Voodoo's PJ Berry named JLS Ironman of the Year
Spokane Shock
TULSA - New Orleans VooDoo WR/KR PJ BERRY (6-0, 200, Virginia State) was named 2011 JLS Ironman of the Year, the Arena Football League announced today.
Berry set new AFL single-season records in all-purpose yards (3,708) and kickoff returns (101) in 2011. He became the first player in VooDoo history and the first from a New Orleans franchise since 1991 to win the award.
Offensively, Berry ranked fourth in the AFL in receptions with 155. He led the VooDoo in receiving with 1,593-yards and 27 touchdowns on the year. He also notched 47-yards and nine touchdowns on the ground this season.
In the return game, Berry led the League with 2,043 kick return yards and five touchdowns, giving him 41 total touchdowns on the year.
His ability to make plays from anywhere on the field was seen most clearly in Week 11 against the Arizona Rattlers when Berry caught 12 passes for 154-yards and three touchdowns, while returning eight kickoffs for 185-yards, including a 57-yard return for a touchdown. He finished with an AFL season-high 339 all-purpose yards on the night.
Along with being named JLS Ironman of the Year, Berry also anchors the All-Ironman team for the first time in his career. The team features the most versatile players in the AFL.
The 2011 All-Ironman team also includes: Chicago Rush WR/KR REGGIE GRAY, who accumulated 1,969 all-purpose yards this season with 49 receiving touchdowns and four kick return scores; Chicago Rush DB/KR JASON SIMPSON, who recorded 107.5 tackles, eight interceptions and two touchdowns on defense to go along with 1,057 kick return yards and one score in the return game; Georgia Force WR/KR CJ JOHNSON, who joins the All-Ironman team for the second consecutive season after posting 3,295 all-purpose yards with 17 receiving touchdowns and five kick return touchdowns on the season; Orlando Predators FB/LB MARLON MOYE-MOORE, who earns All-Ironman honors for the second time in his career after rushing for four touchdowns on offense and recording 73 tackles, seven interceptions and a score on defense; and Jacksonville Sharks WR/KR JEFF HUGHLEY, who finished the year with 2,650 all-purpose yards and 24 total touchdowns, with 1,171-yards and 22 scores coming on offense and 1,429 return yards and one touchdown as a returner.
About the AFL
Since its inception in 1987, the AFL has provided the fast-paced and exciting game of Arena Football to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. The NFL Network will once again broadcast an AFL National Game of the Week for the entire regular and post season on Friday nights at 8:00 pm EST, culminating with the ArenaBowl Championship Game on August 12.