Burn's Levi Madarieta Earns This Week's Aaron's Defensive Player of the Week honors

Tulsa fullback/linebacker JAMAR RANSOM, Stockton quarterback ANDY COLLINS and Boise linebacker LEVI MADARIETA have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Player and Aaron?s Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 1 of 2009, the af2?s 10th anniversary season. In addition to these three awards, the af2 is also highlighting the player who makes the best catch of the week. The Cutters Catch of the Week Award for Week 1 goes to Rio Grande Valley wide receiver ROD WINDSOR. AARON?S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEKMadarieta (6-3, 250, BYU) was a major player on defense in Boise?s Week 1 road win at West Division rival Tri-Cities, 48-15. The three-year veteran linebacker from BYU turned up the heat against the Fever with 2.0 total tackles and a career-high three interceptions. Madarieta returned his second interception of the night seven yards for a touchdown to cap the Burn?s first-half scoring with three seconds left in the second quarter. This is the first af2 weekly award of Madarieta?s career. He was named to the af2?s All-Ironman Team in 2008. JLS IRONMAN OF THE WEEKRansom (6-0, 230, Oklahoma State) displayed his all-around talents for Tulsa in the team?s 51-48 home opening win against Kentucky in Week 1. The fourth-year veteran from Oklahoma State was an impact player on defense to help the Talons in the team?s first game at the brand-new BOK Center. Ransom registered 9.0 tackles (8 solo, 2 asst), including one forced fumble, one interception and one pass breakup. He also recovered a Kentucky fumble in the end zone on the opening drive of the game to give the Talons the early lead. Ransom was a factor on the offensive side as well by recording his first rushing touchdown of the season (2-yard TD run) late in the first quarter. This is the second Ironman of the Week award of Ransom?s career (Week 13 ? 2008). He earned All-af2 Second Team honors in 2008. RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEKCollins (6-2, 215, Occidental College), in his second af2 season, led the Lightning to a 68-54 Week 1 road victory at West Division rival Central Valley. The Occidental College alum completed 24-of-28 passes (85.7 percent) in the contest for 287 yards and six touchdowns with just one interception. He also scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns to lead the Lightning to their biggest offensive output to open a season in team history. This is the first af2 weekly award of Collins? career. CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEKRio Grande Valley wide receiver Rod Windsor (6-2, 210, Western New Mexico), in his first season in the af2, is the Week 1 recipient of the Cutters Catch of the Week Award, a weekly honor that emerged in 2007 to highlight the player who makes the best catch of the week. Windsor?s catch was an outstanding 17-yard touchdown grab to cap the Dorados? first drive of the game. The former Western New Mexico standout had to leap high and adjust in midair to snare QB Nick Hill?s pass away from a Corpus Christi defender in the left corner of the end zone. Windsor had three additional touchdown grabs on the night and finished his first contest with a game-high 12 catches for 151 yards as Rio Grande Valley earned a 40-33 road win against the Sharks.