NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Two past winners of the MIAA's Defensive Most Valuable Player award were first-team selections to the All-Arena Football League team announced by the league office Wednesday (June 25).

Central Missouri's Colston Weatherington earned first-team honors for the third consecutive season playing for the Dallas Desperados, while Pittsburg State's Aaron McConnell earned his first All-Arena recognition after his fourth season in the league and first with the Colorado Crush.

Weatherington was the 2008 AFL leader in quarterback sacks with 10.5 (10 solos, one assist). He finished the season with 24 total tackles (20 solos, 8 assists) to his credit.

He was an All-Rookie selection in his first AFL season in 2004, after he played for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL and Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe during the 2002 season. He has 37 career sacks in five seasons playing Arena Football. While with the Mules, he was the 1999 MIAA Defensive MVP, and a two-time All-America selection.

McConnell was credited with 21.5 tackles (19 solos, 2.5 assists) -- including a team-leading 9.0 quarterback sacks (all solos). He tied for fourth in the AFL in sacks this season.

He also was an All-Rookie selection in his inaugural Arena Football season of 2005, the first of three with the now-defunct Nashville Kats. McConnell has 19.5 career sacks in his four AFL seasons. While at PSU, he became the school's first four-time All-America selection and was the MIAA's Defensive MVP in 2003 -- his senior season with the Gorillas.

Both Weatherington and McConnell will be participating in the 2008 AFL Playoffs. Weatherington's Desperados are hosting the New York Dragons Friday (June 27), while McConnell's Crush squad plays on the road against the Utah Blaze Saturday (June 28) in the Wild Card Round. Both games will be shown on ESPN.