NFL 2016: Rookies Excelled in 2015
NFL 2016: Rookies Excelled in 2015

Last season continued a strong NFL trend of standout rookie play, with many young contributors on offense, defense and special teams.

Rams running back led all rookies with 1,106 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in 2015, earning the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. He posted five games with at least 125 rushing yards, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson (seven in 1983) for the most such games by a rookie in NFL history.

Quarterbacks Jameis Winston of Tampa Bay and Marcus Mariota of Tennessee, who were selected No. 1 and 2 in the 2015 NFL Draft, also enjoyed standout rookie campaigns. Winston passed for 4,042 yards, the third-most ever by a rookie, and 22 touchdowns, which tied for the fourth-most by a rookie in NFL history. Mariota set franchise rookie records for touchdown passes (19) and passer rating (91.5) and had four games with at least three touchdown passes, tying PEYTON MANNING (1998) for the most ever by a rookie.

On defense, Kansas City cornerback Marcus Peters tied for first in the NFL and led all rookies with eight interceptions in 2015 and was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year. He topped all players with a club-record 280 interception-return yards, the most by an NFL rookie since Pro Football Hall of Famer Dick "Night Train" Lane in 1952.

Seattle wide receiver and return specialist joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers (1965) as the only rookies in NFL history to have at least five touchdown receptions (six), a kickoff-return touchdown and a punt-return touchdown.

Lockett was among five outstanding rookies to earn a Pro Bowl selection in 2015, along with Gurley, Winston, Peters and Oakland wide receiver AMARI COOPER, who set franchise rookie records for receiving yards (1,070) and receptions (72).

Here are just a few of the notable accomplishments by the NFL's 2015 rookie class:

Buccaneers QB JAMEIS WINSTON set franchise rookie records for passing yards (4,042) and touchdown passes (22). Titans QB MARCUS MARIOTA had six touchdown passes in his first two games, the most by any NFL player in his first two career games.

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Rams RB Todd Gurley had 566 rushing yards in his first four starts, the most through four starts by any NFL player that began his career in the Super Bowl era (since 1966).

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Cardinals RB-KR DAVID JOHNSON joined Pro Football Hall of Famer GALE SAYERS as the only rookies in NFL history with at least four rushing touchdowns (eight), four receiving touchdowns (four) and a kick-return touchdown in a season. He also became the first player in NFL history with a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and kickoff-return touchdown in his first two games to begin a career.

Seahawks RB THOMAS RAWLS had 712 rushing yards in his first six starts, the most rushing yards by an undrafted player in his first six career starts since the 1970 merger. In Week 11, Rawls became the first rookie in NFL history with at least 250 scrimmage yards (255), a rushing touchdown and a touchdown catch in the same game.

Raiders WR AMARI COOPER had three 100-yard receiving performances in the team's first six games and became the first rookie with three 100-yard receiving games in his team's first six games since Pro Football Hall of Famer MIKE DITKA with the Chicago Bears in 1961.

Vikings WR STEFON DIGGS had 52 receptions, the third most by a rookie in franchise history. He is the only rookie in franchise history to lead the team in receptions.

Vikings LB ERIC KENDRICKS led the club with 105 tackles and became the second rookie in franchise history to lead the team in tackles.

Dolphins P MATT DARR ranked third in the NFL and led all rookies with a 47.6 punting average, the second-highest ever by a rookie.

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