Task 3 - Mount Rushmore
As one of the founding teams of the NSFL/ISFL, the Arizona Outlaws have had a wild ride in their history so far. From winning the first Ultimus bowl and building a dynasty to the crash and controversy that killed it and now trying to reclaim their former glory. The Outlaws had many players that lead the charge to their now famed history and the four players that I chose had the biggest impact in making that happen.
King Bronko - The Legend Bronko originally played wide receiver in college at Baylor and when drafted by the Outlaws swapped to quarterback which is something that doesn’t happen often and even more so is how easily he was able to transition and go on to become one of best quarterbacks the league has ever seen. He lead the team to 3 straight Ultimus titles and was consistently posting top stats especially in 2020 when he threw for exactly 5000 yards and 44 touchdowns. Even as he and the team started to show their age he was still one of the top quarterbacks in the league and in his final season with the Outlaws he set the record for completion percentage in a season at 67.8%. 3 time champ, 5 pro bowl selections, and his consistent stats over the years Bronko will always be remembered and deserves to be the first head on the Mount Rushmore of the Arizona Outlaws.
Reg Macworthy - Widely considered one of the greatest running backs the league has ever seen. Coming out of Oregon State University, Reg was also a part of the founding draft class of the Outlaws and would explode onto the scene after his first season. The young speedster would become a deadly triple threat player through the run, passing, and special teams game. He would go on to rush for over one thousand yards in the majority of his seasons and would cap it all off with arguably his best season in 2022 where the beast rushed for 1000+ yards and scored 7 rushing touchdowns along with 890 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns and 1200+ kick return yards. The awards and records also speak for themselves. 3 time champion, 6 time pro bowl selection, running back of the year in 2018, 1st all time in the league for career rushing yards (12208), 4th all time for career rushing touchdowns (81), and holds the top spot for every rushing record for the Outlaws. The best running back the Outlaws have seen and one of the greats in the entire league, Reg easily deserves to be on this Mount Rushmore.
Harrif Ernston - Next on my list for the Outlaws Mount Rushmore is linebacker Harrif Ernston out of MIT and then USC. This beast of a man would have one of best careers a linebacker has ever had in the NSFL. With Bronko and Reg tearing up the offensive side of the ball, Harrif would dominate on the defensive side. At 6’2 and 240 pounds, Harrif had the speed and strength necessary to scare opposing offenses every week. In Ernstons first season he already showed the dominance that would last his whole career recording 85 tackles and 12 sacks and 1 interception. Following his first season he would record an astounding 110 tackles and 16 sacks on his way to his first NSFL Linebacker of the year award. Yes I also said his “first NSFL LBOTY” as he would go on to win that award 3 times in his storied career. In the end he would win those same 3 Ultimus titles and a multitude of awards and records. NFSL Defensive player of the year in 2020, 3 time linebacker of a year, 4 time pro bowl selection, and holds the records for tackles, sacks, and forced fumbles in Arizona's history. Harrif will go down as one of the best to it in the history of the league and is an easy choice for the Outlaws Mount Rushmore.
Bucky Barnes - The last member of this Mount Rushmore goes to Bucky “The Winter Soldier” Barnes. The cornerback out of Penn State put in the work to become one of the top prospects for the DSFL when he was drafted by the San Antonio Marshals in 2022 and after a couple of seasons made his way to the Outlaws where he would lockdown the secondary of the team for many years. In his first season with the Outlaws Barnes would win the Defensive Rookie of the year award. Even though he missed out on the original team dynasty, Barnes would have much success playing for the Outlaws. He would leave the team for 2 seasons to play for the Philadelphia Liberty, but would come back to the Outlaws as good as ever and would win his only Ultimus championship. Add 2 pro bowl selections to his career awards and stats and Barnes ends up being my 4th and final selection to the Mount Rushmore of the Arizona Outlaws.
These 4 players made an everlasting impact to the Arizona Outlaws and all of them deserve to be on the Mount Rushmore of this team and be forever remembered for what they did for this team.
As one of the founding teams of the NSFL/ISFL, the Arizona Outlaws have had a wild ride in their history so far. From winning the first Ultimus bowl and building a dynasty to the crash and controversy that killed it and now trying to reclaim their former glory. The Outlaws had many players that lead the charge to their now famed history and the four players that I chose had the biggest impact in making that happen.
King Bronko - The Legend Bronko originally played wide receiver in college at Baylor and when drafted by the Outlaws swapped to quarterback which is something that doesn’t happen often and even more so is how easily he was able to transition and go on to become one of best quarterbacks the league has ever seen. He lead the team to 3 straight Ultimus titles and was consistently posting top stats especially in 2020 when he threw for exactly 5000 yards and 44 touchdowns. Even as he and the team started to show their age he was still one of the top quarterbacks in the league and in his final season with the Outlaws he set the record for completion percentage in a season at 67.8%. 3 time champ, 5 pro bowl selections, and his consistent stats over the years Bronko will always be remembered and deserves to be the first head on the Mount Rushmore of the Arizona Outlaws.
Reg Macworthy - Widely considered one of the greatest running backs the league has ever seen. Coming out of Oregon State University, Reg was also a part of the founding draft class of the Outlaws and would explode onto the scene after his first season. The young speedster would become a deadly triple threat player through the run, passing, and special teams game. He would go on to rush for over one thousand yards in the majority of his seasons and would cap it all off with arguably his best season in 2022 where the beast rushed for 1000+ yards and scored 7 rushing touchdowns along with 890 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns and 1200+ kick return yards. The awards and records also speak for themselves. 3 time champion, 6 time pro bowl selection, running back of the year in 2018, 1st all time in the league for career rushing yards (12208), 4th all time for career rushing touchdowns (81), and holds the top spot for every rushing record for the Outlaws. The best running back the Outlaws have seen and one of the greats in the entire league, Reg easily deserves to be on this Mount Rushmore.
Harrif Ernston - Next on my list for the Outlaws Mount Rushmore is linebacker Harrif Ernston out of MIT and then USC. This beast of a man would have one of best careers a linebacker has ever had in the NSFL. With Bronko and Reg tearing up the offensive side of the ball, Harrif would dominate on the defensive side. At 6’2 and 240 pounds, Harrif had the speed and strength necessary to scare opposing offenses every week. In Ernstons first season he already showed the dominance that would last his whole career recording 85 tackles and 12 sacks and 1 interception. Following his first season he would record an astounding 110 tackles and 16 sacks on his way to his first NSFL Linebacker of the year award. Yes I also said his “first NSFL LBOTY” as he would go on to win that award 3 times in his storied career. In the end he would win those same 3 Ultimus titles and a multitude of awards and records. NFSL Defensive player of the year in 2020, 3 time linebacker of a year, 4 time pro bowl selection, and holds the records for tackles, sacks, and forced fumbles in Arizona's history. Harrif will go down as one of the best to it in the history of the league and is an easy choice for the Outlaws Mount Rushmore.
Bucky Barnes - The last member of this Mount Rushmore goes to Bucky “The Winter Soldier” Barnes. The cornerback out of Penn State put in the work to become one of the top prospects for the DSFL when he was drafted by the San Antonio Marshals in 2022 and after a couple of seasons made his way to the Outlaws where he would lockdown the secondary of the team for many years. In his first season with the Outlaws Barnes would win the Defensive Rookie of the year award. Even though he missed out on the original team dynasty, Barnes would have much success playing for the Outlaws. He would leave the team for 2 seasons to play for the Philadelphia Liberty, but would come back to the Outlaws as good as ever and would win his only Ultimus championship. Add 2 pro bowl selections to his career awards and stats and Barnes ends up being my 4th and final selection to the Mount Rushmore of the Arizona Outlaws.
These 4 players made an everlasting impact to the Arizona Outlaws and all of them deserve to be on the Mount Rushmore of this team and be forever remembered for what they did for this team.