The National Football League today announced the five finalists for the 2020 PEPSI ZERO SUGAR NFL
Through the end of the voting period on cast such a vote, fans should tweet the first and last name of the player or the player’s official Twitter handle. Both of these methods must include the hashtag: #PepsiROY. Voting via Twitter is in addition to the online ballot at NFL.com/voting/rookies/rookie-of-the-year, which will be available throughout the entire voting period.
The 2020 PEPSI ZERO SUGAR NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR award will be recognized in Tampa Bay and presented a trophy virtually during Super Bowl LV festivities and online at NFL.com/voting/rookies/rookie-of-the-year.
The five finalists were selected for their outstanding performances through the 2020 NFL season. Each week, five nominees were chosen for the Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Week and fans voted for the winner on NFL.com. Those results were used to help determine the finalists.
A closer look:
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert
Herbert recorded the most touchdown passes (31), most completions (396) and second-most passing yards (4,336) by a rookie quarterback in NFL history. He recorded eight games with at least 300 passing yards, tied for the third-most in the league this season, and surpassed ANDREW LUCK (six games in 2012) for the most 300-yard passing games by a rookie quarterback in NFL history.
Herbert, who also had five rushing touchdowns, surpassed CAM NEWTON [35 touchdowns (21 passing, 14 rushing) in 2011] for the most combined passing and
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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson
Jefferson, a 2021 Pro Bowl selection, led all rookies and ranked fourth in the NFL with 1,400 receiving yards, a total that surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (1,313 receiving yards in 1998) for the most in Vikings franchise history and ANQUAN BOLDIN (1,377 receiving yards in 2003) for the most by a rookie wide receiver in the Super Bowl era.
Jefferson became the fourth rookie with at least seven games of 100-or-more receiving yards in history, joining BILL GROMAN (nine games in 1960), ODELL BECKHAM JR. (seven games in 2014) and HARLON HILL (seven games in 1954). He also led all rookies with 88 receptions and tied for second among rookies with seven touchdown receptions this season.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson
Robinson ranked second among rookies with 1,414 scrimmage yards (1,070 rushing, 344 receiving) – the most scrimmage yards by an undrafted rookie in the common-draft era – and became the fourth undrafted rookie with at least 1,000 rushing yards since 1967.
He had 10 touchdowns (seven rushing, three receiving) in 2020 and is the third undrafted rookie with 10 touchdowns in the common-draft era, joining PHILLIP LINDSAY (2018) and DOMINIC RHODES (2001). Robinson had seven games with at least 100 scrimmage yards this season, tied with CLARK GAINES (seven games in 1976) for the most such games by an undrafted rookie since 1967 era.
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor
Taylor led all rookies and ranked third in the NFL with 1,169 rushing yards while his 1,468 scrimmage yards were the sixth-most in the league this season. He led all rookies with 12 touchdowns (11 rushing, one receiving) and joined Pro Football Hall of Famers MARSHALL FAULK (1994) and EDGERRIN JAMES (1999) as the only Colts rookies with at least 10 touchdowns since 1990. Taylor rushed for 253 yards in Week 17, tied with DEMARCO MURRAY (253 rushing yards on October 23, 2011) for the second-most rushing yards by a rookie in a single game in NFL history.
Washington Football Team defensive end Chase Young
Young, a 2021 Pro Bowl selection, led all rookies in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (10), and was the only player in the NFL this season with at least four forced fumbles (four) and three fumble recoveries (three). In Washington’s final seven games (Weeks 11-17), Young totaled four sacks, four passes defensed, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one touchdown as the team went 5-2 down the stretch to earn their first division title since 2015.
This is Pepsi’s 20th year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the 19th year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year award.
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SOURCE: NFL Communications
