Tulsa WR/KR JEFF HUGHLEY has been named the JLS Ironman of the Year, as selected by a vote of arenafootball2 head coaches and members of the media.

The talented Averett alum, in his third af2 campaign, had a spectacular all-around season in 2009 as a receiver and kick returner. He set single-season league records for total all-purpose yards and total kickoff return yards as well as single-season team records for receptions and receiving yards.

With 380 total yards in Week 17, Hughley broke the league single-season record for all-purpose yards. He finished the year with a total of 4,113 (1,909 receivng, 138 missed field goal, 2,069 kickoff return, -3 rush), over 600 yards more than Quad City standout IRA GOOCH's previous af2 standard of 3,472 all-purpose yards (set in 2002). Hughley averaged just over 257 all-purpose yards per game. He also surpassed Gooch for most games over 200 all-purpose yards in a single season (11 - Hughley, 10 - Gooch). He had five games of over 300 all-purpose yards. Hughley's 290 all-purpose yards in Week 18 included four kickoff returns for 133 yards and one 57-yard return touchdown. That performance upped his total kickoff return yardage to 2,069 on the season, besting the old league record of 1,943 yards set by Bossier City's SHADRICK MCAFEE in 2003.

Hughley handled 81 kickoff returns on the year, averaging 25.5 yards per return with four return touchdowns. On five missed field goal returns, he averaged 27.6 yards and returned one for a TD.

In addition to his kickoff return prowess, the 5-foot-8, 165-pounder was a lethal receiver for the Talons, setting new team-high marks for receptions (140) and receiving yards (1,909) in a single season. He managed 100+ yard receiving efforts in 12 of 16 regular season games played. Hughley finished third in the league in scoring (338 points), total TDs (55) and receiving TDs (50). His most impressive scoring effort came in a Week 9 win against rival Oklahoma City. Hughley caught eight passes in Tulsa's 73-46 win against the Yard Dawgz for 103 yards and a staggering seven TDs. His only non-scoring catch was a 17-yarder early in the second half.

Hughley continued his stellar play in the postseason as well. In three playoff games, he led the Talons in receiving (31-498; 166 yards per game), kick return yards (269; 1 return TD) and all-purpose yards (767) and tied for team-high honors in scoring (54 points), total TDs (9) and receiving TDs (8).

He was also a big part of Tulsa's record-setting, first round home win against Oklahoma City on August 1. He scored four total TDs (3 receiving, 1 kickoff return) as the Talons put up an all-time af2 postseason-best 90 points in a 90-75 triumph over the Yard Dawgz.

Hughley was named JLS Ironman of the Week on three occasions during the 2009 season (WK2, WK17, WK21).

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