Jeff Hughley
TULSA, OK—With the 2014 Champions Professional Indoor Football League season just around the corner, Oklahoma Defenders head coach Derek Rasmussen announced today the signing of former Tulsa Talons legend Jeff Hughley to his team.
“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,” Rasmussen said, ““Most of all, Jeff is going to bring a certain ‘attitude’ 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.”
Hughley joined the Talons in 2007, the same year that the team won the second of its two af2 ArenaCups league titles. During that contest, Hughley caught 9 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns, as well as seven 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.
Hughley attended Averett University in Danvill, Virginia prior to his arena football career, where he ended his tenure as the career leader in yards, (2,925), receptions (221), and touchdowns (31). “I’m blessed to have this opportunity with Coach Rasmussen to continue to compete in Arena Football without being away from my family,” Hughley said, “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.”
The Defenders will kick off their sophomore season in the CPIFL on March 1st at home in the Cox Business Center at 7pm against the Kansas Koyotes. For season ticket and other information visit www.oklahomadefenders.com.