Kelly, D'Orazio latest to join Rush
November 3, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
November 3, 2005 - The Chicago Rush added two more players to its 2006 training camp roster when it announced today the signing of FB/LB Jeff Kelly to a three-year contract and quarterback Matt D'Orazio to a two-year deal.
"Jeff Kelly is an extremely talented player who we think will be able to come in and learn the game of Arena Football and make an impact for us in 2006," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee.
"Matt D'Orazio is an AFL veteran who finally got a chance to play last year in Columbus. He did some really good things with the Destroyers and we expect him to come in and compete for our starting job this year."
Kelly (5-11, 245, Kansas State), a 1998 First Team All-America linebacker and teammate of Rush QB Michael Bishop at Kansas State, will be an AFL rookie after spending five seasons in the NFL playing with the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars. A sixth-round pick of the Falcons in the 1999 NFL Draft, Kelly spent four years in Atlanta (1999-2002) and one season in Jacksonville (2003), playing in 29 games and recording 52 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
D'Orazio (6-4, 230, Otterbein) joins the Rush after spending the past three seasons with the Buffalo and Columbus Destroyers. Last season D'Orazio played in 13 games for Columbus, completing 205 of 324 passes for 2,268 yards, 40 touchdowns and just six interceptions. In addition, D'Orazio finished the year tied with Bob McMillen for seventh in the AFL in rushing, gaining 178 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Prior to his time in Columbus, D'Orazio played with the Milwaukee Mustangs (2000), New Jersey Gladiators (2001) and the af2's Rochester Brigade (2002).
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