Desperados Make AFL All-Rookie Team
May 19, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
The Arena Football League announced today that Dallas Desperados WR/DB Will Pettis, defensive specialist Jermaine Jones and FB/LB Ja'Mar Toombs were named to the league's All-Rookie team following their successful initial indoor campaign. The Desperados and Orlando Predators led the league with three rookies each on the eight-player All-Rookie team.
Pettis, who is making a push for Rookie of the Year and Ironman of the Year honors, finished his rookie season with 69 catches for 798 yards and 16 touchdowns, 14 rushes for nine yards and four touchdowns, three interceptions for 22 yards, 32 kickoff returns for 640 yards (20.0 avg.), four missed field goal returns for 93 yards (23.3), 34.5 tackles and four passes defensed. His 1,562 all-purpose yards established a new team record as he led the club in interceptions, kickoff returns, missed field goal returns and missed field goal return average. He finished third in receptions and fourth in rushing.
Jones, who is also making a push for Rookie of the Year, played in only 12 games, but still set a new club record with a team-high 73.5 tackles (ninth best total in the league). He also established a new team mark by breaking up 18 passes. In addition, he finished his initial spring with a tackle for a loss, a forced fumble and an interception, which he returned 45 yards for a touchdown.
Toombs, who played in only eight games, burst out of the blocks with a 21-yard touchdown run on his first indoor carry and finished the season with a team-high 69 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries. As a linebacker, he totaled eight tackles, a game-clinching sack (at Carolina), a tackle for a loss and a pass defensed.
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