AFL awards Week 15 Players of the Week

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Raudabaugh, Stephens, Windsor Earn Honors With Standout Performances

LAS VEGAS (July 12, 2016) – The Arena Football League has announced that Philadelphia’s Dan Raudabaugh, Orlando’s Paul Stephens and Arizona’s Rod Windsor have been named as the Under Armour Offensive Player, Riddell Defensive Player and J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Week for Week 15, respectively. In addition to these awards, the AFL has awarded Orlando’s Greg Carr the Cutters Catch of the Week, while the AFL Highlight of the Week was awarded to Philadelphia’s Darius Reynolds. Those clips can be found by following the AFL on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@aflarenaball).

UNDER ARMOUR OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Raudabaugh (6’3, 225, Miami, OH) connected on 20-of-21 passes for 335 yards, eight touchdowns, and no interceptions to lead the Philadelphia Soul to an 83-62 victory over the rival Cleveland Gladiators at PPL Center in Allentown, PA this past weekend. The 2015 AFL MVP, who has connected on 297-of-426 passes (69.7%) for 3,730 yards, 85 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2016, also threw career touchdown pass No. 600 in the fourth quarter. The Soul (11-3) enter Week 16 as the current No. 3 seed in the Postseason Standings and travel to Tampa Bay on Saturday, July 16 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Stephens (5’10, 190, Blinn) led the Predators (12-2) defense as they defeated the Portland Steel, 47-41, this past weekend at Moda Center. The four-year veteran had 5.0 total tackles, one interception and two pass breakups that helped seal the victory. On the season, Stephens has recorded 64.0 total tackles, six interceptions and 12 pass breakups for the National Conference leaders in 2016. Orlando (12-2) enters Week 16 as the current No. 1 seed in the Postseason Standings and lead the American Conference and travel to the No. 2 seed Arizona Rattlers (11-3) on Monday, July 18 at 9:30 p.m. ET on WatchESPN.

J. LEWIS SMALL PLAYMAKER OF THE WEEK: Windsor (6’2, 215, Western New Mexico) helped lead the Arizona Rattlers to a 69-67 victory over the Jacksonville Sharks at Talking Stick Resort Arena this past weekend. The five-year veteran hauled in 10 receptions for 108 yards and six touchdowns. The former All-Arena performer is No. 2 in the AFL with 129 receptions for 1,505 receiving yards, 40 receiving touchdowns and 246 points in 2016. The Rattlers (11-3) have clinched the National Conference regular-season title and currently enter Week 16 as the No. 2 seed in the Postseason Standings and host the No. 1 seed Orlando Predators (12-2) on Monday, July 18 at 9:30 p.m. ET on WatchESPN.

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK: Carr (6’6, 230, Florida State) made a great 37-yard touchdown grab while falling into the end zone in Orlando’s 47-41 win over the Portland Steel. For the game, the former Seminole hauled in seven receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Carr has found the end zone 28 times this season, while compiling 1,134 receiving yards.

AFL HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK: Reynolds (6’2, 210, Iowa State) hauled in a 37-yard touchdown catch to help the Soul beat the Cleveland Gladiators, 83-62 and remain in the hunt to win the American Conference. Reynolds caught four passes for 77 yards and three touchdowns. The former Cyclone leads the Soul receivers with 100 receptions for 1,314 yards and 33 touchdowns.

Under Armour Offensive Player candidates included: Arizona’s Rod Windsor, Los Angeles’ Nathan Stanley and Orlando’s Brandon Thompkins.

Riddell Defensive Player candidates included: Arizona’s Damien Borel, Los Angeles’ Josh Victorian, Philadelphia’s Tracy Belton and Portland’s Mike McMillan.

J. Lewis Small Playmaker candidates included: Arizona’s Maurice Purify, Los Angeles’ Rory Nixon, Philadelphia’s Jeramie Richardson and Portland’s Rashaad Carter.

PREVIOUS WINNERS:
WEEK 1: Orlando’s Randy Hippeard (Offensive), Arizona’s Damien Borel and Luis Vazquez (Co-Defensive), Philadelphia’s Shaun Kauleinamoku (Playmaker), Los Angeles’ Donovan Morgan (Catch), and Cleveland’s Joe Powell (Highlight).
WEEK 2: Jacksonville’s Joe Hills (Offensive), Cleveland’s Joe Powell (Defensive), Arizona’s Rod Windsor (Playmaker), Tampa Bay’s Philip Barnett (Catch), and Orlando’s Kent Richardson (Highlight).
WEEK 3: Arizona’s Nick Davila (Offensive), Los Angeles’ Rayshaun Kizer (Defensive), Philadelphia’s Teddy Jennings (Playmaker), Cleveland’s Brandon Stephens (Catch), and Orlando’s Brandon Thompkins (Highlight).
WEEK 4: Philadelphia’s Dan Raudabaugh (Offensive), Orlando’s Varmah Sonie (Defensive), Arizona’s Maurice Purify (Playmaker), Philadelphia’s Darius Reynolds (Catch), and Cleveland’s Marvin Ross (Highlight).
WEEK 5: Orlando’s Brandon Thompkins (Offensive), Arizona’s Dimetrio Tyson (Defensive), Philadelphia’s Darius Reynolds (Playmaker), Arizona’s Rod Windsor (Catch), and Tampa Bay’s Mike Washington (Highlight)
WEEK 6: Orlando’s Randy Hippeard (Offensive), Los Angeles’ Josh Victorian (Defensive), Cleveland’s Arvell Nelson (Playmaker), Cleveland’s Collin Taylor (Catch) and Philadelphia’s Dwayne Hollis (Highlight)
WEEK 7: Philadelphia’s Dan Raudabaugh (Offensive), Cleveland’s Marvin Ross (Defensive), Tampa Bay’s Jimmy Gordon (Playmaker), Philadelphia’s Darius Reynolds (Catch), and Orlando’s Greg Carr (Highlight).
WEEK 8: Jacksonville’s Tommy Grady (Offensive), Jacksonville’s Greg Reid (Defensive), Cleveland’s Collin Taylor (Playmaker), Arizona’s Joe Matthews (Catch) and Philadelphia’s LaRico Stevenson (Highlight).
WEEK 9: Jacksonville’s Joe Hills (Offensive), Cleveland’s Marvin Ross (Defensive), Los Angeles’ Donovan Morgan (Playmaker), Cleveland’s Quentin Sims (Catch) and Tampa Bay’s T.T. Toliver (Highlight).
WEEK 10: Arizona’s Nick Davila (Offensive), Portland’s Sergio Gilliam (Defensive), Orlando’s Brandon Thompkins (Playmaker), Orlando’s Varmah Sonie (Catch) and Jacksonville’s Reggie Gray (Highlight).
WEEK 11: Philadelphia’s Dan Raudabaugh (Offensive), Jacksonville’s Greg Reid (Defensive), Philadelphia’s Darius Reynolds (Playmaker), Orlando’s Greg Carr (Catch) and Tampa Bay’s T.T. Toliver (Highlight).
WEEK 12: Cleveland’s Arvell Nelson (Offensive), Arizona’s Jeremy Kellem (Defensive), Orlando’s Greg Carr (Playmaker), Arizona’s Maurice Purify (Catch) and Jacksonville’s Joe Hills (Highlight).
WEEK 13: Orlando’s Bernard Morris (Offensive), Arizona’s Jeremy Kellem (Defensive), Philadelphia’s Shaun Kauleinamoku (Playmaker), Philadelphia’s Ryan McDaniel (Catch) and Cleveland’s Collin Taylor (Highlight).

ABOUT THE AFL
The Arena Football League enters its 29th Season in 2016. 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 nationally broadcast AFL games each week, culminating with the ArenaBowl on ESPN. For all the latest news and discussion on the Arena Football League, follow the AFL on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@aflarenaball).