Season 22 Awards: Gabriel Manning wins MVP

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER OF SEASON 22: TULSA WIDE RECEIVER GABRIEL MANNING

When it comes to the discussion of which player was most valuable to their team this season, it was Tulsa's Gabriel Manning. Manning ripped through multiple defenses this season, including a SFL 4K23 record 285 receiving yards and four touchdowns against the San Diego Mavericks on April 5th. He had three 200-yard games this season and four games with at least 10 receptions. Manning had 1,647 receiving yards, 584 more yards than any other receiver. His 13 touchdowns was tied for the league-lead amongst pass-catchers. His 93 receptions also led the league by 12 over any other receiver. He added a punt return for a touchdown in the first game of the season vs. Carolina and his 85-yard touchdown was the longest reception in the 4k23 era. He's the first receiver in SFL history to win the award.  

"Gabriel Manning was must-see television this season," said Commissioner Cameron Irvine. "He's meets every qualification to win MVP and it will be fascinating to see where he takes his game from here. Named to his 9th All-Star appearance this season and to the 2023 Hall-of-Fame class, he's never won a league award. If there was ever a season where he deserved to, it was this one."

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF SEASON 22: CANTON HALFBACK LOGAN LEE

For the second-consecutive season, Canton running back Logan Lee is the SFL's Offensive Player of the season. Lee racked up 17 rushing touchdowns, three more than any other back and added a receiving TD. He had 26 last season but the league has changed and the running-back-by-committee approach didn't slow him down. His 1,107 rush yards led the league as did his 5.9 yards per carry, an underrated factor in Canton's immense success in Season 22 that resulted in a Championship Game appearance. He rolled over Jacksonville with 288 yards, but his most impressive performance of the season came against the D.C. Dragons in the Quarterfinals, totaling 156 rush yards and two touchdowns.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF SEASON 22: TULSA LINEBACKER DAVID WARE

Not only is it Ware's first All-Star appearance in six SFL seasons, but Ware wins Defensive Player of Season 22 after leading all front-seven players in tackles with 107 and all player league-wide with an astounding 36 tackles for loss. Ware added two sacks, eight pass deflections and an interception to his resume. His best game this season came against Atlanta, where he racked 17 total tackles, 6 TFL, a sack and his interception. Ware had a stretch of six games between March 10th-April 12th recording multiple TFLs. Ware is the second Desperado to win Defensive Player of the Season, joining Gib Leedoo from back in Season 13.

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF SEASON 22: ARIZONA HALFBACK BIZMARK WRIGHT

In a season where it was tougher than ever for rookies to #makeanimpact on the field, Arizona's Bizmark Wright was the exception. Wright had five touchdowns, tied for the team lead and his 269 rush yards led all rookies in rush yards. Wright had two touchdowns and 48 yards rushing vs. Tulsa on March 16 and had a season-high 50 rush yards vs. Los Angeles in just his second pro game.

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF SEASON 22: QUEEN CITY DEFENSIVE END DTYREIRON DARSHINGTON

The quirky Darshington was the steal of the draft at pick 33 by the Corsairs. Darshington recorded seven sacks in his rookie season, tied for 8th in the SFL amongst all players. He got those seven sacks over the course of six games including a pair of quarterback take-downs vs. Indianapolis on February 2nd. He led the Corsairs in sacks, the rest of his teammates recording 13 sacks combined. He's the first defensive lineman to win the honor since Sioux Falls' Darius Hawkins. Current teammate GB Wallace won the honor in Season 20 and in total is the fifth Corsair to win a rookie of the season award, started by wide receiver Stephen Hacker way back in Season 12.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF SEASON 22: D.C. KICKER PAW T. PAWTAI

The exemplary D.C. Dragons kicker Paw T. Pawtai made 29 of 29 field goals this season with a long of 49 and kicked in 29 additional PATs. Pawtai was perfect in a season where only eight kickers had a perfect season, compared to 17 last season. Pawtai's 29 makes is the most in a 4K23 season and his 29-perfect is nine more than the next kicker that didn't miss in Season 22. He's the first kicker to win the award since Shark Tarkington won it in Season 19 for Baltimore.