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American Flag Football League Reveals Core Players

Published

3 years ago

November 25, 2023

The American Flag Football League (AFFL), has officially announced the core players for its four teams as the League prepares for its inaugural season launching on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

AFFL 2024 Rosters (Graphic: Business Wire)

Many of the core players have competed for USA Football’s U.S. Men’s National Team. The National Team has won gold at five IFAF Flag Football World Championships, The 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Ala., and the 2023 IFAF Americas Continental Flag Football Championship in Charlotte, N.C.

Notable players to highlight include:

Velton Brown Jr.; QB/Rush; Member of the 2023 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team; played Minor League Football for the Orlando Phantoms
Terrance Bunting; WR/DB/LB; Member of the 2021 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team; played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Ottawa Renegades
Laval Davis; WR/DB; Member of the 2022 and 2023 U.S. Men’s National Team
Darrell “Housh” Doucette; QB; Member of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team; won the AFFL Championship in 2018 and 2019; in the 2018 AFFL Championship Game Housh made one of the greatest plays in flag football history
Eric Holliday; QB; Member of the 2021 and 2022 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team
Shaquille “Shaq” James; DB; Played DB for West Chester University (ECAC Division II Rookie of the Year in 2015; first team All-ECAC and second team All-PSAC East Region in 2017)
Bruce Mapp; WR; Member of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team; Coastal Carolina Hall of Fame Inductee
Brandon McCray; WR/QB/S; Played DB at Southern University; played Minor League Football for the Louisiana Lightning (MVP) and Louisiana Bulldogs (MVP and League Record with 27 TDs)
Laderrick “Pablo” Smith; QB/WR; Member of the 2022 and 2023 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team
Frankie Solomon; DB; Member of the 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team; played DB for the University of New Mexico; played Arena Football League (AFL) for Texas Revolution
Corey Webb; DB/WR; Member of the 2018 and 2023 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team
Jerodis Williams; WR/LB; Played RB/KR for Furman University (2012 College Football Performance Kickoff Returner Award); signed in the NFL as a rookie free agent with Minnesota Vikings and later with the Denver Broncos

“This is an exciting day for the AFFL as we reveal the core players for our teams. Our coaches spent considerable time in their evaluation and selection process, and their efforts are reflected in the quality of players for this inaugural season,” said Brian Michael Cooper, AFFL President & COO. “Our players are the most elite in the game, as many are either past or current members of the USA Football’s world champion U.S. Men’s Flag National Team and are potential members of the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team. In addition to their athletic skill, our players also were selected for their great character, exemplified by their commitment to our fans and their communities.”

Earlier this month, the AFFL announced its team names and logos for the inaugural teams:

As previously announced, the team venues and schedule is as follows:

Date	Host Team	Location
April 27 (Inaugural Game)	Las Vegas	Cashman Field
May 4	Dallas	Gerald J. Ford Stadium
May 11	Boston	Veterans Memorial Stadium
May 18	Nashville	Vanderbilt Soccer \| Lacrosse Complex
May 25	Las Vegas	Cashman Field
June 1	Boston	Veterans Memorial Stadium
June 8	Dallas	Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas
June 15	Nashville	Vanderbilt Soccer \| Lacrosse Complex
June 22 (Championship Game)	Dallas	Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas

*Schedule subject to change.

About AFFL

The AFFL was founded in 2016 to grow the game of flag football. We offer youth and women’s competition, and in 2024, the inaugural men’s pro league will launch with teams in Boston, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Nashville. For more information, visit affl.com and follow the league on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

About USA Football

USA Football is the governing body of American football in the United States, the sole US member of the International Federation of American Football, and a recognized sports organization of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Its non-profit mission includes designing and delivering premier educational, development, and competitive programs for American football, including tackle and flag football. USA Football is the only organization that selects and organizes men’s and women’s U.S. National Teams in federation-sanctioned international competition, including the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231121872317/en/

We Speak Sports

Angel Reese’s Historic Night Powers Dream Past Valkyries 97-71 for 2-1 Finals Lead

Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to become the first player in WNBA history with a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, and the Atlanta Dream routed the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.

Published

4 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Angel Reese high-fives Jordin Canada during WNBA Finals Game 3

The Atlanta Dream turned their first home game of the WNBA Finals into a statement. Behind another commanding performance from Angel Reese, Atlanta blew out the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,099 at State Farm Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and setting a franchise record for points in a Finals game.

Watch the official Game 3 highlights:

Atlanta’s defense set the tone from the opening tip. The Dream held Golden State scoreless for the first five minutes, and the Valkyries did not make a field goal until Aminata Gueye’s hook shot with 4:38 left in the first quarter. Atlanta led 23-15 after one and 46-40 at halftime.

Golden State made its push early in the third quarter, tying the game at 49. Reese answered personally, fueling an 8-0 run and capping it with a coast-to-coast driving layup. After the Valkyries trimmed the margin to 59-55, the Dream closed the quarter by scoring 12 of the final 14 points to carry a 71-57 lead into the fourth, then outscored Golden State 26-14 the rest of the way. Atlanta has now outscored Golden State 63-35 in third quarters across the series.

Angel Reese celebrates with Rhyne Howard during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. (AP Photo)

Reese finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. She is the first player in WNBA history to record a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, the youngest player ever with three straight double-doubles in the Finals, and she joined A’ja Wilson as the only players to post 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive Finals games. She also went 2-for-2 from three-point range; Atlanta is 14-0 this season when Reese makes a three.

“Time to take over. Do whatever it takes to win,” Reese said. “Everybody was just playing together. It’s fun when you win and you play with a great group. So it makes my job super easy.”

Rhyne Howard added 16 points and five steals, becoming the first player in league history with five steals in consecutive Finals games. Naz Hillmon scored 15, Isobel Borlase added 12 off the bench, and Jordin Canada finished with 10 points and eight assists. Atlanta shot 49.3 percent from the field, hit nine three-pointers and owned the paint, 44-20.

Gabby Williams led Golden State with 15 points, Tiffany Hayes scored 14, and Janelle Salaün and Cecilia Zandalasini added 13 apiece. But the Valkyries shot just 34.8 percent and committed 17 turnovers, which Atlanta converted into 22 points. “Sometimes, promises aren’t kept,” Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said.

Game 4 is Saturday, October 24 at 1 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, televised on NBC and streaming on Peacock. Atlanta, playing in its first Finals since 2013, is now two wins away from the first championship in franchise history.