Post by DiamondThief on Aug 23, 2015 12:38:22 GMT -8
Aug. 19 -- Following a season where the Thunder's offensive line gave up an Arena Football League second best 19 sacks, center John Collins has been named to the All-AFL Offensive Second Team.
Collins was brought on toward the end of last season and started both games in which he appeared. Because he played just two games last season, he is officially listed as a rookie according to AFL guidelines. Collins also started 18 of the Thunder's games this season, as well as the Thunder's playoff contest this year.
Collins was the anchor of the Thunder's offensive line which went seven games this season without allowing a sack.
The 6'4", 310-lb. lineman from Harvard, is part of the Thunder's one-two Ivy League center-quarterback duo. Thunder QB Kyle Rowley went to Brown University.
He helped lead Harvard to the Ivy League title in 2012. After tryouts with the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL and the Winnepeg Blue Bombers, he was brought in during may of the 2014 season.
“I wasn’t on the path I wanted to be on, so I started going to more and more tryouts and remembering that I love to play football,” Collins said in a Thunder press release shortly after signing on with the team. "When I got released from the Blue Bombers, I thought I was going to be hanging up the cleats. I stopped training for a week, relaxed…then I got the call. I flew out here on a couple days’ notice.”
Patrick Afif of the Spokane Shock also was named to the All-Offensive Second Team as an offensive lineman.
The entire All-AFL Offensive First and Second Teams comprise the following players:
First Team
QB - Dan Raudabaugh, Philadelphia Soul
FB - Derrick Ross, Jacksonville Sharks
WR - Reggie Gray, San Jose Sabercats
WR - Donovan Morgan, Los Angeles KISS
WR - Anthony Jones, Jacksonville Sharks
C - Shannon Breen, Philadelphia Soul
OL - Mogut Ruffins, Jacksonville Sharks
OL - Adam Smith, Philadelphia Soul
K - Tommy Frevert, Philadelphia Soul
Second Team
QB - Erik Meyer, San Jose Sabercats
FB - Tommy Tagart, Philadelphia Soul
WR - Rod Windsor, Arizona Rattlers
WR - Joe Hills, Jacksonville Sharks
WR - Marco Thomas, Philadelphia Soul
C - John Collins, Portland Thunder
OL - Rich Ranlin, San Jose Sabercats
OL - Patrick Afif, Spokane Shock
K - Mark Lewis, Orlando Predators
Collins joins Thunder kick returner/wide receiver Duane Brooks on the All-Arena teams. Brooks was named to the AFL All-Arena Defensive First Team as a kick returner.
- ANM
(Photo above courtesy The Portland Tribune)
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