CHICAGO - Former Illinois State standout defensive back Kelvyn Hemphill will rejoin the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League for the 2012 season, as announced by the organization Tuesday. Hemphill suited up for the Rush in four games in 2011, recording 19 tackles and an interception.
Hemphill joins former Redbird teammate and current Rush quarterback Luke Drone and former Redbird defensive lineman Xzavier Stewart on the roster for the Rush. Hemphill, who is currently pursuing his master's degree in sport management at Illinois State, will join the team following the completion of the spring semester.
A four-year letterwinner at Illinois State, Hemphill payed in 42 career games with 36 starting assignments for the Redbirds. He amassed 263 tackles during his four-year career, which ranks him 16th on the all-time list at ISU, and his 165 career unassisted tackles rank him 13th on the all-time list. In 2009, he was tabbed as an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Second Team selection and was an honorable mention selection in 2008.
Drone is in his second year in the AFL and his first with the Rush. In 2011, he spent the season with the Dallas Vigilantes and threw for 269 yards and five touchdowns in limited action. Drone has passed for 96 yards and two touchdowns this season for the Rush, playing behind former Western Illinois standout Russ Michna.
In his time at Illinois State, Drone passed for 8,123 yards and 61 touchdowns over a four year career. He was named an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference First-Team selection as a senior, leading the conference in passing yards per game (228), total offense per game (231), and passing efficiency (163.5). He currently ranks second in career passing yards (8,123), touchdown passes (61) and completion percentage (60.9), and is third in career completions (610) at Illinois State.
Stewart played two seasons with the Redbirds, after transferring from Kansas State after the 2008 season. In 2009, Stewart played in all 11 games for the Redbirds and recorded 19 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks. He played in four games in 2010, before being dismissed from the team.5).
The Rush are currently 4-1 on the season and lead the Central Division of the National Conference. They return to the field Saturday, April 21, for a home game against the Milwaukee Mustangs at the Allstate Arena.
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