL schedule culminates with ArenaBowl XXVIII Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.