Defenders Safety Earns Highest PFF Grade for 2020 Season
April 9, 2020 - XFL (XFL) News Release
On Wednesday morning, Pro Football Focus unveiled its final player ratings for the 2020 XFL regular-season. While the campaign was halted after just five weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season had reached the halfway point, providing enough of a sample size to grade the players.
Five Defenders players were rated as the top player at their respective position, including safety Rahim Moore, who received a 90.0 rating, the highest of any player in the league.
While it may seem like just another number, it must feel sweet for Moore, who was waived from the team following training camp only to be brought back just days before the first game of the season.
'It was obvious to me, when we returned home from training camp, and had a few days of preparation for our first gamer, that I had made a mistake," Pep Hamilton said after Week 3. "The energy, leadership and persistencve he brings, we needed that."
By the end of the season, the 30-year-old former second-round NFL Draft pick was the emotional and verbal leader of the defense, finishing with two interceptions and a fumble recovery, good enough for third place in the XFL for turnovers.
Tight end Khari Lee, who hauled in two touchdowns and recently signed a contract with the Atlanta Falcons, was given a 70.3 rating, the highest of any tight end in the league.
On the defensive side of the ball, edge rusher Suipeli Anau (83.3), linebacker Jameer Thurman (83.6), cornerback Elijah Campbell (88.8) and the aforementioned Moore, all received top ratings at their positions.
The Defenders finished the truncated 2020 XFL season with a 3-2 record and was in first place in the East when regular-season play was suspended.
• Discuss this story on the XFL message board...
XFL Stories from April 9, 2020
- Houston Roughnecks: 2020 Season Review - Houston Roughnecks
- Defenders Safety Earns Highest PFF Grade for 2020 Season - XFL
- Dallas Renegades: 2020 Season Review - Dallas Renegades
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
