2012 POD Awards: Rookie of the Year

As part of our season wrap-up series, the 2012 POD Awards roll on. Next up is the category for the Detroit Lions' Rookie of the Year. Here are the nominees:

RB Mikel Leshoure

Whether or not Leshoure is actually a rookie depends on your own perspective. He didn't play at all in 2011 because of an injury, so 2012 was his rookie season strictly in terms of him playing. In 2012, after returning from the injury and a suspension, Leshoure rushed for 798 yards and 9 touchdowns and also had 214 yards receiving.

WR Ryan Broyles

Broyles' rookie season got off to a slow start because he was recovering from an injury, and it got cut short because of another injury. Even so, he had 310 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns in only 10 games.

OT Riley Reiff

Reiff started 8 games for the Lions and was active for all 16 during his rookie season. One of those starts came in place of Jeff Backus at left tackle, while the others were as the Lions' sixth offensive lineman. He performed well enough for the Lions to use a package designed around him, and that's pretty impressive for a rookie.

CB Jonte Green

Green shook off a rough preseason and showed tremendous improvement over the course of the 2012 season. He made a total of 5 starts in 15 games, and he finished with 29 tackles, 4 pass defenses and 1 interception.

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