Speedy Stokes' World Tour Continues in Philly
June 24, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
PHILADELPHIA - Look up 'disciplinarian' in the dictionary and you just may see a picture of Keith Stokes. On and off the field Keith holds a position of authority, but it's not exactly the vibe you get from a tranquil, 5-8 guy with a smile that's contagious.
Keith, 32, joined the Soul this season as a wide receiver and kick returner, and his performance speaks volumes. But when #3 is not returning a 56-yard kickoff for a touchdown, he works at a juvenile detention center in Morgantown, PA.
"You got to have a lot of patience to work with bad kids. I have a lot of patience," said Stokes. "We got kids who come in with gun charges, murder charges - anything you can think of."
However, Keith had quite the opposite childhood. Between playing six sports at one point and keeping his grades up, he had no time for trouble.
Ask Keith how football became a part of his youth and his answer is simple - by accident. He is a life-long soccer player at heart, but when football came knocking at his door around the seventh grade, he gave it a shot.
"I went to my best friend's football practice and before practice I was messing around and started kicking the ball around. The coach asked me to play so I said okay," Stokes recalled.
Keith continued to play both football and soccer when he moved to Alabama, where he attended high school with current Soul teammate, Larry Brackins. It was there that he was offered a soccer scholarship to Clemson but turned it down to pursue football. However, Keith's height put him at a disadvantage when it came to the recruiting process.
"I wanted to go to a big school," Keith said. "No big schools would take me because I was small, so I thought I'd go to a small college and hopefully get picked up by a bigger college."
At Georgia Military College, Keith showcased his talents and was selected as NJCAA All-American honoree and team MVP. Between the early morning wake-up calls and a 9 p.m. lights-out policy, he remained focused on his academics and football.
"That was the hardest two years of my life," said Stokes regarding his military school experience. "If I could do that, I knew I could do anything."
Things went according to plan for Keith and he was picked up to play at East Carolina, where he also completed a degree in communications. Keith wasted no time in making his mark as a Pirate. His very first touchdown at East Carolina was a 27-yard game-winning catch against the No. 13 ranked Miami Hurricanes.
In 1999, Keith set the school's second-longest punt return record at 94 yards against Cincinnati. He also holds the title of most average yards per punt return at 15.5 yards on 53 career returns.
Upon graduating, he joined the San Francisco 49ers for a very brief stint before heading to Canada to establish his career as a professional athlete.
After seven years in Canada, Keith made his way to Paris where he played and also coached for a year. While he enjoyed the experience and the chance to travel, he made the decision to come back to play in the States. He spent one season with the Harrisburg Stampede of the Southern Indoor Football League, and then transitioned to the Arena Football League, joining the Soul.
"I haven't played football in the States since 2001, so my family getting to see me play is great," said Keith, husband and father of seven-year-old Jayden. Originally from Toms River, NJ, most of Keith's extended family still resides in New Jersey and makes regular appearances at his games.
Aside from being a family man, he enjoys spending what little free time he has by playing video games - Madden to be exact - or watching one of his favorite movies, "The Notebook."
Yes, this disciplinarian enjoys nothing more than a good competition followed by a romantic tear-jerker.
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