After an outstanding year in 2007, DeJuan returns for his sixth season with the Rush, having signed a two-year contract extension through the 2009 season on June 26, 2007.  It was his third contract extension since originally signing with Chicago on February 14, 2003. ..Is Chicago’s record holder for career tackles with 279 and ranks third on the team’s list with 71 career games played...In addition to playing both offense and defense for the Rush, also serves as the team’s holder on extra points and field goals.
Has been named ADT Defensive Player of the Game four times in his career (May 2, 2004, March 24, 2007, April 7, 2007, June 23, 2007) and Ironman of the Game nine times (February 14, 2004, May 2, 2004, April 23, 2006, May 6, 2006, May 13, 2006, April 30, 2007, May 19, 2007, May 26, 2007 and June 18, 2007) ...also named Ironman of the Game twice during the playoffs (May 21, 2006 and May 28, 2006).
Set an AFL record in 2007 by scoring five defensive touchdowns – three interception returns and two fumble returns ... also tied an AFL record in 2007 by recovering six fumbles during the season... Played for the Indiana Firebirds during the 2002 campaign before being released February 13, 2003... Went to training camp with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens in 2000.

2007 SEASON: DeJuan enjoyed the best season of his career, recording a career-high 93.0 tackles, 6 interceptions, 6 fumbles recovered, 4 forced fumbles and 2 PBUs while starting all 16 games for the Rush at Jack linebacker.  He also caught 27 passes and scored 14 touchdowns (7 receiving and 7 rushing) on offense.  DeJuan was voted First Team All-Arena, All-Ironman (for the second-consecutive season) and the team’s Defensive Player of the Year.  He set an AFL record by scoring five defensive touchdowns – three on interception returns and two on fumble returns –and tied an AFL record by recovering 6 fumbles in a season.
Named ADT Defensive Player of the Game against Kansas City June 23 after recording 2.5 tackles and returning an interception 47 yards for a TD... Named Ironman of the Game at Colorado June 18 after rushing for two TDs – including one on a 38-yard run - and recording 7.0 tackles and an INT... Named Ironman of the Game for the second-consecutive week in the team’s win at Arizona May 26 ... caught 7 passes for 58 yards and 3 TDs, rushed for a TD and recorded 2.5 tackles and a PBU...Named Ironman of the Game vs. Nashville May 19 after catching 5 passes for 48 yards, rushing for 4 yards and 2 TDs, recording 8.5 tackles and recovering a fumble in the game... Was called on to play nearly the entire game at Dallas May 14 when receiver Bobby Sippio was injured in the first quarter ... led the team with 7 receptions for 88 yards and 3 TDs on offense and also recorded 6.5 tackles on defense... Named Ironman of the Game for his performance against Philadelphia April 30, leading the team with 9.5 tackles and two forced fumbles on defense and scoring two rushing touchdowns on offense... Named ADT Defensive Player of the Game for his performance at Nashville April 7 ... recorded 5.0 tackles, returned an interception 46 yards and recovered a fumble... Was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game at Columbus March 24 after recording 6.5 tackles and recovering a fumble for a touchdown – the second-consecutive week he recovered a fumble for a TD... Named AFL ADT Defensive Player of the Week for his performance March 18 vs. New York ... recorded 3.5 tackles, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the game.

2006: Named the team’s Ironman of the Year after recording 49.5 tackles and catching 20 passes for 219 yards and 5 TDs in 13 games ... was a key participant in Chicago’s run to the ArenaBowl XX title, catching 22 passes for 211 yards and recording 18.0 tackles, 2 passes broken up and recovering 2 fumbles during the team’s four playoff games... Had a great game in ArenaBowl XX, catching 8 passes for 61 yards and a TD and leading the team with 5.5 tackles and 1 PBU. Also recovered 2 on-side kicks... Caught 3 passes for 25 yards and a TD, recorded 3.5 tackles and returned a kickoff 50 yards in the team’s June 3 American Conference Championship win at San Jose... Named Ironman of the game for four straight weeks – May 6 vs. Utah, May 13 at Grand Rapids, May 21 at Nashville (playoffs) and May 28 at Colorado (playoffs) ... in the Nashville game he played every snap on both offense and defense after Etu Molden was injured on the game’s first play – 92 of 93 total plays ...scored three touchdowns and recovered two fumbles in the Colorado game... Named Ironman of the Game April 23 vs. Las Vegas ... recorded 6.0 tackles and caught a 16-yard TD pass... Became the team’s career leader in tackles, recording 2.0 tackles April 15 in Arizona to pass Cedric Walker (166.5)... Missed the first three games of the regular season with an Achilles injury.

2005: Played in a career-high 16 games and finished the season with 22 receptions for 204 yards and five touchdowns.  He ranked fourth on the team with 51 tackles and led the team with three forced fumbles, while serving as Keith Gispert’s holder on all extra points and field goals... Named the team’s Special Teams Player of the Year for his ability to cover on kickoffs and hold on extra points and field goals... Had his best game of the year in the regular season finale at Nashville May 29 ... recorded three receptions for 45 yards and one touchdown, and recorded two tackles, two passes broken up and forced a fumble in the game... Recorded a season-high 8.5 tackles and caught two passes for 20 yards and a TD at Columbus February 19... Caught a season-high five passes for 42 yards and recorded 4.5 tackles February 13 at Colorado.

 

2004: Recorded 41.5 tackles, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups and 1 forced fumble in 13 games for the Rush ...had his best season offensively, catching 31 passes for 421 yards and eight touchdowns... Finished the season as the team’s third-leading tackler and fourth-leading receiver... Intercepted a Joe Hamilton pass on the Orlando 2-yard line in June 6 playoff win vs. Predators... Was placed on Injured Reserve May 12 and missed the last three regular season games with a broken hand suffered May 8 at Grand Rapids... Earned U.S. Army Ironman of the Game and ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors May 2 at Detroit after catching 2 TD passes, recording an interception and making 6.5 tackles ...also recovered an onside kick to seal the victory... Had one of the best games of his career February 14 at New York, earning U.S. Army  Ironman of the Game honors, setting career-highs in receptions (6), receiving yards (98) and rushing yards (26).

2003: Recorded 46.5 tackles, 3 interceptions, 7 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles in 13 games for the Rush ... also caught 5 passes for 74 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown... Finished tied for 2nd on the team in interceptions and 3rd in tackles... Played both defensive specialist and wide receiver/defensive back for the Rush ... made 20.5 tackles in 3 games at defensive specialist... Made his first start at defensive specialist, recording a career-high 10.5 tackles March 23 vs. New York in only 3-plus quarters ... was injured early in the 4th quarter and did not return... Missed the March 29 game at Grand Rapids due to an injured Achilles tendon... Hauled in his first career receiving touchdown February 23 vs. Los Angeles on a 31-yard leaping grab ... also added 4.0 tackles... Was inactive for the first 2 games of the season for the Indiana Firebirds before being released February 13 ... signed with the Rush February 14.

2002: Played in 12 games for Indiana during his rookie season, leading the Firebirds in tackles (72.5) and interceptions (6) ... spent most of the campaign as a defensive specialist... In two games against the Rush, he registered 13.5 tackles, 1 interception and 3 pass breakups ... also caught his first 2 passes of his career in the July 20 game... Recorded a 52-yard interception return for touchdown May 31 vs. Tampa Bay... Made his AFL debut against the Rush April 19, recording 9.5 tackles ... also made 9.5 tackles May 9 at Toronto and May 24 vs. Orlando.

2001: Spent the entire season on Indiana’s Injured Reserve list with a separated left shoulder.

COLLEGE CAREER: DeJuan was a first-team all-America defensive back after the 1999 season at Indiana State University ... was also a two-time all-Gateway Conference selection (1998-1999)... The four-time letterwinner (1996-1999) finished his Sycamore career with 191 tackles, 10 interceptions and 26 pass breakups... Set school records in blocked kicks for a career (5), blocked kicks in a season (3 in 1997) and the highest career punt return average (13.5 yards)... Played in the 1999 All-Star Gridiron Classic.
                                               
Personal: DeJuan R. Alfonzo was born January 12, 1977, in Indianapolis, IN ... DeJuan is single and lives in Chicago during the off-season ... children: Ashley... Is a 1995 graduate of Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, where he participated in football, track and basketball... Was an all-state selection in football and won the slam dunk contest at the state high school basketball all-star game... Received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Indiana State University in 2002... His best friend, Roosevelt Colvin, has played for the Chicago Bears and is currently with the New England Patriots.