After a spectacular rookie campaign, Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley was awarded the Offensive Rookie of the Year at the NFL Honors show on Saturday.
The news comes just a year after Gurley’s junior season at Georgia was cut short with an ACL injury and it was announced by the NFL’s official Twitter during the show:
2015 Offensive Rookie Of The Year: @RamsNFL RB @TG3II! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/hxniiHAOP5
— NFL (@NFL) February 7, 2016
Despite the late start to the season, he exploded out of the gate rushing for 556 yards in his first four starts and breaking Billy Sims’ 35-year-old record of 539 yards. Gurley would not slow down as he would finish the season with 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns while his 4.8 yards per rushing attempt puts him ahead of the league’s best backs such as Adrian Peterson and Devonta Freeman. Rams legend Eric Dickerson showed some love to Gurley on his Twitter:
Congratulation to @TG3II on winning offensive ROY at tonight's #NFLHonors Much deserved! @NFL @nflnetwork #LARams
— Eric Dickerson (@EricDickerson) February 7, 2016
Gurley certainly had some stiff competition this year with fellow rookie standouts in Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston and Oakland Raiders wideout Amari Cooper. He received 27 first-place votes while Winston only took 17.
What is most impressive about Gurley’s rookie season is the number of times he had to face eight and nine-man fronts in an NFC West Division stacked with solid defenses. He now prepares to head West and bring his own brand of ‘Gurleywood’ to Los Angeles.
