Five Orlando Predators earn All-Arena honors

Special to the Herald

   ORLANDO (August 14, 2016) — Five Orlando Predators players earned six selections on the 2016 All-Arena teams, the Arena Football League Announced Saturday evening.

   Brandon Thompkins earned two selections, landing on the first team as both a wide receiver and a kick returner. Defensive back Varmah Sonie also earned first team accolades, while defensive end Darryl Cato-Bishop, linebacker Terence Moore and kicker Mark Lewis were each selected to the second team.

   Thompkins set a franchise record and placed third in AFL history by racking up 3,530 all-purpose yards. As a receiver, he set a team record for receptions, hauling in 135 passes for 1,631 yards and 38 touchdowns. Thompkins also posted 1,823 yards with five touchdowns on 93 kickoff returns, 22 yards with another score on four carries and added a 54-yard touchdown on a missed field goal return. He earned second team honors as a kick returner in 2015.

   Sonie led the Predators and finished second in the AFL with 97 total tackles, including one tackle for loss. He defended 22 total passes with 16 pass breakups and six interceptions, adding one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Sonie previously earned first team honors as a rookie with Portland in 2014.

   Cato-Bishop led the AFL with 11 total tackles for loss despite missing the final two games of the season. He registered 20.5 total tackles, including a team-high four sacks, while adding four quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup. This is his first All-Arena selection.

   Moore earned second team honors for the second consecutive season after delivering 64.5 total tackles with three tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He also rushed for three touchdowns on offense.

   Lewis became the AFL’s all-time leader in successful PAT attempts this past season with 1,173 PATs made in his career. He finished second in the AFL by generating 123 points as he connected on all four of his field goal attempts and 111-of-123 PATs. This is the third all-arena selection of Lewis’ 12-year career.

2016 ALL-ARENA OFFENSE

FIRST TEAM

   QB _ Nick Davila, Arizona.

   FB _ Mykel Benson, Arizona.

   OL _ Adam Smith, Philadelphia.

   OL _ Cornelius Lewis, Jacksonville.

   C (tie) _ Jordan Mudge, Arizona.

   C (tie) _ Joe Madsen, Cleveland.

   WR _ Joe Hills, Jacksonville.

   WR _ Rod Windsor, Arizona.

   WR _ Brandon Thompkins, Orlando.

   K _ Tommy Frevert, Philadelphia.

SECOND TEAM

   QB _ Dan Raudabaugh, Philadelphia.

   FB _ Jeramie Richardson, Philadelphia.

   OL _ Neal Tivis, Philadelphia.

   OL _ DJ Brandel, Cleveland.

   C _ Wayne Tribue, Philadelphia.

   WR _ Donovan Morgan, Los Angeles.

   WR _ T.T. Toliver, Tampa Bay.

   WR _ Collin Taylor, Cleveland.

   K _ Mark Lewis, Orlando.

2016 ALL-ARENA DEFENSE

FIRST TEAM

   DL _ Jake Metz, Philadelphia.

   DL _ Damien Borel, Arizona.

   NG _ Randy Colling, Cleveland.

   MLB _ Tyre Glasper, Arizona.

   JLB _ Joe Goosby, Philadelphia.

   DB _ Tracy Belton, Philadelphia.

   DB _ Greg Reid, Jacksonville.

   DB _ Varmah Sonie, Orlando.

   KR _ Brandon Thompkins, Orlando.

SECOND TEAM

   DL _ Teddy Jennings, Philadelphia.

   DL _ Daryl Cato-Bishop, Orlando.

   NG _ Dimetrio Tyson, Arizona.

   MLB _ Dexter Jackson, Jacksonville.

   JLB _ Terence Moore, Orlando.

   DB _ Dwayne Hollis, Philadelphia.

   DB _ Marvin Ross, Cleveland.

   DB _ Fredrick Obi, Los Angeles.

   KR _ Larry Beavers, Cleveland.