T.Y. Hilton’s rookie season with the Indianapolis Colts continues Sunday with an AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Although Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III will likely win the NFL Rookie of the Year, Hilton should receive some votes.
Goodbye’s first NFL regular season concluded last Sunday after the Colts defeated the Houston Texans and with it the former FIU star receiver finished at the top or near the top of every receiving statistic among rookies. CLICK HERE for a great breakdown of Hilton's 70-yard touchdown catch last week. Zak Keefer of the Indy Star has the breakdown.
Among all NFL receivers, Hilton finished No. 5 in yards-per-catch and tied for No. 22 with seven touchdowns.
Back to the rookie numbers, Hilton topped nearly all 12 receivers drafted in front of him in last year’s NFL Draft. In all there were 33 receivers drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Below are the final regular season statistics for the 12 receivers selected before Hilton in the 2012 NFL Draft. You'll notice that Hilton led three of the five categories.
Among NFL rookie receivers:
** Hilton finished No. 1 in touchdowns with 7, No. 1 in 100-yard games with 5 and No. 1 in yards-per-reception with a 17.2 average.
** Hilton finished No. 2 in receiving yards with 861 (Justin Blackmon had 865 yards). Hilton finished No. 3 in catches with 50 (Blackmon and Kendall Wright each had 64 catches).
T.Y. Hilton – 3rd round pick … Indianapolis (50 catches, 861 rec. yards, 7 TDs, 5 --100-yd games, 17.2 yards-per-catch)
1st ROUND
Justin Blackmon, Jacksonville (64 catches, 865 yds, 5 TDs, 1-100-yd game, 13.5 yds-per-catch)
Michael Floyd, Arizona (45, 562, 2 TDs, 1-100, 12.5)
Kendall Wright, Tennessee (64, 626, 4 TDs, 0-100, 9.8)
A.J. Jenkins, San Francisco (1 game played, no stats)
2nd ROUND
Brian Quick, St. Louis (11 catches, 156 yds, 2 TDs, 0-100-yd game, 14.2 yds-per-catch)
Stephen Hill, N.Y. Jets (21, 252, 3 TDs, 0-100, 12.0)
Alshon Jeffery, Chicago (24, 367, 3 TDs, 0-100, 15.3)
Ryan Broyles, Detroit (22, 310, 2 TDs, 1-100, 14.1)
Rueben Randle, N.Y. Giants (19, 298, 3 TDs, 0-100, 15.7)
3rd ROUND
DeVier Posey, Houston (6 catches, 87 yds. 0 TD, 14.5 yds-per-catch)
T.J. Graham, Buffalo (31 catches, 322 yds, 1 TD, 0-100-yd game, 10.4)
Mohamed Sanu, Cincinnati (16, 154, 4 TDs, 0-100, 9.6)
