1972 Award Nominations

Most Outstanding Player

QB Nathaniel Braddock - Boston Independents - 25 Passing Touchdowns (T-3rd), 10 Interceptions, 2nd in Passing Yards
Desperation surrounded Boston this season, and Braddock put his best foot forward, passing for 25 touchdowns, and leading Boston on a stellar comeback from a 2-4 start. While he was not top of the league in the key stats, his level of play was unlike anyone else in the league being the most efficient and effective passer this season with the highest completion rate.

WR Casey Coleman - Louisville Thunder - 14 Receiving Touchdowns (1st), 1st in Receiving Yards
Coleman continued to roll on as the top WR in the league, playing a huge part in Louisville’s success this season. His 14 touchdowns were again 1st among WRs, plus leading the league in receiving yards overall as well.

RB Max Tracy - Pittsburgh Blacksmiths - 21 Rushing Touchdowns, 1st in Rushing Yards
With the early season injury to QB Louis Vaughn, RB Max Tracy had to step up and be the driving force in the offence. He did exactly that, leading the league in rushing yards and touchdowns, coming just one TD short of his 1968 MVP season total. 

Offensive Player of the Year

QB Nathaniel Braddock - Boston Independents - 25 Passing Touchdowns (T-3rd), 10 Interceptions, 2nd in Passing Yards
Desperation surrounded Boston this season, and Braddock put his best foot forward, passing for 25 touchdowns, and leading Boston on a stellar comeback from a 2-4 start. While he was not top of the league in the key stats, his level of play was unlike anyone else in the league being the most efficient and effective passer this season with the highest completion rate.

WR Casey Coleman - Louisville Thunder - 14 Receiving Touchdowns, 1st in Receiving Yards
Coleman continued to roll on as the top WR in the league, playing a huge part in Louisville’s success this season. His 14 touchdowns were again 1st among WRs, plus leading the league in receiving yards overall as well.

RB Tyler Kuhn - Minnesota Serpents - 18 Rushing Touchdowns (T-2nd), 2nd in Rushing Yards
The reigning OPOY had another solid season, coming up just behind RB Max Tracy in both touchdowns and yards. Kuhn remained the vital part of the Serpents’ rushing attack and made the most of it with another great season.

RB Max Tracy - Pittsburgh Blacksmiths - 21 Rushing Touchdowns, 1st in Rushing Yards
With the early season injury to QB Louis Vaughn, RB Max Tracy had to step up and be the driving force in the offence. He did exactly that, leading the league in rushing yards and touchdowns, coming just one TD short of his 1968 MVP season total. 

Defensive Player of the Year

DL Aaron Henderson - Louisville Thunder - 5 Forced Fumbles, 1st in Sacks
Henderson suffered an unfortunate end to a great season terrorizing QBs across the league. His injury in the final game of the season hurts, but he managed to still have a fantastic output through the first 13 games, leading the league in sacks this season.

DB Sergio Alvarez - Ottawa Royals - 11 Interceptions (1st), Most Passes Defended
Alvarez flew a bit under the radar this season with plenty of other corners getting more coverage like DB Neville Falkner’s return to Providence, but Alvarez would go on to lead the league with 11 interceptions, 3 more than the next most. A great season from Ottawa’s top corner.

LB Kurt Warlock - Providence Gold Stars - 4 Forced Fumbles, 2nd in Tackles
Warlock remained one of the top defenders once again, leading the league in tackles right up until the final game of the season. Warlock, unfortunately, suffered an injury down the stretch which allowed some others to catch up, but remained 2nd in tackles despite that.

Special Teams Player of the Year

K Ray Bough - Minnesota Serpents
Bough was steady this season, knocking down over 40 extra points this season with Minnesota’s offence rolling. He’s the only returning nominee for the special teams award from last season.

K Ira Foster - Ottawa Royals
The 37-year-old kicker still has a leg, having one his best seasons in his career, hoping to finally land his first STPOY award. 

K Gilbert O’Neill - Providence Gold Stars
The young kicker found some much-needed consistency in his 3rd full season as the starting kicker for the Gold Stars.

Offensive Lineman of the Year

OL Carlton Vanderbilt - Boston Independents
Vanderbilt’s young career continues to roll on as he is once again a finalist for the OLOY. His all-around blocking ability makes him a perfect part of the Boston offence that likes to run as much as they like to pass. Vanderbilt had to do a little more pass protection this year, but it was his play that helped protect Braddock and allowed him to do his job.

OL Shane Willis - London Tigers
Willis made the big move to sign with the Tigers a couple of years ago and he has made a mark in the offence in his second season with the team. He was best at giving young QB Henry Johnsson plenty of time, but also helped RB Jeremy Royal to his best season by far in the run game.

OL Erik Nelson - Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
Last year’s winner is once again up for the big award, helping RB Max Tracy have a fantastic season. The former #1 overall pick’s physical play played a high factor in Tracy being able to have more running room coming out of the backfield.

Coach of the Year

HC Kenneth Chaney - Boston Independents - Record: 9-4-1
There was a lot of pressure on Chaney and the Independents, but the coach was able to get the team back into the playoffs this season. He helped with coaching up the LBs with LB Byron Turner having one of his best seasons. Of course, a lot of help goes to having QB Nathaniel Braddock under centre, but the discipline and focus instilled by Chaney certainly helped the team recover from a 2-4 start.

HC Soni Dionne - Minnesota Serpents - Record: 11-3
The 2x Coach of the Year for the Serpents is back in the nomination group after another strong season from the club. Despite having QB Martin Keller in and out of the lineup at times this season and many injuries at linebacker, Dionne was able to steer the ship and earn them a 3rd consecutive West Division title.

HC Tommie Warner - Providence Gold Stars - Record: 11-2-1
Warner’s term in Providence has been very strong with a second straight 11-win season. Warner was able to lead the Gold Stars’ #2 defence and the rest of the team to an 11-0 start, which is the 2nd best start all-time next to the 1958 12-0 Royals. While the team slipped to 0-2-1 in the final 3 games due to missing several key players, but they remained competitive despite that even without a win.

Rookie of the Year

WR Oliver Shephard - Halifax Mariners - 4 Receiving Touchdowns, 1st in Rookie Receiving Yards
The Mariners had several injuries in the WR corps this past season which allowed for plenty of opportunities for Shephard in his rookie season. He made a mark racking up yards throughout the season and getting into the endzone several times. Solid work for the 2nd Round Pick to outperform the other top WRs.

LB Yuri Dragunov - Pittsburgh Blacksmiths - 3 Forced Fumbles, 1st in Rookie Tackles
Dragunov was one of the few rookies who became an important part of a team right out of the gate. His play this season was on the level if not better than many established starters in the league. Another player that may be a big steal with Pittsburgh taking him at 14th Overall. 

DL Graham de Veres - Winnipeg Falcons - 2 Forced Fumbles, 1st in Rookie Sacks
Winnipeg was questioned about their pick of de Veres over DL Robin Lucas, but in his first season, de Veres showed that he was capable. It helped that he got a lot of opportunities with Winnipeg’s weak D-line, but he was a very solid force outperforming DL Sam Reinkemeyer who had gone 1st. 

Breakout Player of the Year

RB Jeremy Royal - London Tigers - 18 Rushing Touchdowns (T-2nd), 4th in Rushing Yards
Royal has been a player that many have been waiting to break through as a top back in the league for a few seasons now, and this was finally the year. Royal showed his potential, scoring 18 times and finishing 4th in rushing yards in a rejuvenated Tigers’ offence, finally reaching a potential as a top back in the league.

DB Chandler Gage - Minnesota Serpents - 5 Interceptions
Gage decided to change it up after not getting many opportunities in Pittsburgh. Moving to Minnesota, Gage earned a big opportunity to start a lot this season and he turned it into 5 interceptions in a breakout season. The former 6th overall pick finally showed what he was capable of this season in Minnesota.

RB Shannon West - Toronto Steelheads - 13 Rushing Touchdowns (T-4th), 1 Receiving Touchdown, 3rd in Rushing Yards
West had a breakout year with Toronto, which included a great 3 touchdown performance in Week 14. West has become the key piece of the Steelheads’ offence this past season with their now run-heavy scheme. He made the most of it and showed he could be a top back in the league.