San Jose's Ben Nelson named AFL Rookie of the Year
May 24, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - San Jose SaberCats OS BEN NELSON (6-3, 191, St. Cloud State) was selected the 2006 Rookie of the Year as voted by the AFL head coaches, players, fans and the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA). The announcement was made live on ESPNews this afternoon.
Nelson, who was named to the 2006 All-Rookie Team last week, led all AFL rookies with 26 touchdowns and posted 94 catches for 1,405 receiving yards, just six yards shy of the highest total by a rookie in AFL history, despite playing in just 11 games. He recorded 100-or-more receiving yards in seven-of-11 games and posted the fourth-highest receiving yardage total of the season with 203 yards on 11 catches against Arizona on April 2.
Nelson was a member of NFL Europe's Cologne Centurions first-ever team in 2004 and was a consensus Division II All-American at St. Cloud State after setting several school and conference records as a senior in 2002.
Other Rookie of the Year candidates included: Austin's DERRICK LEWIS, Chicago's KHREEM SMITH, Kansas City's AARON BOONE and Los Angeles' SONNY CUMBIE.
Following is the complete list of AFL Rookie of the Year award winners:
SEASON PLAYER, TEAM 2006 Ben Nelson, San Jose SaberCats 2005 Troy Bergeron, Georgia Force 2004 Adrian McPherson, Indiana Firebirds 2003 Travis McGriff, Orlando Predators 2002 Clevan Thomas, San Jose SaberCats 2001 R-Kal Truluck, Detroit Fury 2000 Chris Jackson, Los Angeles Avengers 1999 Charles Wilson, Tampa Bay Storm 1998 Oronde Gadsden, Portland Forest Dragons 1997 Cory Fleming, Nashville Kats
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 24, 2006
- Crush begin quest for repeat - AFL I
- SaberCats' Nelson tabbed AFL's Rookie of the Year - San Jose SaberCats
- Georgia Force game notes - Georgia Force
- "Confetti Game" Rematch in Colorado; ArenaBowl Rivalry Renewed in San Jose - AFL I
- San Jose's Ben Nelson named AFL Rookie of the Year - AFL I
- Beckett.com AFL Collectible Player of the Week - AFL I
- DeJuan Alfonzo named AFL Ironman of the Week - Chicago Rush
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