The American Indoor Football is pleased to announce that JeRome Mann of the Cape Fear Heroes has been named the 2012 AIF Defensive Player of the Year.

In 2012 as a defensive back for the Champion Cape Fear Heroes JeRome lead the team to a franchise record 12 interceptions in nine games. Mann is no stranger to success in indoor football over a three year period he has accumulated 30 interceptions while playing for four different teams the Richmond Raiders (2010), the Fayetteville Force and Carolina Speed (2011) and the Cape Fear Heroes (2012).He is also a two time indoor football all-star first with the AIFA in 2010 and then the AIF in 2012.

When asked about winning this great award JeRome says I would like to thank god for giving me the ability to play football at a high level in both practices and games. This award is a great individual award but without the rest of the team it would not have been possible. I had the opportunity this year to play side by side with a great group of players on the way to our undefeated season and AIF Championship. I also want to give a special thanks to my defensive line and linebackers for dominating each and every week, they made it easy for myself and our secondary to excel in 2012

JeRome played his college football at Saint Paul’s College in Virginia as a defensive back and was named to the 2005 CIAA All Rookie Team and was then named to the CIAA Honorable Mention Team in 2007. He has also played in two college all-star games, the 2008 East Coast Bowl and the 2009 Cactus Bowl the later a division 2 all-star played in Kingsville Texas. In 2009 after college JeRome was a pre-draft candidate and had several workouts with NFL teams before beginning his career in indoor football.

A complete list of 2012 AIF All-Stars will be released in the near future.