Defenders Sign Former AFL Ironman of the Year Jeff Hughley
February 7, 2014 - Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL)
Oklahoma Defenders News Release
Tulsa, OK-The Oklahoma Defenders are excited to announce the signing of former Tulsa Talon Jeff Hughley. Jeff attended Averett University in Danville, Virginia where he ended his tenure as the career leader in yards, (2,925), receptions (221), and touchdowns (31). After his time at Averett, Jeff joined the Tulsa Talons in 2007. Hughley's biggest performance during his rookie season came on the biggest stage of the season, the ArenaCup (AF2 Championship). During that contest, Hughley caught 9 passes for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns, as well as 7 kickoff returns for 203 yards, and was named the U.S. Army Strong Ironman of the Game. His 203 return yards and 346 all-purpose yards were both ArenaCup records. During the 2009 season Jeff was named AF2 Ironman of the Year.
In 2010, the Talons first season in the AFL, Hughley made a huge impact while accumulating 2,808 yards which ranked 2nd in the league. In 2011 with the Jacksonville Sharks, Hughley once again was a dynamic threat while accounting over 2,600 all-purpose yards. During the 2012 Philadelphia Soul campaign, Jeff was named the AFL IronMan of the Year, with over 2,900 all-purpose yards. Last season, he returned to Jacksonville, and caught 82 passes for 889 yards and 15 touchdowns, and once again eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark on kick returns. In May of 2013, Jeff was invited to Rookie Mini Camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Head Coach Derek Rasmussen commented, "Jeff brings a wealth of knowledge on both sides of the ball, as well as being one of the hardest workers that I know. He is without a doubt the most dynamic threat inside that I have been around. He can just do so many things; whether it is receiving, returning, or playing corner, Jeff can do it all at an extremely high level," Stated head coach Derek Rasmussen. "Most of all, Jeff is going to bring a certain "ÃËattitude' and leadership to our organization. For years, he's been one of the most feared guys in the game, and now he's back here in Tulsa, I couldn't be more excited."
"I'm blessed to have this opportunity with Coach Ras to continue to compete in Arena Football without being away from my family," state Jeff. "These are young men that still have dreams of moving up in this profession, and I will help guide them to the best of my ability with Coach Ras, to make that opportunity available to them, while working hard and bringing a championship back to Tulsa."
Jeff and his wife, Magen, live in Glenpool, Oklahoma. They have two children, Jeremiah, 9, and Jamari, 3. He is a performance coach at UPC (Ultimate Performance Complex) in Tulsa.
The Defenders are gearing up for their first home game, the Aloft Tulsa Downtown Kickoff Classic on Saturday, March 1st. Kickoff is 7pm at the Cox Business Center.
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Champions Professional Indoor Football League Stories from February 7, 2014
- Defenders Sign Former AFL Ironman of the Year Jeff Hughley - Oklahoma Defenders
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