Nine af2 alumni named to 2008 AFL All-Rookie team

Tuesday June 24, 2008

Former Tulsa standout WR Donovan Morgan leads group of former af2 standouts who have excelled in their first AFL season

CHICAGO – The arenafootball2 league (af2) announced today that nine (9) former players who have moved up to the Arena Football League have been recognized for their stellar individual efforts in their first AFL season. The group of af2 alumni named to the 2008 AFL All-Rookie Team is highlighted by Chicago Rush WR DONOVAN MORGAN, who played two seasons (2005, 2007) in Tulsa and earned af2 Rookie of the Year honors in 2005.

Morgan led all AFL rookies this season in receptions (113), receiving yards (1,300) and first downs (78). He also led the Rush in those categories in addition to sharing the team lead in total touchdowns (25; 24 – receiving, 1 – rushing) with long-time League standout DAMIAN HARRELL. Morgan’s play helped pace Chicago to an 11-5 regular season record, a Central Division title and a bye in the first round of the 2008 AFL playoffs. Last year in just six games with the Talons, Morgan caught 48 passes for 512 yards and 13 TDs before leaving to play with the Buffalo Bills. In 2005, the New Orleans, La. native caught 121 passes for 1,687 yards and 54 touchdowns with Tulsa before signing with the Houston Texans and seeing action in three games.

Other former af2 players who have been especially impressive in their first AFL seasons include Georgia Force WR TIGER JONES (led all rookies in scoring – 30 TDs, 180 points), New York Dragons DB LEVY BROWN (led all rookies in tackles – 93.5 and passes defensed – 13) and Grand Rapids WR/DB CHRIS MARTIN. Martin recorded 85.0 tackles, five passes defensed, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions on defense while setting the single-season rookie kickoff return record in returns (82) and yards (1,663). Jones (Louisville 2007 – All-af2 Second Team) and Brown (Florida 2006-07 – 2007 af2 Defensive Player of the Year) both played in the af2 last season while Martin spent the past three years in the Canadian Football League (Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 2004-06) after playing two seasons in the af2 (Peoria 2003, Green Bay 2004).

The following is the nine (9) members of the 2008 AFL All-Rookie Team that boast af2 experience.

The 2008 AFL playoffs begin this weekend with four games broadcast nationally on ESPN and ESPN2. On Friday (June 27) the Wildcard Round gets underway as the No. 3 seed Dallas Desperados (12-4) host Brown’s Dragons (8-8), the No. 6 seed. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The full weekend schedule in located below.

Friday, June 27
#6 New York Dragons (8-8) at #3 Dallas Desperados (12-4), 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Saturday, June 28
#5 Colorado Crush (6-10) at #4 Utah Blaze (6-10), 4 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Monday, June 30
#5 Orlando Predators (9-7) at #4 Cleveland Gladiators (9-7), 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
#6 Grand Rapids Rampage (6-10) at #3 Arizona Rattlers (8-8), 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

The winners of the four Wild Card games will advance to the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Virgin Mobile ArenaBowl XXII New Orleans will be played at New Orleans Arena on Sunday, July 27 at 3 p.m. ET (ESPN on ABC; ABC HD).

About af2
In Week 14 of its ninth season with a 29-team membership, af2 serves as a vehicle to bring Arena Football to small-to-midsize cities and as a developmental league with an unmatched history of sending players, coaches and officials to major professional football leagues each year. af2 operates under the same Mission Statement and Fans’ Bill of Rights as the Arena Football League, which is in the midst of its 22nd season. Log on to www.af2.com for more information.