Hinesville native and former Bradwell Tiger standout Will Pettis continues to exceed the Dallas Desperados’ expectations.
Last year’s 2007 Iron Man of the Year was voted the top Iron Man at mid-season by the Arena Football Writers Association at a ceremony on April 22.
One of the league’s premier players and one of the last remaining two-way standouts, Pettis has become a threat whenever he is on the field, which is in every phase of the game.
He continues to dominate as a wide receiver and defensive back, despite ending the season last year with back spasms. Last month a helmet-to-helmet collision against a San Jose Sabercat had Pettis sitting on the sideline for two games, recovering from a concussion.
Two-way players like Pettis are a dying breed in the Arena league after a substitution rule change last season. Previously, AFL coaches were limited to one substitution per position per quarter. Beginning with the 2007 season, coaches were permitted to substitute players at will.
Diehard fans and players, believed the rule change would be the beginning of the end of the Iron Man (two-way offense and defense) style of play that the league has promoted for 20 seasons.
Coming into 2008, Pettis has amassed 12,565 all-purpose yards. He is the longest tenured Desperado and the club’s all-time leading receiver with 476 receptions for 5,589 yards and 116 touchdowns. Pettis joined the Desperados in 2002.
To date his “Iron” shows no sign of rust.