Empire adds All-Arena WR Joe Hills

ALBANY, NY » The Albany Empire announce that Joe Hills, a fourtime All-Arena wide receiver, has been assigned to the team roster. Per League and team rules, terms are not disclosed.

“Joe Hills is one of the most electrifying receivers in our game today,” said Rob Keefe, Head Coach of the Albany Empire. “Having played with Grady in Jacksonville, I can’t wait to see the rapport between Grady and Hills come together to not only help our team win football games, but to ‘wow’ fans as the two rack up big numbers.”

Joe Hills, a Florida native, is one of the most accomplished wide receivers currently in the Arena Football League. He has led the Arena Football League in receptions, yards and touchdowns each of the last two seasons. In 2016, he recorded 161 receptions, 2020 yards and 58 touchdowns with Tommy Grady and the Jacksonville Sharks. In 2017, he recorded 129 receptions, 1353 yards and 36 receptions with the Tampa Bay Storm. In his career, he has recorded 726 receptions, 8,883 yards and 230 touchdowns.

Hills was first team All-Arena each of the last two seasons and has been named All-Arena a total of four times in his six-year Arena Football League career. He currently holds the AFL record for the most consecutive games with a touchdown reception with 79, which is an active streak.

“I pack a lunch and put on my hardhat every day and go to work to catch touchdowns,” said Hills. “I came to Albany because Grady and I are like brothers and to get a chance to play for Coach Keefe instead of against him. This is a new city and opportunity for me, and I am really looking forward to it.”

At 0-1 on the young season, Albany is on a bye week this week, before heading to Baltimore on April 28, where they’ll take on the Baltimore Brigade for the first time.

Baltimore boasts reigning AFL MVP and Week 1 Player of the Week Randy Hippeard, who completed 22-of-31 passes for 240 yards and five touchdowns, while rushing for six yards and two additional touchdowns in a victory over Washington.

The Empire return home on Saturday May 5, for their first ever meeting with the Washington Valor, at 7:30 p.m.