Jeff Loots Explained

Jeff Loots
Number:11
Position:Quarterback
Birth Date:19 May 1970
Birth Place:Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lbs:205
High School:Saint Paul (MN) Central
College:Southwest Minnesota State
Undraftedyear:1993
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Aflstatlabel1:Comp. / Att.
Aflstatvalue1:474 / 814
Aflstatlabel2:Passing yards
Aflstatvalue2:5,873
Aflstatlabel3:TDINT
Aflstatvalue3:100–34
Aflstatlabel4:QB rating
Aflstatvalue4:93.98
Aflstatlabel5:Rushing TDs
Aflstatvalue5:3
Afl:977

Jeff Loots (born May 19, 1970) is a former American football quarterback who played eight seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Milwaukee Mustangs, Minnesota Fighting Pike, Albany Firebirds, Oklahoma Wranglers, Chicago Rush, Buffalo Destroyers and Grand Rapids Rampage. He played college football at Southwest Minnesota State.

Early years and college career

Loots attended Central High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[1]

He first played college football at Inver Hills Community College in 1989.[2] [3] He then played for the Western Illinois Leathernecks of Western Illinois University in 1990.[4] [5]

He transferred to play college football for the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University. Loots finished his career with 703 pass competitions on 1,224 attempts for 10,116 and 102 touchdowns, all of which were school records. He was named first team NAIA All-America in 1992, second team NAIA All-America 1991, honorable mention NAIA All-America in 1990 and second team AP Little All-America in 1992. He recorded 22 wins and five losses as a starter for the Mustangs before he suffered a season ending shoulder injury in week eight of his senior year in 1992. Loots was ranked as the seventh best quarterback in the 1993 NFL draft by Mel Kiper, Jr.[6] He was inducted into the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Hall of Fame in 2009.[7] He was also inducted into the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs Hall of Honor in 2007.[8] Loots number 11 is retired by the Mustangs.[9]

Professional career

Loots signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 1993 after going undrafted in the 1993 NFL draft. He injured his shoulder and sat out the season.[10] He was traded to the expansion Las Vegas Posse and was the first player to sign with the team. Loots later requested his release.[10] He signed with the expansion Milwaukee Mustangs of the AFL in 1994. The Mustangs finished the season with no wins and twelve losses, with Loots recording eleven touchdown passes.[10]

He was drafted by the expansion Iowa Barnstormers of the AFL in 1995. He competed for the starting quarterback job with Kurt Warner before breaking his foot in the Barnstormers' second preseason game.[10] Loots was then traded to the Florida Bobcats.[10] He was traded to the expansion Minnesota Fighting Pike in February 1996.[11] The Fighting Pike finished their only season with four wins and ten losses, with Loots recording seven touchdown passes.[10] [12]

He then signed with the AFL's Arizona Rattlers. He was a backup quarterback on the Rattlers from 1997 to 1998. The Rattlers won ArenaBowl XI against the Iowa Barnstormers on August 25, 1997.[13] Loots spent the 2000 season with the Albany Firebirds of the AFL, recording seven touchdown passes.[12] The Firebirds won ArenaBowl XIII against the Orlando Predators on August 21, 1999. He was traded to the Carolina Cobras in April 2000 but refused to report.[14] He was traded to the Oklahoma Wranglers in May 2000.[14] Loots recorded 14 passing touchdowns as the Wranglers finished the regular season with seven wins and seven losses, losing in the second round of the playoffs to the San Jose Sabercats.[12] [15]

He was signed by the expansion Chicago Rush of the AFL to be their starting quarterback in 2001.[16] He recorded 13 passing touchdowns with the Rush.[12] Loots was traded to the Oklahoma Wranglers during the 2001 season.[16] He recorded 18 passing touchdowns with the Wranglers in 2001.[12] He played from 2002 to 2003 with the AFL's Buffalo Destroyers. Loots recorded 29 passing touchdown during his tenure with the Destroyers.[12] Loots played his final season in 2004 for the Grand Rapids Rampage of the AFL, recording one touchdown pass.[12]

Statistics

Year Team Passing Rushing
73 147 49.7 648 11 7 60.70 3 -23 0
40 75 53.3 484 7 8 57.17 3 -2 0
26 42 61.9 350 7 1 118.06 2 5 1
72 114 63.2 966 14 3 109.76 3 8 0
50 85 58.8 628 13 4 100.51 2 8 0
58 92 63.0 834 18 1 127.45 1 0 0
51 83 61.4 643 10 4 95.61 5 -6 1
93 157 59.2 1,233 19 5 101.15 8 0 1
11 19 57.9 87 1 1 60.64 1 0 0
Career 474 814 58.2 5,873 100 34 93.98 28 -10 3
Stats from ArenaFan:[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Charley Walters: Brett Favre likely stalling for guarantee . https://web.archive.org/web/20160226230722/http://www.twincities.com/2009/07/25/charley-walters-brett-favre-likely-stalling-for-guarantee/ . dead . February 26, 2016 . twincities.com . July 26, 2009 . October 12, 2014.
  2. Web site: Charley Walters: Jim Leyland's report on new Twins reliever Joel Zumaya: 'great arm, great guy' . https://web.archive.org/web/20160226230800/http://www.twincities.com/2012/01/21/charley-walters-jim-leylands-report-on-new-twins-reliever-joel-zumaya-great-arm-great-guy/ . dead . February 26, 2016 . twincities.com . January 22, 2012 . October 12, 2014.
  3. Web site: Hawkins headed to NSIC Hall of Fame . marshallindependent.com . July 10, 2013 . October 12, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160226230923/http://www.marshallindependent.com/page/content.detail/id/540594/Hawkins-headed-to-NSIC-Hall-of-Fame.html . February 26, 2016 .
  4. News: Making a pitch: San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan isn't... . . August 20, 1992 . October 12, 2014 . Conklin, Mike . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160226230827/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-08-20/sports/9203160000_1_olympics-tennis-grand-slam-event . February 26, 2016 .
  5. Book: The Fortier Years: A Coach's Story . https://web.archive.org/web/20160226230829/https://books.google.com/books?id=LduTAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA2 . dead . 2016-02-26 . FriesenPress . Scott, Larry . 2014 . 2. 9781460237991.
  6. Web site: Loots to join NSIC's best in Hall of Fame . marshallindependent.com . July 18, 2009 . October 12, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160226230831/http://www.marshallindependent.com/page/content.detail/id/511088/Loots-to-join-NSIC-s-best-in-Hall-of-Fame.html?nav=5024 . February 26, 2016 .
  7. Web site: SMSU great Sam Leggett to be inducted into NSIC Hall of Fame . smsu.edu . June 14, 2012 . October 12, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160226230834/http://www.smsu.edu/today/?infoDirect=4227 . February 26, 2016 .
  8. Web site: Jeff Loots . smsumustangs.com . October 12, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160226230837/http://smsumustangs.com/hof.aspx?hof=9&path=&kiosk= . February 26, 2016 .
  9. Web site: Jeff Loots . arenafan.com . October 12, 2014.
  10. Book: War on the Floor . https://web.archive.org/web/20160226230926/https://books.google.com/books?id=iCHr9QOJOOoC&pg=PA133&lpg=PA133&dq=jeff+loots+argonauts&source=bl&ots=rLvo1A1Dxr&sig=tUi1xGwlPcOdM-v65k9zolbZNHo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kx07VJWcLY-ZyATirYC4Bw&ved=0CE8Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=jeff%20loots%20argonauts&f=false . dead . 2016-02-26 . iUniverse . 2001. 9781475903768.
  11. Web site: Transactions . courant.com . February 27, 1996 . October 12, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160226230929/http://articles.courant.com/1996-02-27/sports/9602270258_1_coach-defensive-contract-northeast-league . February 26, 2016 .
  12. Web site: Jeff Loots . arenafan.com . October 12, 2014.
  13. Web site: RATTLERS ALL- TIME HISTORY . azrattlers.com . October 12, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160226230849/https://azrattlers.com/media/page/rattlers-all-time-history.pdf . February 26, 2016 .
  14. Web site: Wranglers sign NAIA passing whiz . https://web.archive.org/web/20141019001840/http://newsok.com/wranglers-sign-naia-passing-whiz/article/2697642 . dead . October 19, 2014 . newsok.com . May 16, 2000 . October 12, 2014 .
  15. Web site: 2000 Oklahoma Wranglers . arenafan.com . October 12, 2014.
  16. Web site: Loots More than He Appears . arenafan.com . July 26, 2001 . October 12, 2014 . Cornett, Mick.