Danville Demolition Signs R.J. Luke
January 4, 2007 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Danville Demolition News Release
The Danville Demolition looks to bolster their 2007 roster by signing former NFL and AFL player R.J. Luke. Luke, a former Nittany Lion (1998-2001), spent three seasons as a TE/FB at Penn State before transferring to Western Illinois (Fall 2002) where he was positioned at TE. While at Western, Luke was named first team All-American and first team All-Gateway. He finished his collegiate career playing in 48 games, 35 for Penn State and 13 for Western Illinois. He totaled 53 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns prior to his senior season. As a senior at Western Illinois, he started 13 out of 13 games and had 40 receptions for 725 yards and six touchdowns.
Eligible for the 2003 draft, Luke signed with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent fullback. He competed for fullback, tight end, and long snapping duties. Luke went through training camp but was released prior to the regular season. In 2004, Luke signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a fullback where he remained as a reserve fullback for the 2004-2005 season. He then spent the 2006 season with the Austin Wranglers of the Arena Football League. Luke began training camp at the FB/LB position but upon the beginning of the season was then switched to the WR/LB. After the conclusion of the AFL1 season, he then signed with the AF2 Rio Grande Valley Dorados where he gained valuable arena experience. Luke was named the U.S. Army Ironman Player of the Game for his efforts against South Georgia where he returned an interception 47 yards for the game deciding touchdown.
Playing for his father, Coach B.J. Luke, at Waubonsie Valley HS, Luke was a consensus first-team All-American, becoming the all-time leading receiver in Illinois high school history with 196 catches for 3,124 yards and 26 touchdowns in his career. As a senior, he made 44 receptions for 711 yards and seven scores and he made at least one catch in 40 consecutive games, another state mark. He also recorded 19 sacks in his career and had 82 tackles, with seven sacks and an interception as a senior. The 1997 Illinois Gatorade Player-of-the-Year, he was a two-time all-state selection by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Champaign News-Gazette. He was selected to the All-Upstate Eight all-conference squad all four years, including Player-of-the-Year honors twice, and earned all-area honors four times as well. Luke also was a two-time all-conference pick in basketball and was a sprinter on the track team.
American Indoor Football Association Stories from January 4, 2007
- AIFA league owner John Morris visits Danville - Danville Demolition
- Danville Demolition Signs R.J. Luke - Danville Demolition
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