LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – Tampa Bay Storm wide receiver/linebacker Lawrence Samuels, who starred offensively and defensively, was named Player of the Week on Tuesday by the board of directors of the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA).

Samuels was instrumental in the Storm's 40-37 victory over the Philadelphia Soul on Sunday. He caught nine passes for 149 yards with a touchdown, intercepted a pass, and recovered a fumble with 20 seconds left to turn away a potential game-winning drive. Both of Samuel's takeaways were Tampa Bay's only defensive stops in the second half.

Making big plays is nothing new for Samuels. He was the Most Valuable Player of last season's ArenaBowl, helping guide the Storm to a 43-29 victory over the Arizona Rattlers. Also last season, Samuels was second-team All-AFL.

The AFLWA, founded at the start of the 2004 season, is a national organization made up of media members who cover the Arena Football League. Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the AFLWA's founder and executive director.