Wednesday, July 18, 2012

CHICAGO – Throughout the 2012 season, the Arena Football League has been counting down a number of “Top 25” lists to celebrate the League’s Silver Anniversary. The lists have ranged from the “25 Greatest Uniforms in AFL History” to the “25 Greatest Players in AFL History”. The majority of these lists have been voted on by the Silver Anniversary Committee, a group consisting of longtime AFL executives, media members and former players.

The League also wanted to include fans in select voting categories. Subscribers to AFL Field Pass, the official fan club of the Arena Football League, were tasked with deciding upon the Top 25 Players of the 2012 regular season. During Week 19 of the AFL season, the League office collected ballots from members and tallied the votes. The results will be divided into five segments, beginning with numbers 21-25 and ending with the announcement of the Top 5 Players of 2012 on Friday night. The list continues with numbers 11 through 15 below.

11.             San Antonio Talons QB Aaron Garcia

Aaron Garcia has quietly put together one of his best seasons in the League. Garcia has completed 382-of-581 passes for 4,624 yards and 110 touchdowns in 2012. More importantly, however, the 17-year veteran has guided the expansion-Talons on an 11-game winning streak, a Central Division title and the top seed in the National Conference playoffs. Garcia is a candidate for both Russell Offensive Player of the Year and National Guard MVP of the Year.

12.             Chicago Rush WR Reggie Gray

“Big Play” Reggie Gray lived up to his nickname in 2012, breaking his own single-season AFL record for receptions by totaling 136 through 17 games. Gray has accumulated more than 225 all-purpose yards in four consecutive games and has caught a touchdown pass in 11 straight contests. His 1,854 receiving yards and 1,219 kick return yards lead the Rush. Gray is a candidate for J. Lewis Small Ironman of the Year.

13.             Utah Blaze WR Tysson Poots

The long-locked Blaze rookie has set the League on fire, so to speak, with his statistical explosion in just 10 games of action. Poots has tallied 98 receptions for 1,027 yards and 31 touchdowns and has quickly become one of quarterback Tommy Grady’s favorite targets in Utah. He ranks second in the AFL in receptions per game (9.8) and first among AFL rookies in scoring average per game (17.6). Poots is a candidate for NET10 Rookie of the Year.

14.             Pittsburgh Power WR PJ Berry

The defending J. Lewis Small Ironman of the Year, Berry leads the AFL in all-purpose yards with 3,163 on the season. “Superman” has played five different positions for the Power this season and became the first player in AFL history to win the J. Lewis Small Ironman of the Week award three weeks in a row. In 16 games, Berry has totaled 107 receptions for 1,198 yards and 33 touchdowns, but has also rushed for seven touchdowns, returned two kicks for touchdowns and passed for a score. In addition, Berry broke his own single-season AFL record for kickoff returns with 107 on the year. He is a candidate for J. Lewis Small Ironman of the Year.

15.             Georgia Force WR Larry Shipp

The leading receiver for the Georgia Force tied two single-game franchise records in 2012, hauling in 15 receptions against the Orlando Predators and catching six touchdowns against the Jacksonville Sharks. In 16 games, Shipp has collected 127 receptions for 1,516 yards and 32 scores. He has also seen time in the backfield, tallying five rushing touchdowns on the year. Shipp was voted National Guard MVP in Week 3 and earned Russell Offensive Player of the Week honors in Week 14.

Top 25 Players of 2012 (as voted on by AFL Field Pass subscribers)

11.            San Antonio Talons QB Aaron Garcia

12.            Chicago Rush WR Reggie Gray

13.            Utah Blaze WR Tysson Poots

14.            Pittsburgh Power WR PJ Berry

15.            Georgia Force WR Larry Shipp

16.            New Orleans VooDoo JLB Alvin Ray Jackson

17.            San Jose SaberCats DL Joe Sykes

18.            Philadelphia Soul DB Kent Richardson

19.            Spokane Shock DB Terrance Sanders

20.            Chicago Rush WR Jared Perry

21.            San Antonio Talons WR Jomo Wilson

22.            Philadelphia Soul WR Donovan Morgan

23.            Iowa Barnstormers QB J.J. Raterink

24.            San Antonio Talons DB Fred Shaw

25.            Chicago Rush JLB Kelvin Morris