Utah's Grady, Lesue headline All-Arena Offense

Thursday August 2, 2012

CHICAGO – Record-setting Utah Blaze QB TOMMY GRADY has been selected First-Team All-Arena for the first time in his three-year AFL career, the AFL Office announced today.

Grady broke numerous League passing records in 2012, including most touchdowns in a season (142) and most passing yards in a season (5,870). His favorite target, WR AARON LESUE, also earned First-Team All-Arena honors. The recipient of roughly a third of Grady’s passing yardage this season, Lesue set single-season franchise records for points (340) and receiving touchdowns (56).

Philadelphia Soul FB DERRICK ROSS earned his second consecutive First-Team All-Arena honor after becoming the first player in AFL history to rush for 30 touchdowns or more in back-to-back seasons, as well as the first rusher to crack the 600-yard mark in two consecutive years.

Also awarded a second straight First-Team All-Arena nod was Iowa Barnstormers WR JESSE SCHMIDT, who became the first receiver in AFL history to record 150 receptions and 2,000 receiving yards in consecutive seasons. Arizona Rattlers WR MAURICE PURIFY also earned First-Team honors. Purify tied the single-season franchise record for points with 282 in 2012. The 2011 AFL Rookie of the Year was selected Second-Team All-Arena last season.

Two more Rattlers also earned First-Team All-Arena honors on the offensive line, as C KYLE YOUNG and rookie OL MICHAEL HUEY were selected to the squad. San Jose SaberCats OL RICH RANGLIN also earned First-Team recognition. Spokane Shock K KENNY SPENCER was named First-Team All-Arena kicker after setting the single-season AFL record for extra point conversions with 138 on the year.

Nine more players earned Second-Team All-Arena honors, including: Arizona Rattlers QB NICK DAVILA and FB ODIE ARMSTRONG; Chicago Rush WR REGGIE GRAY and C BILLY EISENHARDT; Philadelphia Soul WR TIGER JONES; Cleveland Gladiators WR DOMINICK GOODMAN; Tampa Bay Storm OL GEORGE BUSSEY; and San Jose SaberCats OL MANNY AKAH and K NICH PERTUIT.

First-Team All-Arena Offense
QB Tommy Grady, Utah
FB Derrick Ross, Philadelphia
WR Jesse Schmidt, Iowa
WR Maurice Purify, Arizona
WR Aaron Lesue, Utah
C Kyle Young, Arizona
OL Rich Ranglin, San Jose
OL Michael Huey, Arizona
K Kenny Spencer, Spokane

Second-Team All-Arena Offense
QB Nick Davila, Arizona
FB Odie Armstrong, Arizona
WR Reggie Gray, Chicago
WR Tiger Jones, Philadelphia
WR Dominick Goodman, Cleveland
C Billy Eisenhardt, Chicago
OL George Bussey, Tampa Bay
OL Manny Akah, San Jose
K Nich Pertuit, San Jose