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| Robert Keese, RDE, Pittsburgh |
Keese was named Defensive Rookie of the Year by the league's coaches. Broussard was the only other player who received votes.
Cleveland LDE Jim Zarate was a repeat selection for Defensive Most Valuable Player. Zarate has compiled 140 tackles, 73 sacks, and 289 hurries in three pro seasons.
The offensive MVP was Tampa Bay quarterback Luis Gero, whose 118.24 QBR led the league. He threw 43 TD passes while only being picked off 12 times.
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| John Broussard, RDE, Washington (50) |
Oklahoma coach Big Poppa was voted Coach of the Year by his peers. He led the Outlaws to a 14-2 record, No. 1 seed and No. 1 MOHR rating. Big Poppa resigned immediately after his team was upset by Memphis in their playoff opener.
Houston kicker Daniel McCormack quietly forged an unbelievable season. The Gamblers' fourth-round pick in 1976 has 100 strength and 100 accuracy. Those numbers were reflected in his going 43-for-44 on field goal attempts, including 16-for-17 from beyond 50 yards.
Three players were named All-Pro for the third time in their careers: Zarate, Detroit DB David Peralta, and Tampa Bay OL James Smith.
You will notice five defensive backs on the first team. Larry Ackman of the New Orleans VooDoo and Albert Welsh of the Arizona Wranglers tied for the fourth and final DB spot. Since their statistics were nearly identical, and since the No. 6 DB was several votes behind, I decided to let the tie stand.
The complete list of All-Pro teams and awards can be found here.
1979 USFL/WFL All-Pro Team
(Previous selections in parentheses)Offense: Luis Gero, QB, Tampa Bay ('78); Joseph Ring, RB, Shreveport; Jaime Giles, RB, Florida; John Sanders, WR, Portland ('78); Dusty Heckman, WR, Oklahoma ('76); Michael Sutton, TE, Oakland; Ken Hancock, OL, Baltimore; Jimmy Rice, OL, Georgia; James Smith, OL, Tampa Bay ('77, '78); Billy McKissick, OL, Detroit; Brandon Roberge, OL, Tampa Bay ('78).
Special Teams: Daniel McCormack, K, Houston; Dan Carr, P, Cleveland ('76); Allan Howard, KR, New York ('76).
Defense: Robert Keese, DL, Pittsburgh; Jim Zarate, DL, Cleveland ('77, '78); John Broussard, DL, Washington; John Hunter, DL, Pittsburgh; Donn Webb, LB, Memphis; David Watkins, LB, Florida; Douglas Oneill, LB, Honolulu; Christopher Turner, LB, Detroit; Leon Crisman, DB, San Antonio ('74); David Peralta, DB, Detroit ('76, '77); Robert Gutierrez, DB, Houston; Larry Ackman, DB, New Orleans; Albert Welsh, DB, Arizona ('77).
Offensive MVP: Luis Gero, QB, Tampa Bay
Defensive MVP: Jim Zarate, DL, Cleveland
Coach of the Year: Big Poppa, Oklahoma
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Arthur Strickland, WR, Florida
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Robert Keese, DL, Pittsburgh
Others Receiving Votes
(In order of votes received)QB: William Hill, Portland; Jerry Ruiz, Michigan
RB: Patrick Hiebert, Oklahoma; Duane Cunningham, Denver; John Horn, Southern California
WR: Michael Hunter, Honolulu; Marshall Gibson, San Antonio; Allan Howard, New York; William Delatorre, Boston; Robert Zapata, Orlando; John Risinger, Detroit; Thomas Dayton, Southern California
TE: Darrell Trotter, Michigan; Ernest McNeil, Memphis
OL: Rick Brun, Oakland; Thomas Wason, Detroit; Earl Murtagh, New York; Jeffrey Sharp, Honolulu; Michael Warren, San Jose; James Hernandez, Houston
KR: Patrick Hiebert, Oklahoma; James Connelly, Houston
DL: Daryl Barney, Jacksonville; Jeffrey Alfaro, New Orleans; William Lewis, Tampa Bay; George Turner, Denver; Alton Pastor, Michigan; Chad Brown, Detroit; Juan Bennett, New Orleans
LB: Victor Lincoln, Oklahoma; Corey Dodson, Birmingham; Roy Edelman, Boston; Fernando Stone, Charlotte; Eduardo Sorenson, Charlotte; James Kelley, Southern California
DB: Eugene Holland, Honolulu; Joseph Abernathy, Charlotte; Walter Silva, Los Angeles; Joseph Daughtry, Honolulu; Allen Herrera, Oklahoma; Philip Shurtz, Oakland; Jerome Stevens, Boston; Herbert Lynn, Philadelphia; Ronald Rutledge, Portland
Offensive MVP: John Sanders, WR, Portland; Jerry Ruiz, QB, Michigan; Marshall Gibson, WR, San Antonio; William Delatorre, WR, Boston; Allan Howard, WR, New York; Dusty Heckman, WR, Oklahoma
Defensive MVP: Douglas Oneill, LB, Honolulu; John Broussard, DL, Washington; Robert Keese, DL, Pittsburgh; David Watkins, LB, Florida; Leon Crisman, DB, San Antonio; John Hunter, DL, Pittsburgh; Chad Brown, DL, Detroit; Donn Webb, LB, Memphis; Joseph Abernathy, DB, Charlotte
Coach of the Year: raidergreg69, New Jersey; jabillups85, Cleveland; greyghost1225, New Orleans; mwd65, Los Angeles; Otterpop, Pittsburgh; AlexanDragon, Denver
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Cory Martin, RB, Washington; Rudi Johnson, RB, New Jersey; Oscar Willis, QB, Southern California; Jonathan Bain, OL, Arizona
Defensive Rookie of the Year: John Broussard, DL, Washington
