Writer: Matt Rappa
Soul DB James Romain Named AFL Defense Back of the Year for 2nd Straight Season
Published05 Aug 2019
By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Philadelphia Soul veteran DB James Romain made Arena Football League history on Monday, following his team's 48-41 victory on Sunday to clinch a trip to ArenaBowl 32.
In being named AFL Defense Back of the Year for the second straight season, Romain also became the first player in the league to earn the award multiple times in its eight-year history.
This season, Romain led the Soul in pass break-ups (12) and the overall league in interceptions (8) — three of which were returned for touchdowns — helping him earn First-Team All-Arena honors for the fourth time over the last five seasons. Romain was named to the First-Team last Thursday along with teammates OL Neal Tivis and WR Darius Prince.
The Soul all-time interceptions leader was a key component in helping his team eliminate the reigning champion Washington Valor to advance to the ArenaBowl; he picked off dual-threat Valor QB Arvell Nelson three times in the first game of the home-and-home series.
A Soul player has now been named AFL Defense Back of the Year in four straight seasons; in addition to Romain (2018, 2019), Dwyane Hollis (2017) and Tracy Belton (2016) also earned the honor; Kent Richardson (2012) was the first and only other Soul player to earn the honor.
Romain and the rest of the 2019 AFL awards recipients will be recognized at the AFL Award Ceremony on Saturday, August 10 — one day before ArenaBowl 32 between the Soul and Albany Empire — at the Times Union Center.
2019 Philadelphia Soul Awards:
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— Arena Football League (@OfficialAFL) August 7, 2019
Schedule of Remaining AFL Awards
