All-Arena Fullback Returns to Jacksonville
December 9, 2016 - National Arena League (NAL)
Jacksonville Sharks News Release
JACKSONVILLE - The Jacksonville Sharks announced today that fullback Derrick Ross has been signed to the Jacksonville roster for the upcoming 2017 season.
Derrick "The Boss" Ross (6'0", 250) is the Arena Football League's leading fullback since joining the league in 2011, earning First Team All-Arena honors in each of his five AFL seasons. Ross has a career 3,245 rushing yards and 195 rushing touchdowns to his name, leading the AFL in all rushing categories. Ross led the league with 108 carries for 399 yards and 20 TDs in 2016. Entering his third season with the Sharks and seventh in arena football, Ross will be highly favored to be the leading rusher for the National Arena League that kicks off in 2017.
The All-Arena fullback was the second leading scorer for the Sharks in 2016 (Hills, 58). Starting in 15 regular season games, Ross managed to make at least one TD in all but three games. In an impressive win over the LA KISS, he racked up 14 rushes over 64 yards with three TDs that contributed to the Sharks' 46-32 victory. Last season, the Boss was awarded the AFL's Offensive Player of the Week award twice, including his outstanding performance in the playoff overtime win against the Orlando Predators. The team's leading rusher had 12 rushes for 24 yards and 4 touchdowns, including the game winning two-point conversion in overtime.
During his first season with the Sharks in 2015, Ross started in all 18 regular season games for the Sharks leading the league with 147 carries for 586 yards and 33 touchdowns. Ross scored at least one touchdown in 15 out of the Sharks' 18 regular season games and put together 11 games with more than one score.
Ross spent the 2012-2014 seasons with the Philadelphia Soul where he collectively made 450 carries over 1,638 yards with 103 TDs. In 2012, his first season with the Soul, The Boss broke his own single-season rushing record with 645 yards on 146 carries and scored 32 touchdowns.
The Boss broke into the AFL with the Dallas Vigilantes in 2011 where he set rookie records with 622 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns. In college at Tarleton State University in Texas, Ross set single-game and season-rushing records as well as touchdowns. Ross earned All-American honors at Tarleton State in both 2004 and 2005 and at Blinn College in 2002 and 2003.
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National Arena League Stories from December 9, 2016
- All-Arena Fullback Returns to Jacksonville - Jacksonville Sharks
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