The Jacksonville Sharks may have won the 2017 Inaugural National Arena League (NAL) Season Championship, but they are making sure they don’t stop there. The Sharks keep three key players that were on the team from last year. Let’s find out how they help the team.
Jacksonville Sharks Keep Three Key Players
The Jacksonville Sharks kick things off with a bang by keeping their starting Quarterback Tommy Grady.
In 2017, Grady didn’t have the year he or anyone else was looking for, as he suffered torn ligaments in his foot and ankle, ending his season in Week Six. In his five games, Grady threw 71-of-113 for 1,060 yards, 23 touchdowns, and one touchdown.
Shortly after Grady, the Sharks moved to the defense and claimed Linebacker Charlie Hunt on August 16, 2017, the same date as the NAL expansion deadline.
Hunt started for the Sharks all 12 games last season. In 2017, Hunt got 18 solo tackles and 37 assisted tackles, racking his total to 36.5 tackles.
Hunt also got seven interceptions for 147-yards, two of which were returned for touchdowns. These statistics were good enough to land Hunt the 2017 National Arena League Defensive Player of the Year. Hunt also made First Team All-NAL Defense.
Last, but not least, the Sharks have kept Offensive Lineman Moqut Ruffins. In 2017, Ruffins showed that he could be one of the best offensive linemen in the NAL by making the First Team All-NAL.
Ruffins was a key part of the Sharks O-Line by protecting the quarterback, opening up holes for runners to run through, and catching passes and touchdowns as the Tight End.
Ruffins caught three passes for 54-yards, and one touchdown in eight regular-season games. In the championship game, Ruffins had one catch for seven yards and one touchdown.
New Week, New Signings?
In one week, the Jacksonville Sharks kept three key players, all in three consecutive days. Who do you think the Sharks are going to sign in this upcoming week? Will they keep their high-powered offense and sign more key offensive players or will they move to a mainly defensive week?
