AFL Rookie Rundown
April 10, 2024 - Arena Football One (AF1) News Release
While the old guard is building off of their past glory, there comes a new wave of AFL hopefuls trying to make a name for themselves.
For fans just getting into Arena Football, it is easy to find the legends and the big names, but it is not as easy to look out for the young guys. Frankly, not everybody wants to take the time to deep dive the rosters to look for the rookies. However, some young guns are undoubtedly going to come in and disrupt the hierarchy of the league. With this Rookie Rundown we will highlight some top rookies who have opportunities to make some noise in their debut AFL season.
Vaughn Taylor - DT Nashville Kats
Vaughn Taylor is coming to the Kats roster with a single year of professional experience. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL for the 2023 season before making the move to Arena Football this year. With the Maulers, he recorded 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks. The professional pedigree is short and rather lackluster, but going back to his college years paints a whole different picture.
Taylor reps Morehead State as his alma mater. Over four years and 39 games played, he tallied 188 total tackles, 56 tackles for loss, and 21.5 sacks. The pinnacle of his production came in his senior season ('20-'21), producing 71 total tackles and 23 tackles for loss. The accolades say more than numbers; he came away with Pioneer League Defensive Player of the Year, four separate All-American Awards, a unanimous All-PFL 1st team, and was a finalist for the Buck Buchannon award. He also holds the records at Morehead for tackles for loss in a season (23) and in a career (60).
That was the past, but what does the future look like for Vaughn Taylor? Well, you should not be surprised if Taylor starts from week one. He sheds blocks like a champ, and in a game that is so pass-heavy, he will excel at speeding up the quarterback. Look for a lot of interceptions that start off with him getting the QB out of rhythm.
Kamar Jordan - WR Philadelphia Soul
CFL fans will recognize the name Kamar Jordan. He has been a staple of the offense for the Calgary Stampeders dating back to 2016. In that stint, he was a two-time Grey Cup Champion and a two-time all star. In 56 total games over five seasons, he boasts 245 receptions, 3500 yards, and 29 touchdowns.
Although not a rookie in the traditional sense, this will be Jordan's first year playing Arena Football. Many people will talk about the learning curve of transitioning to the arena, but at the end of the day, it is still football. With a CFL vet like Jordan, you have to believe in his ability to simplify his game and continue to play football.
J.R. Nelson - WR/DB Washington Wolfpack
J.R. Nelson had the honors of being the first signing announced for the Washington Wolfpack along with the announcement of the team's conception. He played collegiately for the University of Montana from 2012-2016. Following the 2016 season, he entered the draft and was picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. Unfortunately, his time with the Chiefs would end after a foot injury. After that, he would not play football until last year when he played with the semi-pro Everett Royals.
On that 2023 Everett Royals team, he was part of a complete turnaround from the prior season. The 2022 Royals had gone a dismal 0-8 in the regular season. In 2023, they went 7-1, finished 5th out of 30 teams,won their division, and made the playoffs. Nelson will be at home with several of his brothers from the Royals on the Wolfpack. As a man who made it to the highest level of football a few years ago, he should be an electric presence on the Washington defense.
Nick Marshall - CB West Texas Desert Hawks
Nick Marshall has worn many hats when in the game of football. Most would recognize him as the quarterback of the Auburn Tigers in 2013 and 2014. He was a part of two of the most famous plays in college football history: The Prayer at Jordan-Hare and the Kick Six. He would then go to the NFL, spending two years with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets. Post-NFL life would take him to the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL. He has played both sides of the ball as a cornerback, quarterback, short-yardage back, and kick returner.
With the many positions Marshall has played, his skillset will adapt well to an Iron-man role as long as he can handle the workload. Although unlikely, he could reprise his role as quarterback, but it would be an uphill battle. The West Texas QB room is stacked with the all time passing leader in the IFL, Charles McCullum, and the all-time passing leader in the NAL, Jonathan Bane. Still, Marshall's talents should not be lost; he is, if nothing else, a pure utility man. Having him around could make a big difference if depth in any position were to run thin.
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