ATL All Day
Fansided

Todd Gurley: Favorite to Win Offensive Rookie of the Year?

By John Buhler

facebooktwitterreddit

Former star running back for the University of Georgia Todd Gurley begins his NFL career with the St. Louis Rams as the 10th overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft.  At UGA, Gurley ran all over SEC defenses and into our hearts as one of the greatest tailbacks to ever wear the Red and Black.

-= Related: UGA’s Better Playmaker in 2015: Michel or Mitchell? =-

If it were not for an autograph suspension and a torn ACL, Todd Gurley could have easily been Georgia’s third Heisman Trophy winner.  But now that Todd plays football professionally for Jeff Fisher’s Rams, is Gurley the favorite to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2015?

Live Feed

Dylan Raiola will be fine wherever he lands, and so will Georgia football
Dylan Raiola will be fine wherever he lands, and so will Georgia football /

Dawn of the Dawg

  • Georgia Football: Rumors swirling that Dylan Raiola will flip to NebraskaDawn of the Dawg
  • Georgia Football: College Football Is Dead, and I Don't Feel So Good MyselfDawn of the Dawg
  • Taking a look at the SEC Blueprint at SyracuseSouth Bound & Down
  • The Georgia Bulldogs were robbed of a spot in the College Football PlayoffSouth Bound & Down
  • Ranking every Georgia College Football Playoff game of the four-team eraDawn of the Dawg

    • Todd Gurley’s selection by the Rams was the writing on the wall for former Vanderbilt standout RB Zac Stacy who was promptly traded to the New York Jets.  Gurley will join another all-time great tailback in the Rams backfield with 2013 Heisman Finalist, former Auburn Tiger Tre Mason.

    With new QB Nick Foles’ experience running an uptempo offense in Philadelphia for Chip Kelly, expect the St. Louis Rams to run the football a ton this season as the team looks to end a 10-year playoff drought.  So Gurley will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his tremendous playmaking ability this season, no matter how often Foles throws or carries Mason gets.

    I see Todd Gurley’s main competition for the NFL ROTY award as these other four other collegiate standouts: Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston, Tennessee Titans QB Marcus Mariota, Miami Dolphins WR DeVante Parker, and San Diego Chargers RB Melvin Gordon.  So Gurley has some very admirable challengers for the award heading into 2015.

    While all five of these players are likely starters for their respective teams, I think that only Parker, Gordon, and Gurley’s teams can reach the playoffs in 2015.  I think that there’s too much on Winston and Mariota’s plates this season to elevate their teams from 2-14 and into the playoffs in Year One.  Though both can certainly have great statistical years as rookies, quarterbacks have to win in this league to get recognized as star players.

    I feel that Parker’s claim to the award is contingent on how Miami QB Ryan Tannehill progresses in Year Four.  He’s close to becoming a Pro Bowl caliber passer for the ‘Phins and getting Miami back into the playoffs.  Parker can aid in that progression but Tannehill still needs to deliver DeVante consistently catchable passes for Parker to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

    More from UGA Football

    Like Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon can control his own destiny in 2015 as a first-round running back.  While Gordon could definitely becoming the next LaDainian Tomlinson for the Chargers, he isn’t the focal point of San Diego’s offense because the Bolts have a Top 10 QB in Philip Rivers.  Gordon could become the perfect complement to Rivers for HC Mike McCoy but I don’t see him outshining their Pro Bowl QB in 2015.

    If Todd Gurley bounces back from his torn ACL and leads the St. Louis Rams back into the playoffs in 2015, it would be very hard for Gurley to not win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2015.  But like I’ve said, he has major competition all across the league in a very deep rookie class.  Should Todd rush for 1,250 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Rams this fall, I think he does beat out his competition as the League’s top offensive rookie.

    Next: Georgia Bulldogs: Don't Sleep On These 3 Players!

    More from ATL All Day

    Home/UGA Football