Derrick Ross, Tiger Jones among five more Soul players named to 2013 All-Arena team
Five more Soul players were given All-Arena honors as the Arena Football League announced the offensive team Thursday.
Joining defensive lineman Bryan Robinson (First Team) and defensive back Rayshaun Kizer (Second Team) on the All-Arena team are wide receiver Tiger Jones, fullback Derrick Ross, offensive linemen Christian Johnson and Brennan Carvalho and kicker Carlos Martinez.
In total, seven members of the Soul were named to the All-Arena team as only four were named to the squad last season.
"These players deserve the recognition they're receiving," Soul head coach Clint Dolezel said in a team press release. "They played outstanding all season and helped contribute towards our success. I'm proud of what they've done and I'm glad to see that the league recognizes their outstanding play as well."
Jones was named to the All-Arena team for the fourth straight season after he became the first player in league history to gain more than 2,000 receiving yards in three consecutive seasons.
Jones finished his stellar 2013 campaign with 150 receptions for 2,121 yards and 37 touchdowns. Jones holds the franchise records for most career receptions (183) and receiving yards (4,131).
Ross was named First Team All-Arena for the third season in a row after leading the league in rushing yards for the third year in a row. Earlier this season, Ross broke the league all-time career rushing mark and now has 1,773 yards in his brief three-year career.
Ross led the league in 2013 with 506 yards on the ground and scored 39 total touchdowns.
After being arguably snubbed from the All-Arena last season Johnson and Carvalho earned the honor in the 2013. For Johnson, it his first All-Arena selection as Carvalho earned his second (2011, Arizona Rattlers).
Johnson and Carvalho were apart of an offensive line that allowed a mere seven sacks this season. The next closest team was the Spokane Shock who allowed 14.
Rounding out the Soul's All-Arena selections was Martinez as he earned his third All-Arena selection with his third different team. Martinez earned his previous two honors as a member of the Orlando Predators in 2010 and as a member of the now-defunct Georgia Force in 2011.
Martinez was named Second Team All-Arena after he made 126 of his 141 extra point attempts. Although he only attempted seven field goals all season, he made good on six of them.
The Soul and their seven All-Arena selections will play for the American Conference championship Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. against the Jacksonville Sharks in Jacksonville. The winner earns a trip to ArenaBowl XXVI in Orlando, Fla.
The Soul defeated the Sharks in the conference title game last season by a score of 89-34.
For the Soul, a victory would mean a second straight conference title and the franchises' third overall.