Staff reports CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Gladiators are pleased to announce that WR Ben Nelson, OL Adam Tadisch and DL Anthony Hoke have each earned All-Arena league honors for their 2010 performances. Nelson and Tadisch were named to the All-Arena 1st Team, while Hoke was named to the All-Arena 2nd team. Nelson (6-2, 190, St. Cloud State) started in...
Gladiators receiver Ben Nelson, right, Staff reports
CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Gladiators are pleased to announce that WR Ben Nelson, OL Adam Tadisch and DL Anthony Hoke have each earned All-Arena league honors for their 2010 performances. Nelson and Tadisch were named to the All-Arena 1st Team, while Hoke was named to the All-Arena 2nd team.
Nelson (6-2, 190, St. Cloud State) started in 14 games for the Gladiators before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 15 versus Spokane. He finished the season with 151 catches for 1,867 yards and 47 touchdowns. His 151 catches and 1,867 yards are both franchise records, while the 47 touchdowns is one shy of the 48-mark set by Otis Amey in 2008. Despite missing the final two games, Nelson finished second in the league in receptions and yards and tied for second in touchdowns.
Tadisch (6-8, 340, North Dakota State) started in all 16 regular season games for the Gladiators this season. He split time between guard and tight end, and was the anchor of the line that allowed quarterback John Dutton to pass for 5,104 yards and 100 touchdowns, while only being sacked eight times. Following the season, Tadisch signed a free agent contract with the New York Jets of the NFL.
Hoke (6-1, 245, Cincinnati) appeared in 15 games (all starts) for the Gladiators in 2010. A constant threat to quarterbacks, Hoke finished the year with 7.5 sacks – a new Gladiators single-season record and added 9.5 tackles for a loss. In addition, he recorded one interception and four fumble recoveries, returning the fumble for a touchdown. He added three pass breakups and two forced fumbles in his first AFL season.
“As an organization, we are all very proud of the effort these men gave this year,” said Head Coach Steve Thonn. “Ben, Adam and Anthony are all very deserving of these awards and it is nice that they are being recognized for what they’ve done.”
The Cleveland Gladiators thank the fans of Cleveland for all of the support in 2010! 2011 Season Ticket deposits are being accepted now! For more information, call 216.685.9000 or visit www.clevelandgladiators.com. Don’t miss all of the hard-hitting, helmet-popping excitement of arena football! Get ready to Rock the Q and Roll with the Gladiators!
ALL-ARENA 1st TEAM
POS...... PLAYER......................................................... TEAM
QB......... Chris Greisen................................ Milwaukee Iron
FB.......... Dan Alexander............................. Alabama Vipers
WR........ Rod Windsor................................ Arizona Rattlers
WR........ Ben Nelson..................... Cleveland Gladiators
WR........ Donovan Morgan............................. Tulsa Talons
C............ Kyle Young................................... Arizona Rattlers
OL......... Adam Tadisch............... Cleveland Gladiators
OL......... Ed Ta’Amu.................................... Spokane Shock
K............ Chris Gould..................................... Chicago Rush
DL.......... Gabe Nyenhuis................................ Tulsa Talons
DL.......... Tim McGill................................. Tampa Bay Storm
DL.......... Khreem Smith................................ Milwaukee Iron
MLB....... Steve Watson.................................... Tulsa Talons
JLB........ DeJuan Alfonzo.............................. Chicago Rush
DB......... Rayshawn Kizer...................... Orlando Predators
DB......... Tanner Varner........................ Iowa Barnstormers
DB......... Kenny McEntyre...................... Orlando Predators
Ironman DeJuan Alfonzo.............................. Chicago Rush
ALL-ARENA 2nd TEAM
POS...... PLAYER......................................................... TEAM
QB......... Brett Dietz.................................. Tampa Bay Storm
FB.......... Odie Armstrong................................ Tulsa Talons
WR........ Tiger Jones.................................... Milwaukee Iron
WR........ Aaron Boone......................................... Utah Blaze
WR........ Huey Whittaker............................ Spokane Shock
C............ Beau Elliot....................................... Chicago Rush
OL......... Thomas Kaleita........................ Tampa Bay Storm
OL......... Phil Bogle.................................... Dallas Vigilantes
K............ Carlos Martinez....................... Orlando Predators
DL.......... Antajj Hawthorne......................... Arizona Rattlers
DL.......... Jermaine Smith........................ Tampa Bay Storm
DL......... Anthony Hoke............... Cleveland Gladiators
MLB....... Cliff Dukes................................. Tampa Bay Storm
JLB........ Jamar Ransom................................. Tulsa Talons
DB......... Vince Hill....................................... Alabama Vipers
DB......... Josh Ferguson................................ Chicago Rush
DB......... Micheaux Robinson............. Jacksonville Sharks
Ironman Kenny Henderson..................... Dallas Vigilantes