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AFL Sends Pair of Receivers to NFL

May 2, 2013 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release


CHICAGO - Two of the Arena Football League's top receivers are headed to the NFL, as Jacksonville Sharks receiver Jeff Hughley and Tampa Bay Storm receiver Joe Hills have been invited to rookie mini-camps with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers, respectively.

Hills (6-4, 210, Tennessee State) joins the Carolina Panthers on the heels of finishing his tenth consecutive multi-touchdown game in the AFL. The second-year pro earned Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week honors after setting career-highs with 16 receptions for 259 yards in Week 3 of the 2013 AFL season. He garnered AFL MVP of the Week honors in Week 6 after posting 10 receptions for 177 yards and five touchdowns in the team's 70-62 victory over the Spokane Shock on CBS Sports Network. Hills leads the League in receiving yards with 769 on the season. He has 101 receptions for 1,551 yards and 33 touchdowns for his career.

Hughley (5-8, 180, Averett) has appeared in the last two ArenaBowls, winning a championship with the Sharks at ArenaBowl XXIV in 2011 and earning Ironman of the Game honors with the Philadelphia Soul at ArenaBowl XXV in 2012. He returned to Jacksonville for the 2013 season and currently leads the undefeated Sharks with 47 receptions for 516 yards and nine touchdowns. The 2012 J. Lewis Small Ironman of the Year has also excelled as a kick return specialist, collecting a single-season franchise record 1,865 yards with the Soul last year. The three-time All-Ironman selection and newest member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaves the AFL having recorded triple-digit all-purpose yards in six consecutive games. For his career, Hughley has hauled in 326 passes for 3,946 yards and 78 touchdowns.

A former standout at Tennessee State University, Hills entered training camp with the Tennessee Titans in 2011, but was waived after suffering a knee injury during a drill in practice. This will be Hughley's first opportunity to compete at the NFL level.

Both receivers have been placed on the AFL's "Other League Exempt" list and their AFL rights remain with their respective teams.

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