LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – Colorado is far from a shoo-in to win its second ArenaBowl in three seasons, but the Crush has the nucleus in place to make a run.

Two Crush players, wide receiver Damian Harrell and defensive back Rashad Floyd, were named the preseason offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively, in a vote by members of the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA).

Harrell's selection is hardly a surprise. He was the league's Offensive Player of the Year the past two seasons. In 2006, he caught 152 passes for 1,920 yards and 61 touchdowns. Harrell made 122 receptions for 1,486 yards and 41 touchdowns the year before.

Floyd has put up some major numbers, too. He set an AFL record with 136.5 tackles last season, the third year in a row he established the mark. Last season, Floyd also had 10 interceptions and 15 pass breakups, but was second-team All-AFL, the second time he has been named to that squad in three years.

Sedrick Robinson of the Austin Wranglers was chosen the preseason Special Teams Player of the Year. He led the league with six returns for touchdowns last season and averaged 23.1 yards per return.

Grand Rapids Rampage wide receiver Troy Edwards is the preseason Rookie of the Year. He was a first-round draft pick by the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers in 1999, and played for four teams overall.

Clint Dolezel of the Dallas Desperados was named the preseason's top quarterback. He passed for 4,623 yards and 105 touchdowns last season. Two other Desperados, defensive lineman Colston Weatherington and linebacker Duke Pettijohn, also were voted on to the team.

The Utah Blaze also had three team members — wide receiver Siaha Burley, offensive lineman Hans Olsen and linebacker Frank Carter.

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.