DeJuan Alfonzo
Encyclopedia
DeJuan R. Alfonzo is an American football
wide receiver
/linebacker
for the Philadelphia Soul
of the Arena Football League (AFL). Alfonzo attended Indiana State University
.
in 1999 with Indiana State and a 4 time letterwinner in 1996-1999. Finished his college career
with 191 tackles
and 10 interceptions. He set school records for most blocked kicks in a career with 5, most blocked kicks in a season with 3, and highest punt return average with 13.5 yards.
Alfonzo went on to go to training camp with the Baltimore Ravens
in 2000, but did not make the team.
but spend the whole season
on injured reserve
. He played the 2002 season
and then was released prior to the 2003 season
. Alfonzo went on to sign with the Chicago Rush
and has been with the team ever since. Alfonzo began his Rush career as a defensive specialist, but rotated also as a WR/DB until becoming the teams WR/LB in late 2006. Alfonzo was a key figure in the teams run to ArenaBowl XX
in 2006
. Alfonzo was named the teams Ironman of the Year, as he played wide receiver, linebacker, special teams, and held
on field goal
s and extra point
s. He was named in the First Team All-Arena in 2006 and 2007.
With the new free substitution rule added to the game in 2007, Alfonzo was regulated mainly as the team's jack linebacker, but still remained active as an Ironman, lining up as a receiver or fullback
at times. Despite the reduced time on the field, Alfonzo was still a playmaker, being named by many as the best jack linebacker in the league.
. He was named the AFL's Ironman of the Year and made the AFL All-Arena First Team at both Jack Linebacker and Ironman. He made 63 tackles with four interceptions, returning three for touchdowns. On offense, he caught 28 passes for 328 yards and scored six times on offense.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
/linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Philadelphia Soul
Philadelphia Soul
The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII...
of the Arena Football League (AFL). Alfonzo attended Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
.
College and NFL career
Alfonzo was a first-team All-American defensive backDefensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
in 1999 with Indiana State and a 4 time letterwinner in 1996-1999. Finished his college career
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
with 191 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
and 10 interceptions. He set school records for most blocked kicks in a career with 5, most blocked kicks in a season with 3, and highest punt return average with 13.5 yards.
Alfonzo went on to go to training camp with the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
in 2000, but did not make the team.
Arena Football League, 2001-2008
Alfonzo entered the AFL in 2001 with the Indiana FirebirdsIndiana Firebirds
The Indiana Firebirds were a team in the Arena Football League.The team was based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Home games were played at the Conseco Fieldhouse, also the home of the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association and Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball...
but spend the whole season
2001 Arena Football League season
The 2001 Arena Football League season was the 15th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Grand Rapids Rampage, who defeated the Nashville Kats in ArenaBowl XV.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. He played the 2002 season
2002 Arena Football League season
The 2002 Arena Football League season was the 16th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVI...
and then was released prior to the 2003 season
2003 Arena Football League season
The 2003 Arena Football League season was the 17th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVII. The AFL expanded its season to a 16-game schedule...
. Alfonzo went on to sign with the Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
and has been with the team ever since. Alfonzo began his Rush career as a defensive specialist, but rotated also as a WR/DB until becoming the teams WR/LB in late 2006. Alfonzo was a key figure in the teams run to ArenaBowl XX
ArenaBowl XX
ArenaBowl XX, held on Sunday, June 11, 2006, was played to determine the championship of the 2006 season of the Arena Football League. For the second consecutive year, the game was played at the neutral site of the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. It pitted the National Conference...
in 2006
2006 Arena Football League season
The 2006 Arena Football League season was the 20th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Chicago Rush, who defeated the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl XX....
. Alfonzo was named the teams Ironman of the Year, as he played wide receiver, linebacker, special teams, and held
Holder (American football)
In American football the holder is the player who receives the snap during field goal and extra point attempts made by place kick. The holder is usually positioned between seven and eight yards behind the line of scrimmage. The holder kneels down and places the hand farthest from the line of...
on field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
s and extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
s. He was named in the First Team All-Arena in 2006 and 2007.
With the new free substitution rule added to the game in 2007, Alfonzo was regulated mainly as the team's jack linebacker, but still remained active as an Ironman, lining up as a receiver or fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
at times. Despite the reduced time on the field, Alfonzo was still a playmaker, being named by many as the best jack linebacker in the league.
CIFL career
After the AFL suspended operations for the 2009 season, Alfonzo signed with the Chicago Slaughter of the Continental Indoor Football League on February 11. Along with many other Chicago Rush players, the Slaughter finished the season undefeated at 14-0 and won the CIFL championship.AFL 2010-present
In 2010, Alfonzo returned to the Rush during the rebirth of the Arena Football LeagueArena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
. He was named the AFL's Ironman of the Year and made the AFL All-Arena First Team at both Jack Linebacker and Ironman. He made 63 tackles with four interceptions, returning three for touchdowns. On offense, he caught 28 passes for 328 yards and scored six times on offense.