By MIKE BONTS
The Jacksonville Sharks announced that fullback Derrick Ross will return to the team, as Ross has been assigned to the Jacksonville roster on a two-year contract.
“Our offensive line play was excellent, and nobody can replace 30-plus rushing touchdowns in an Arena Football League season,” Sharks head coach Les Moss said. “Derrick has set the standard of excellence at the fullback position, and we look forward to winning a championship with him. Now we just need to get our offensive line set.”
Ross continued to stake his claim as the top rusher in AFL history in 2015, his first season with the Sharks. Starting all 18 regular season games,
Ross led the League with 586 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns on his 147 rushing attempts. Ross scored a touchdown in 15 of the Sharks’ 18 regular season games, and put together 11 multi-score performances.
Wide receivers Joe Hills and Tiger Jones will also be back.
Hills earned Second Team All-Arena honors during the 2015 season, his first with Jacksonville. Starting all 18 games, Hills established a new franchise record with 150 receptions, breaking the mark of 146 set by Jeron Harvey in 2013. Hills led the Sharks and finished fourth in the League with 42 touchdown receptions during the regular season, and ranked second on the team with 1,597 receiving yards.
Jones joined the Sharks prior to the start of the 2015 season, and quickly became a major piece of the team’s offense. Starting each of the team’s 18 regular-season games, Jones led all Arena Football League players with 2,087 receiving yards in what was his fourth career 2,000-yard season. Jones finished second among Sharks with 148 receptions and 38 touchdown catches, adding a pair of scores on the ground as well. As a result of his spectacular performance, Jones earned a spot on the All-Arena First Team, his fifth career All-Arena honor.