JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sharks and the Arena Football League announced Wednesday that Jacksonville wide receiver Tiger Jones, fullback Derrick Ross and offensive lineman Moqut Ruffins have earned First Team All-Arena honors for the 2015 season, while wide receiver Joe Hills has earned Second Team honors.
The 33-year-old Jones (5'11", 195) put together a typically stellar campaign in his first season in Jacksonville. Jones led all AFL players with 2,087 receiving yards, shattering the Sharks' previous single-season record of 1,737, set by Jomo Wilson in 2011. Jones totaled 148 receptions and 38 touchdown catches, ranking second on the team and in the top seven in the League in both categories. Jones crossed the 100-yard mark in 14 of the Sharks' 18 regular-season games, and in a Week 3 matchup against the Philadelphia Soul, he set a new single-game team record with 239 receiving yards. Jeff Hughley owned the previous mark of 2010, set in 2011.
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Counting 2015, Jones has now crossed the 2,000-yard mark four times in the last five seasons. This is his fifth career All-Arena selection, as he also earned First Team honors with Philadelphia in 2013 and Dallas in 2011, and was named to the Second Team with Philadelphia in 2012 and Milwaukee in 2010. For his career, Jones has totaled 937 receptions for 13,210 yards and 268 touchdowns, totals that rank in the top 10 in AFL history in each category.
The 31-year-old Ross (6'0", 270) has now earned First Team All-Arena honors in each of his five seasons. A fullback with a singular skillset among current AFL players, Ross led the League in rushing attempts (147), rushing yards (586) and rushing touchdowns (33). He scored in 15 of the Sharks' 18 regular season games, and finished the 2015 season with 285 more yards and 17 more touchdowns on the ground than any other AFL player. Ross also put together perhaps his best season as a blocker, as he formed a key piece of the pass protection unit that allowed just eight sacks in 18 regular-season games, the lowest total among all AFL teams.
The AFL's all-time leading rusher, Ross now holds the top five individual rushing seasons in AFL history in terms of yardage, as his 2015 campaign ranks third all-time. For his career, Ross has racked up 2,846 yards and 175 touchdowns on 764 rushing attempts.
The 31-year-old Ruffins (6'5", 320) enjoyed a spectacular season along the offensive line, as he started all 18 of the Sharks' regular-season games. Tasked with the important responsibility of protecting the quarterback's blind side, Ruffins formed a key component of the unit that allowed just eight sacks in 18 regular-season games. That total ranks as both the lowest among all AFL teams in 2015, and the fewest that the Sharks have allowed in a single season in franchise history. Ruffins also demonstrated his athleticism in the passing game, as he caught seven passes for 71 yards and three touchdowns as an eligible tight end.
This is Ruffins' first career All-Arena honor in six AFL seasons. In addition to his work in pass protection and run blocking, Ruffins has hauled in 58 receptions for 537 yards and 19 touchdowns during his time in the League.
The 27-year-old Hills (6'4", 220) smoothly transitioned to the Sharks' lineup in 2015, as he started all 18 games and established a new franchise record with 150 receptions, passing the mark of 146 set by Jeron Harvey in 2013. One of the most dominant red-zone targets in the League, Hills led the team and ranked third in the League with 42 touchdown receptions. He was the only AFL player to catch a touchdown in all 18 of his team's regular-season games, and has how scored in 52 consecutive regular-season games played, the longest active streak in the League. Hills also ranked second on the team and tied for sixth in the AFL with 1,597 receiving yards this season.
This is the second All-Arena honor that Hills has received in his four-year AFL career, as he was named to the First Team with the Tampa Bay Storm in 2013. During his time in the League, Hills has totaled 436 receptions for 5,492 yards and 136 touchdowns.
The Sharks have now had a total of seven offensive players earn All-Arena honors in the franchise's six seasons. Quarterback Aaron Garcia and offensive lineman Randy Degg earned First Team honors in 2011, while wide receiver Jeron Harvey was named to the Second Team in 2013.
The full 2015 All-Arena offensive teams are detailed below:
First Team All-Arena Offense
QB Dan Raudabaugh, Philadelphia
FB Derrick Ross, Jacksonville
WR Reggie Gray, San Jose
WR Donovan Morgan, Los Angeles
WR Tiger Jones, Jacksonville
C Shannon Breen, Philadelphia
OL Moqut Ruffins, Jacksonville
OL Adam Smith, Philadelphia
K Tommy Frevert, Philadelphia
Second Team All-Arena Offense
QB Erik Meyer, San Jose
FB Tommy Taggart, Philadelphia
WR Rod Windsor, Arizona
WR Joe Hills, Jacksonville
WR Marco Thomas, Philadelphia
C John Collins, Portland
OL Rich Ranglin, San Jose
OL Patrick Afif, Spokane
K Mark Lewis, Orlando