1972 Awards

Most Outstanding Player
RB Max Tracy - Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
It was a close vote between Tracy and Braddock, but by 2 points Tracy earned his 2nd Most Outstanding Player Award. He previously won the award in 1968 with the Toronto Steelheads. Tracy joins the crew of 2-time winners (RB Élisée Marchal, QB Jean Matieau, QB Riley Kiernan, LB Scotty Williams, QB Charles Lemieux, and QB Louis Vaughn), but also becomes the 2nd RB ever to win multiple MOP awards. Another amazing season is awarded as Tracy continues to establish himself as one of the best running backs in NAAF history.

Playoff Most Outstanding Player
DL Bartolo Cruz - Providence Gold Stars
Both DB Neville Falkner and QB Kevin Westwood had cases for Playoff MOP, but Cruz’s performance in the McCallister Cup, plus another great game in the Quarter-Finals earns him the award. Despite this being Providence’s first McCallister Cup win, Cruz is the 2nd Gold Star to win the award with QB Connor O’Rourke winning it in 1963.

Offensive Player of the Year
QB Nathaniel Braddock - Boston Independents
Braddock came close to his ever-elusive 1st MOP award, but as a consolation, he did earn his 3rd Offensive Player of the Year award. While he wasn’t at the top of the leaderboard in stats, he was the most efficient passer with a high completion percentage and a great TD-INT ratio. Braddock is the first player to win the award 3 times. Having many great seasons in his career despite not quite earning that MOP award. 

Defensive Player of the Year
DB Sergio Alvarez - Ottawa Royals
Alvarez’s 11 interceptions net him DPOY, becoming the 2nd Royal to win the award next to teammate DL Bernhard Hartmann. Alvarez is only the 4th DB to win the award, joining Lee Wolfe (3x), Alexander Bradley, and Neville Falkner (3x). 

Special Teams Player of the Year
K Ira Foster - Ottawa Royals
Foster was finally able to earn an STPOY award in his 15th Season at 37 years old. He would lead the league in kicking points by 9 points, securing the award on the final week of the season, scoring 5 field goals. A great year for the kicker, finally earning some recognition. 

Offensive Lineman of the Year
OL Erik Nelson - Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
Nelson wins his 2nd consecutive OLOY, leaving only the OPOY award as the only one (that it is possible) to have back-to-back winners. Nelson’s great season did help RB Max Tracy take home the MOP award, another assist for the league's top O-lineman.

Coach of the Year
Tommie Warner - Providence Gold Stars
Warner has turned the Gold Stars right around in just 3 seasons. Taking them from a difficult situation coming out of losing QB Connor O’Rourke to retirement and DB Neville Falkner to Free Agency, and turning them into a consistent contender. He earns his first win of the award, after being a finalist in each of the last 2 seasons. The cherry on top for Warner after leading the Gold Stars to their first championship in 31 years. 

Rookie of the Year
LB Yuri Dragunov - Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
Dragunov takes home Rookie of the Year, winning the vote by a large margin. Dragunov was the one rookie who looked like he had already reached an elite level in his first season in the league. He contributed massively to the Blacksmiths’ defence this season and looks to be an elite piece moving forward. Dragunov is the 2nd Blacksmith to win the award, following behind DL Arthur Bradshaw who won in 1968.

Breakout Player of the Year
RB Jeremy Royal - London Tigers
Royal finally had the breakout season that many were hoping he would have. He flashed elite rushing talent for the first time in his career, showing that he can be not only the Tigers’ franchise back, but also one of the best in the league moving forward. Royal is the first Tiger to ever win the Breakout Player of the Year award. 

1972 All-Star Teams

West Division All-Stars
QB Kevin Westwood - VAN (3)
RB Tyler Kuhn - MIN (2)
OL Elias McCarren - MIN (4)
OL Charles Creighton - EDM (3)
OL David Brewington - VAN (2)
OL Charles Schwartz - CGY (2)
OL Claude Balderson - WPG (2)
WR Sebastian Dassler - MIN (3)
WR Keshawn Johnston - VAN (3)
WR Ted Jackson - CGY (1)
TE Johnny Temple - VAN (3)
DL Damian Battles - CGY (3)
DL Caleb Cologne - EDM (1)
DL Albert Sullivan - MIN (3)
DL Derick Parks - REG (1)
LB Claude Clarke - WPG (3)
LB Frank St. John - EDM (1)
LB Shawn Anderson - VAN (1)
DB Austin Sherebernikoff - MIN (2)
DB Madison McGee - REG (1)
S Gérard LaCroix - MIN (2)
S Vernon Redgate - WPG (2)
K Ray Bough - MIN (1)

Central Division All-Stars
QB Charles Lemieux - BUF (5)
RB Max Tracy - PIT (4)
OL Artem Sobakov - BUF (3)
OL Shane Willis - LDN (1)
OL Jean Baptiste Francois - PIT (3)
OL Gordie Hammarstein - LOU (2)
OL Erik Nelson - PIT (6)
WR Casey Coleman - LOU (5)
WR Tracy Driscoll - BUF (3)
WR Lloyd Lane - LDN (2)
TE Rex Williamson - LOU (2)
DL Arthur Bradshaw - PIT (4)
DL Aaron Henderson - LOU (4)
DL Eugene Case - IND (2)
DL Haakon Leichenberg - TOR (1)
LB Everett Lynch - LDN (1)
LB Lincoln Webster - TOR (1)
LB Reuben James - LDN (2)
DB Zed McLaughlin - PIT (4)
DB Dwayne James - TOR (1)
S Charles Clerk - TOR (4)
S Gene Aranda - IND (1)
K Ryan Perch - BUF (3)

East Division All-Stars
QB Nathaniel Braddock - BOS (7)
RB Tresean Jones - PRO (1)
OL Carlton Vanderbilt - BOS (2)
OL Tommy Reynolds - OTT (2)
OL Joseph Samberg - PRO (3)
OL Elliot Barrett - MTL (4)
OL Kane Warwick - HFX (4)
WR Al Allmendinger - BOS (1)
WR Antonio Villanueva - MTL (1)
WR Larry Mossholder - LI (1)
TE Eric Peterson - LI (1)
DL Bernhard Hartmann - OTT (3)
DL Johnathan Ellison - LI (2)
DL Bartolo Cruz - PRO (4)
DL Newton Dalton - PRO (3)
LB Kurt Warlock - PRO (4)
LB Byron Turner - BOS (5)
LB Jean-Christophe Bain - MTL (1)
DB Sergio Alvarez - OTT (5)
DB Lamar Brown - MTL (3)
S Ernie Osborne - BOS (2)
S Marc Bellecourt - OTT (4)
K Ira Foster - OTT (3)