It’s hard to believe the inaugural Alliance of American Football season is already to the half-way point. The clear favorite in the league right now is the Steve Spurrier led Orlando Apollos. The Apollos currently sit atop the East with the only undefeated record in the league. Right behind them are the Birmingham Iron, who started out hot at 3-0 but have since dropped their last 2. Things are a little closer in the West, with both the San Antonio Commanders and San Diego Fleet sitting at 3-2. While the Apollos seem to be the clear favorite, anything can happen in the second half of the season.
For now let’s take a look at the mid-season awards. Here we’ll take a look at league MVP, offensive and defensive player of the year, coach of the year, rookie of the year, and cap it off with our current Best 5(2).
MVP
Garrett Gilbert, QB, Orlando Apollos
It’s no surprise that the top team in the league also has the top quarterback. Gilbert has been lights out for the Apollos leading the league in yards (1,357) and yards per attempt (9.2) and is second in the league in completion percentage (62.8) and touchdowns (8); on top of the fact that he is the only starting QB in the AAF that is yet to throw an interception. If Gilbert can keep this play up, this award is his and the Apollos are headed straight to the championship.
Runners-up: Charles Johnson, WR, Orlando Apollos; Keith Reaser, CB, Orlando Apollos; Rashad Ross, WR, Arizona Hotshots
Offensive Player of the Year
Charles Johnson, WR, Orlando Apollos
The current best offensive weapon in the league is of course Gilbert’s number 1 target, Charles Johnson. Johnson is leading the league in receptions (29) and yards (493). He is currently averaging 98.6 yards per game. This Apollos passing attack has people taking notice, as Turner Sports have flexed 2 of their games from B/R Live to TNT (Week 5 against the Iron and week 7 against the Legends).
Runners-up: Rashad Ross, WR, Arizona Hotshots; Kenneth Farrow, RB, San Antonio Commanders; Garrett Gilbert, QB, Orlando Apollos
Defensive Player of the Year
Keith Reaser, CB, Orlando Apollos
Yes, the undefeated Orlando Apollos take a sweep of the player of the year awards. Though this one was much closer between Reaser and the Iron’s Jamar Summers. Reaser is tied for league lead in interceptions (3) but leads the league in having returned 2 of those for touchdowns. He is also tied for the league lead is passes defender (9) with Summers and the Stallions Will Davis. With Reaser’s play and his age (27), it’s likely we’ll see him get another shot in the NFL in the fall.
Runners-up: Jamar Summers, CB, Birmingham Iron; Damontre Moore, DE, San Diego Fleet; Karter Schult, DE, Salt Lake Stallions
Coach of the Year
Steve Spurrier, Orlando Apollos
You can’t be the only undefeated and not come through with the coach of the year. Spurrier looks like he hasn’t missed a beat. Yes, having the best QB in the league helps, but the offensive design and game-plan is what is separating them right now.
Runner-up: Kevin Coyle, Atlanta Legends
Rookie of the Year
Ja’Quan Gardner, RB, San Diego Fleet
I know it’s weird to say rookie when this is everyone’s first year in the AAF, but we wanted to highlight the best player so far that doesn’t have any regular season NFL experience. And right now that player is San Diego Fleet RB Ja’Quan Gardner. Gardner is second in the league in rushing yards (290) and has a league best 5.47 yards per carry (50 carry min.). Gardner was undrafted this past year out of Division 2 Humbolt State University. He signed with the 49ers in the preseason but was cut before the start of the regular season. It is guys like Gardner that this league was made for.
Runners-up: Jamar Summers, CB, Birmingham Iron; John Wolford, QB, Arizona Hotshots; D’Ernest Johnson, RB, Orlando Apollos
The Mid-season Best 5(2)
| Offense | Starters in bold | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Garrett Gilbert Apollos | John Wolford Hotshots | Josh Woodrum Stallions | |||
| RB | Kenneth Farrow Commanders | Ja'Quan Gardner Fleet | D'Ernest Johnson Apollos | Trent Richardson Iron | ||
| WR | Charles Johnson Apollos | Rashad Ross Hotshots | Mekale McKay Commanders | De'Mornay Pierson-El Stallions | Quinton Patton Iron | |
| TE | Bug Howard Legends | Wes Saxton Iron | Thomas Duarte Hotshots | |||
| T | Avery Gennesy Legends | Jeremiah Poutasi Stallions | Terry Poole Fleet | |||
| G | Kitt O'Brien Iron | Ryan Cummings Stallions | Tony Adams Legends | Michael Dunn Iron | ||
| C | Jordan McCray Apollos | JC Hassenauer Iron | ||||
| Defense | ||||||
| DL | Mike Purcell Stallions | Casey Sayles Iron | Shakir Soto Fleet | Julius Warmsley Express | Joey Mbu Commanders | |
| Edge | Damontre Moore Fleet | Karter Schult Stallions | Corey Vereen Express | Alex Barrett Fleet | ||
| LB | Terence Garvin Apollos | Greer Martini Stallions | Drew Jackson Express | Trevor Reilly Stallions | Scooby Wright Hotshots | |
| CB | Keith Reaser Apollos | Jamar Summers Iron | Kameron Kelly Fleet | Sterling Moore Hotshots | Cody Riggs Apollos | |
| S | Derron Smith Commanders | Joe Powell Iron | Will Hill III Apollos | Tyson Graham Legends | Ed Reynolds Legends | |
| Special Teams | ||||||
| K | Younghoe Koo Legends | |||||
| P | Colton Schmidt Iron | |||||
| LS | Jeff Overbaugh Legends | |||||
| PR | Ron Brooks Fleet |
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