Chicago's Hall, Tampa's Dukes earn defensive honors

TULSA - Chicago Rush DB VIC HALL (5-10, 190, Virginia) has been named the 2011 Riddell Defensive Player of the Year, the AFL League Office announced today.

Hall becomes the second Rush defender and second defensive back in franchise history to win the award.

The rookie defensive back set a new single-season franchise record for tackles with 109 and at one point held the AFL's single-season record for interceptions with 15. With 14 interceptions through 12 games, he also tied Professional Football Hall of Famer Dick "Night Train" Lane's nearly 60-year-old pro football record for most interceptions through 12 games.

Before his regular season ended prematurely due to injury, Hall played a major role in making the Rush the League's number one scoring defense, holding opponents to a League-low 46.3 points per game and posting new AFL records in takeaways (56) and interceptions (42).

Other candidates for the Riddell Defensive Player of the Year award included: Tulsa Talons DB J.C. NEAL, who recorded nine interceptions and returned three for touchdowns; Tampa Bay Storm DL CLIFF DUKES, who collected 16 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks, including a four-sack performance in Week 1; Jacksonville Sharks DB MICHEAUX ROBINSON, who set a single-season franchise record with 11 interceptions and recorded a League-record 46 pass breakups this season; and Orlando Predators DB RAYSHAUN KIZER, who set professional football's single-season interceptions record at 16 this year.

Although he came up just short of Defensive Player of the Year honors, Tampa Bay Storm DL CLIFF DUKES was awarded the Game Tape Exchange Defensive Lineman of the Year award.

Spending time between defensive line and linebacker, Dukes led the League in sacks (12.5) and tackles for loss (16). He also totaled 40.5 tackles and forced and recovered four fumbles on the year, helping the Storm to boast the League's top passing defense, holding opponents to 241.9 yards per game.

Other candidates for the Game Tape Exchange Defensive Lineman of the Year included: Cleveland Gladiators DL TIM CHEATWOOD; Dallas Vigilantes DL DUSTY BEAR; Tampa Bay Storm DL TIM McGILL; Pittsburgh Power DL TERRANCE CARTER; Arizona Rattlers DL ANTAJJ HAWTHORNE and TYRE GLASPER; and Utah Blaze DL KHREEM SMITH and MIKE SMITH.

*All awards were determined through a coach and select media vote.