NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Flag Football League (AFFL), today announced the core players for its four teams as the League prepares for its inaugural season launching on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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.
