AFI’s All-Pandemic Team: Wide receiver – Alpha Jalloh, Wasa Royals / Stockholm Mean Machines

The AFI All-Pandemic Team selection committee had a extremely difficult time in choosing the 22 members of the first team but not in the case of wide receiver Alpha Jalloh.

Jalloh was a unanimous choice of the six-man committee and with good reason.

As Wasa Royals head coach John Booker puts it, Jalloh is basically a one-man wrecking crew:

“Alpha is one of the most dominant imports in Europe. When he is on the field the defense is one mistake away from him scoring at any time and from anywhere on the field. Outside of his obvious on-field production, he has a high work ethic and tries to make his teammates better. It’s really fun as a coach knowing you have a “get out of jail free card” if things go sideways.”

The 27 year old Jalloh, 6’2″, 205 pounds, started the season with the Royals in Finland’s Maple League, helping them reach the semifinals. During the shortened season in Finland, he had a huge impact for the Royals. He led all receivers in the league in yardage with 22 catches for 457 yards and five touchdowns, rushed 25 times for 228 yards (9.1 yds/carry) and was also the leading kick returner with seven returns for 209 yards and he returned five punts for 119 yards and a touchdown. And he played defense. He had a team high 187 yards rushing against the Kuopio Steelers and 213 yards receiving against the Helsinki Wolverines.

As soon as the Finnish season ended for Jalloh, Stockholm Mean Machines head coach Fredrik Pilbäck wasted no time re-signing him (he had played for Stockholm in 2019 helping them win the Swedish title):

“Alpha is a real difference maker. He is able to make something out of almost any play. You really need to plan for him if you are the opponent. A great athlete with a unique touch for the game.”

Playing only in the final two regular season games, he caught 13 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns and in the semifinal and championship game he had a combined 321 all purpose yards, by far tops among all the teams.

In other words, a difference maker.