Al Lucas Award
Arena Football Player of the Year

Greg White, Orlando Predators

Greg White, a two-way lineman for the Orlando Predators, is the winner of the 4th annual Al Lucas Award as the Arena Football Player of the Year.

An All-State selection at Malcom X. Shabazz High School in Newark, N.J., White was named Defensive Player of the Year for 2007 by the AFL head coaches, fans, players and the Arena Football League Writers Association. He set the league record with 15 quarterback sacks and 17 tackles for losses. He also led the AFL with six forced fumbles and added two field goal blocks.

“Defensive backs traditionally have dominated this award and for a lineman to win it says volumes about the dominating season Greg had,” said Orlando head coach Jay Gruden. “Fifteen sacks in a single Arena League season is an incredible number when you think about it. Over the last decade, quarterbacks in this league have gotten so good at getting rid of the ball quickly. Eight or nine sacks in a single season is often considered a huge year.”

White made a clean sweep of almost every honor available to him during the 2007 season. He was named first-team All-AFL and he also was chosen AFL Lineman of the Year. His accomplishments are even more remarkable when you consider he missed two full games and part of a third with an elbow injury.

Among his highlights were a touchdown scored on a fumble recovery against Tampa Bay, a three-sack game against New Orleans and a two and one-half sack game against Utah. He had his best game in the season finale against New York with six tackles, two tackles for losses, a quarterback sack, a blocked field goal and a pass batted down at the line.

In 2006, White excelled in the National Conference Championship Game against Dallas when he played brilliantly on defense and scored his first career touchdown on a five-yard pass reception. That season White won AFL All-Rookie Honors.

The 6-3, 285-pound White played his college football at the University of Minnesota (1998-2001) where he totaled 132 tackles and 11 quarterback sacks. He was used primarily as a linebacker and started all but one game in his final two seasons.

White was selected by the Houston Texans in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL draft. Over the next four years, he spent time on the practice squads in Washington, New Orleans, Tennessee, Atlanta and Tampa Bay. He signed with the Chicago Bears in 2005 and was assigned to the Cologne Centurions in NFL-Europe. He led the league that year with seven quarterback sacks.

White majored in youth studies at Minnesota. He enjoys working with children and he made numerous charity appearances on behalf of the Predators and the Predators Foundation during the past two seasons.

The Al Lucas Award

The Maxwell Football Club named its Arena Football League Player of the Year Award in honor of Al Lucas, who died in April 2005, after suffering a spinal cord injury in an AFL game. Lucas, 26, was a lineman for the Los Angeles Avengers. He was injured in a game against the New York Dragons.

 A Troy State product, Lucas played for the Carolina Panthers in 2000 and 2001.

“He was always a fun-loving guy,” said Brenson Buckner, his former Carolina teammate. “When I heard about it, knowing Al and knowing what kind of person he is, it was heartbreaking to me.”

Lucas is survived by a wife and daughter.