All XLeague Team 2017


Panasonic, Fujitsu Lead A Top Sides Dominated Selection

The 2017 All XLeague Team has been announced

 Leading the way with seven selections apiece are Panasonic Impulse, who won their first seven games before falling at the semi final stage to IBM Big Blue, and Fujitsu Frontiers, who have reached the JXB for an unprecedented fifth straight year.

Yutaro Kobayashi (72) blocks Carlton Jones as Gino Gordon goes past. All three were named to the team – Inside Sport: Japan
Yutaro Kobayashi (72) blocks Carlton Jones as Gino Gordon goes past. All three were named to the team – Inside Sport: Japan

All four of Panasonic’s American imports made the team and Fujitsu’s Al-Rilwan Adeyemi was selected for the fifth straight season since joining the league.

Devin Gardener was chosen as QB despite Benjamin Anderson getting the MVP award. Both were outstanding all year but Anderson, while perhaps slightly less spectacular, didn’t throw an interception until the semifinal.

Team success seemed to figure heavily into what are ostensibly individual awards. Players that performed at a high level on squads that weren’t as successful didn’t get considered. In fact there wasn’t a single player picked from outside the top six teams. Whether you agree with that policy or not it’s harsh on sides like Minerva, Lions and Finies who had candidates arguably worthy of inclusion. Maybe not in pure stat terms but certainly in impact on the field.

Metropolitan Police Eagles retained the fair play award that they won last season and Rookie of the Year went to Obic’s dynamic young RB Taku Lee.

The XLeague awards started in 2000 and three players including Obic Seagull’s DL Kevin Jackson lead the way with nine selections. Jackson had another impact year and he can consider himself unlucky not to have become the first player into double figures.

Unlike last season when the team was announced and unveiled in a press conference after the season was over, this year the full team will be presented to the public on the field at the Japan X Bowl on December 18th.


OFFENSE:

Tackle: Yutaro Kobayashi – Fujitsu Frontiers (6th)

Guard: Shun Mochizuki - Fujitsu Frontiers (4th) 

Center: Edmond Toby Davis III - Panasonic Impulse (3rd)

Guard: Tomoaki Sakaguchi – Panasonic Impulse (1st)

Tackle: Kai Maiava – Obic Seagulls (3rd)

 Tight End: John Stanton – IBM Big Blue (4th)

 Wide Receiver: Teruaki Clark Nakamura – Fujitsu Frontiers (3rd)

Wide Receiver: Yuhei Yagi – Nojima Sagamihara Rise (1st)

 Running Back: Gino Gordon – Fujitsu Frontiers (3rd)

Running Back: Yuki Shirakami – Lixil Deers (1st)

Quarterback: Devin Gardner – Nojima Sagamihara Rise 


Tackle: Yutaro Kobayashi
Tackle: Yutaro Kobayashi
Guard: Shun Mochizuki
Guard: Shun Mochizuki
Center: Edmond Toby Davis III
Center: Edmond Toby Davis III

Guard: Tomoaki Sakaguchi
Guard: Tomoaki Sakaguchi
Tackle: Kai Maiava
Tackle: Kai Maiava
Tight End: John Stanton
Tight End: John Stanton

 Wide Receiver: Teruaki Clark Nakamura
Wide Receiver: Teruaki Clark Nakamura
Wide Receiver: Yuhei Yagi
Wide Receiver: Yuhei Yagi
Running Back: Gino Gordon
Running Back: Gino Gordon

Running Back: Yuki Shirakami
Running Back: Yuki Shirakami
Quarterback: Devin Gardner
Quarterback: Devin Gardner


DEFENSE:

Defensive Line: David Motu - Panasonic Impulse (3rd)

Defensive Line: Hiroaki Nakazato – Obic Seagulls (1st)

Defensive Line: James Brooks – IBM Big Blue (4th)

Defensive Line: Carlton Jones - Panasonic Impulse (1st)

 Linebacker: Trashaun Nixon – Fujitsu Frontiers (2nd)

Linebacker: Kensuke Amaya – Lixil Deers (2nd)

Linebacker: Takuya Iwamoto – Obic Seagulls (1st)

Defensive Back: Al Rilwan Adeyemi – Fujitsu Frontiers (5th)

Defensive Back: Masashi Fujimoto  – Obic Seagulls (5th)

Defensive Back:  Emory Polley - Panasonic Impulse (2nd)

Defensive Back: Atsushi Tsuji - Panasonic Impulse (3rd) 


Defensive Line: David Motu
Defensive Line: David Motu
Defensive Line: Hiroaki Nakazato
Defensive Line: Hiroaki Nakazato
Defensive Line: James Brooks
Defensive Line: James Brooks

Defensive Line: Carlton Jones
Defensive Line: Carlton Jones
 Linebacker: Trashaun Nixon
Linebacker: Trashaun Nixon
Linebacker: Kensuke Amaya
Linebacker: Kensuke Amaya

Linebacker: Takuya Iwamoto
Linebacker: Takuya Iwamoto
Defensive Back: Al Rilwan Adeyemi
Defensive Back: Al Rilwan Adeyemi
Defensive Back: Masashi Fujimoto
Defensive Back: Masashi Fujimoto

Defensive Back:  Emory Polley
Defensive Back: Emory Polley
Defensive Back: Atsushi Tsuji
Defensive Back: Atsushi Tsuji


SPECIAL TEAMS:

Kicker: Hidetetsu Nishimura – Fujitsu Frontiers (6th)

Punter: Shintaro Saeki - Panasonic Impulse (3rd)

Returner: Noriaki Kinoshita  – Obic Seagulls (6th) – (three as WR)


Kicker: Hidetetsu Nishimura
Kicker: Hidetetsu Nishimura
Punter: Shintaro Saeki
Punter: Shintaro Saeki
Returner: Noriaki Kinoshita
Returner: Noriaki Kinoshita


MVP: Benjamin Anderson (QB) – Panasonic Impulse


ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:  Taku Lee (RB) – Obic Seagulls


FAIR PLAY AWARD: Metropolitan Police Eagles

Metropolitan Police Eagles
Metropolitan Police Eagles