Farnzy’s SFL Rookie Index 5.0

Written by Josh Farnzy

Images by Hubba Kimbrel

The Rookie Index – 5.0

As the brooms sweep aside the last few champagne bottles, Season 16 moves into the collective memory banks of the SFL after a legendary finale. Congrats to the Denver Nightwings on the banner – and to Florida, really, for being a tremendous title game dancing partner. As Kramer Jackman’s career-walkoff kick hit the net, all of the Season 16 rookies were magically transformed into grizzled second-year SFL veterans. But before they head into their sophomore campaign, let’s give out awards to some of the top performers this season…

Rookie Index Awards Offensive Rookie of the Season Winner: Ezekiel Love/RB/Portland

There are many directions this award can take you when assessing who was best. This award seemed to change hands on a weekly basis. Ultimately, it was the way in which Love helped carry the Fleet offense that snuck him past his fellow rookies for the award. The running back put up 1,415 rushing yards (second in SFL) to go with nine touchdowns on the ground. With the passing game still sorting things out, Love was the main offensive catalyst for Portland’s three-game winning streak to close the season – making a monster impact down the stretch, with defenses keying in on him. Love just didn’t care to slow down for eight-man boxes, with those three final wins, Love had: 34 carries, 170 yards, 2 TDs vs. Los Angeles 35 carries, 207 yards, 2 TDs vs. Charleston 33 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD vs. San Diego Workhorse. Also, Rookie Index award winner.

Love transformed the Portland offense this season, using his exciting running style to devastating effect

Defensive Rookie of the Season Winner: Ralgar Lawe/CB/Houston

This was a two-horse race. Readers of this column know how I feel about the other man running in stride with Lawe: Mexico City defensive tackle Dan Tritz, who may have been the best overall defensive player – rookie or not – for the first half of the season. Lawe gets the edge for his full-season impact that had him vacuum in nine interceptions, force two fumbles, make 62 tackles and really give the Hyenas a remarkable shutdown corner down the stretch run. Tritz had a spectacular first half and a solid second half, but cooled off down the stretch. That said, expect Tritz to win some SFL rookie awards from other media outlets – which is very much deserved. As for Lawe, he is now a free agent. Charge your cell, Ralgar. I believe you can expect some calls to come your way.

Rookie Playoff Performance of the Season Winner: Maverick Hughes/LB/Florida

This dude was amazing, even if his team came up just a touch short. Hughes – a solid contributor all season out of Memphis, saved his best rookie game for last. In a contest that featured roughly a million Jarrod McChesney broken tackles (don’t feel bad, Florida, he ran over, through and by me several times the week before), Hughes routinely finished his tackle on the top tier running back. He was also formidable in the passing game. Hughes swatted away a couple passes in coverage and would make the most spectacular, over-the-shoulder, one-handed (lefthanded, no less) interception to stop a Denver drive cold at a key checkpoint in the championship game. Although the game went to the Nightwings, Hughes finished with 12 tackles and plenty of raised eyebrows to go around the entire SFL community. Clutch, thy name is Maverick Hughes.

Clutchest Rookie Play of the Season Winner: Riley Quintero/WR-KR/Denver

Denver may be busy polishing that trophy right now, but they would be most likely licking their collective wounds if it were not for one play: a kickoff return for the ages. In the quarterfinals, the Arizona Fighting Eddie Gauges had Denver on the ropes until rookie receiver Riley Quintero took the ball down the left seam and raced past the special teams unit to score the winning touchdown with nearly no time on the clock. It was one of the plays that will be remembered for years to come from Season 16. Quintero then went out and had the most receiving yards for his Nightwings in the championship tilt, including a couple big games on the game-winning drive. Kudos to the one rookie to win a ring this season.

Quintero showed exactly why the Nightwings picked him – turning up big in the most important moments

One last thing Congrats to all the award winners. Your trophies shall be glorious and oh so imaginary. I find they tend to be more personalized that way. The Rookie Index rolls on this offseason as our attention turns to some of the potential Season 17 rookies. Whatever class it is, trust the rookies!

Farnzy’s SFL Rookie Index 5.0

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