Junior Hemingway Explained

Junior Hemingway
Number:88
Position:Wide receiver
Birth Date:27 December 1988
Birth Place:Conway, South Carolina, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lbs:225
High School:Conway
College:Michigan
Draftyear:2012
Draftround:7
Draftpick:238
Pastteams:
Statlabel1:Receptions
Statvalue1:25
Statlabel2:Receiving yards
Statvalue2:233
Statlabel3:Receiving touchdowns
Statvalue3:2
Pfr:HemiJu00

Kenneth Earl "Junior" Hemingway Jr. (born December 27, 1988) is a former American football wide receiver. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2012 NFL draft. He completed his redshirt senior season in 2011 for the Michigan Wolverines football team. He led the 2011 team in receptions and receiving yards, and was tied for the lead in receiving touchdowns. Hemingway was the 2010 and 2011 Big Ten Conference leader in yards per reception, ranking third in all of Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a senior. He received 2011 All-Big Ten honorable mention and was the 2012 Sugar Bowl Most Outstanding Player.

After totaling 593 receiving yards in 2010, Hemingway surpassed this yardage total in his senior season, finishing with a career-best 699 yards. The improvement resulted in Hemingway's league-leading 2010 average of 18.5 yards per reception improving to 20.6 yards per reception in 2011, which was the third-best average per catch in the nation (up from 15th in 2010).

Early life

In high school, he was rated as the 4th, 26th and 38th best high school football wide receiver in the country by ESPN,[1] Scout.com,[2] and Rivals.com respectively.[3] He was regarded as the 12th best player in the state of South Carolina by Rivals.[3] ESPN rated him as the 19th best player in the national class of 2007,[1] while Sports Illustrated regarded him as the 83rd best player in the class.[4] Prior to his 2006 senior season, USA Today listed him as one of six players to watch in the state of South Carolina based on his 56 receptions for 846 yards and 10 touchdowns.[5] He was the second highest rated recruit in Michigan's class of 2007 (behind Ryan Mallett) according to ESPN.[6] He posted 12 receptions in the 2006 Class 4A Division 2 South Carolina High School League championship game against Greenwood High School.[7] He participated in the North-South Game of the Carolinas.[8]

College career

As a true freshman on the 2007 Michigan team, he appeared in 10 games, making his first start September 22 against Penn State.[7] His first receptions came during an October 6 game against Eastern Michigan when he recorded 3 catches for 33 yards.[9] [10] He also recorded a reception in the January 1, 2008 Capital One Bowl against the Florida Gators.[9] [10] He was limited as a true sophomore by mononucleosis which caused him to miss the final eight games of the season for the 2008 team, but did make one start.[7] [10] [11] He received a medical redshirt as a result of the illness.[7]

Hemingway posted his first 100-yard reception game, first two-touchdown performance and a career-high five-reception effort in the September 5 season opener for the 2009 team against Western Michigan, during his third career start.[7] [10] [12] [13] He missed the following week's rivalry game against Notre Dame due to an ankle sprain.[14] [15] In November, he played through back problems.[16] As a redshirt sophomore, he totaled 16 receptions and 268 total yards from scrimmage as a receiver.[10] He also served as a punt returner making 10 returns for 86 yards.[10]

As a fourth-year junior for the 2010 Wolverines, he posted three 100-yard games and another two-touchdown performance.[10] [17] He did this despite missing the first two games of the season due to a hamstring injury[7] [18] as well as the November 27 regular season finale against Ohio State due to an injury.[7] On October 2, his then career-high 129-yard, three-reception effort included a 70-yard touchdown on the second play of the second half which gave the team a 28–21 lead. It also included a 42-yard reception with 21 seconds left to put the ball on the four-yard-line before the game winning score on the next play in the 42–35 contest against Indiana.[19] [20] [21] Two weeks later, he broke his career highs for both yards and receptions in a nine-catch 134-yard effort against Iowa.[10] [17] On November 6, he recorded 104 yards and two touchdowns in a six-catch performance against Illinois.[10] [17] For the season he totaled 593 yards on 32 receptions.[17] This ranked third on the team behind Roy Roundtree and Darryl Stonum.[22] However, he led the Big Ten Conference in yards/reception with an 18.5 average.[23] [24] This ranked him 15th in the nation.[25]

When Brady Hoke replaced Rich Rodriguez as Michigan's head coach, AnnArbor.com predicted that Hemingway would be the biggest individual beneficiary on the team, as Hoke was expected to change the team's offensive schemes from the spread offense to a pro-style offense.[26] He was also expected to help pick up the slack created by the full-season suspension of Stonum.[27] [28] [29] As a fifth-year senior, he established a new career high on September 10, 2011, against Notre Dame in the rivalry game and during the first night game ever played at Michigan Stadium, when he recorded three receptions for 165 yards.[17] [30] [31] Before the game, Desmond Howard, who had worn number 21 before Hemingway at Michigan, was honored for his enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame, and the jersey number was designated to be adorned with a "Desmond Howard: Michigan Legend" patch on the upper-right chest.[32] On October 8, against the Northwestern, Hemingway had 5 receptions for a total of 124 yards.[33] Following the 2011 Big Ten Conference football season, he earned All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention recognition from the coaches.[34] [35] In the January 3, 2012 Sugar Bowl, 23–20 overtime victory over Virginia Tech he recorded the team's only two touchdowns,[36] earning 2012 Sugar Bowl Most Outstanding Player honors.[37] He concluded the season with team highs of 34 receptions, 699 yards and four receiving touchdowns,[38] giving him a conference leading 20.6 yards per reception.[39] His receiving average ranked third in all of Division I FBS.[40] Hemingway was invited to the January 21, 2012 East–West Shrine Game,[41] [42] and he was an early invite to the February 22 — 28, 2012 NFL Scouting Combine.[43]

In the September 3, 2011 season opener against Western Michigan at Michigan Stadium, Hemingway recorded a 37-yard reception.[44] [45] [46] The game was ended by mutual agreement in the third quarter due to inclement weather.[47] At first, the stats for the game were considered official by the Big Ten Conference and the University of Michigan, but the NCAA vacated the statistics for this game because three quarters were not completed.[48] However, at the conclusion of the regular season, the NCAA reversed course and announced that the statistics from the game would be counted in the season totals.[49]

Professional career

Hemingway was one of 47 wide receivers that participated in the February 22–28, 2012 NFL Scouting Combine.[50] In the 3 cone drill with a time of 6.59,[51] he ranked first among the wide receivers (26 participated in this event)[52] and 3rd at the combine[53] He ranked first among the wide receivers (26 participated in this event)[52] and seventh overall in the 20-yard shuttle with a time of 3.98.[54] [55] He ranked second among wide receivers (13 participated in this event)[52] and seventh overall in the 60-yard shuttle with a time of 11.16.[56] [57] He ranked 3rd among the wide receivers in the bench press with 21 reps.[58] He ranked 8th among the wide receivers in the standing long jump with a distance of 10feet.[59] His time of 4.53 ranked 19th of the 40 wide receivers who participated in the 40-yard dash.[52]

He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft with the 238th selection overall.[60] He is one of three Michigan Wolverines and 41 Big Ten players drafted.[61] On May 11, 2012, he signed a four-year contract.[62] On August 31, Hemingway was cut.[63] He was initially signed to the practice squad but was released to make room for Rich Ranglin on September 3 before being resigned to replace Ranglin on September 8.[64] [65] On December 29 (the day before the last game of the 2012 NFL season), the Chiefs placed Terrance Copper on injured reserve and elevated Hemingway from injured reserve.[66]

During the 2013 preseason, Hemingway led the Chiefs in receptions and touchdowns. He seemed to have moved into the fourth wide receiver position behind Dwayne Bowe, Donnie Avery, and Dexter McCluster.[67] In the 2013 Chiefs season opener, he caught a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had his college freshman season quarterback Chad Henne and his redshirt senior season quarterback Denard Robinson on their roster.[68] The reception, which came from Alex Smith, was Hemingway's first in the NFL.[69] Hemingway had a three-reception game that included the game's opening score on December 1 against the Denver Broncos.[70] In the final game of the season, he had 5 receptions for 45 yards,[71] giving him 13 receptions and 125 yards for the season. Hemingway also posted 2 receptions for the Chiefs in the 2013–14 NFL playoffs against Indianapolis.[72]

Hemingway injured his hamstring in week 7 of the 2014 NFL season against the San Diego Chargers on October 19.[73] [74] On September 1, 2015, the Chiefs cut Hemingway.[75]

Personal life

Hemingway is the older brother of South Carolina Gamecocks defensive tackle, Tonka Hemingway.[76] [77]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Junior Hemingway. September 11, 2011. ESPN.
  2. Web site:
    1. 2 J. R. Hemingway
    . September 11, 2011. Scout.com.
  3. Web site: Junior Hemingway. September 11, 2011. Rivals.com.
  4. Web site: Player Rankings. September 11, 2011. October 30, 2006. Sports Illustrated.
  5. Web site: Key prep teams, players across the USA. September 11, 2011. August 25, 2006. USA Today.
  6. Web site: Michigan Wolverines: Recruiting Class 2007. September 11, 2011. ESPN.
  7. Web site: Junior Hemingway. September 11, 2011. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com. September 20, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110920114447/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hemingway_junior00.html. dead.
  8. Web site: Hemingway talks Michigan, Shrine Bowl. September 11, 2011. December 15, 2006. Rivals.com.
  9. Web site: Junior Hemingway (2007 game log). September 11, 2011. ESPN.
  10. Web site: Team: Michigan: Player: Junior Hemingway. September 11, 2011. National Collegiate Athletic Association.
  11. Web site: Junior Hemingway (2008 game log). September 11, 2011. ESPN.
  12. Web site: Junior Hemingway returns better than ever with 2-touchdown game in Michigan football team's season opener. September 13, 2011. September 5, 2009. AnnArbor.com. Rothstein, Michael.
  13. Web site: Junior Hemingway (2009 game log). September 11, 2011. ESPN.
  14. Web site: Michigan receiver Junior Hemingway 'doubtful' for Notre Dame. September 13, 2011. September 10, 2009. AnnArbor.com. Birkett, Dave.
  15. Web site: Offensive lineman David Moosman out for Eastern Michigan. September 13, 2011. September 17, 2009. AnnArbor.com. Birkett, Dave.
  16. Web site: Michigan football team running back Brandon Minor bothered by sprained ankle, bruised shoulder. September 13, 2011. November 9, 2009. AnnArbor.com. Birkett, Dave.
  17. Web site: Junior Hemingway (2010 game log). September 11, 2011. ESPN.
  18. Web site: Presser Notebook: Robinson to start against ND, Rodriguez not concerned with Forcier's demeanor. September 13, 2011. September 6, 2010. The Michigan Daily. Auerbach, Nicole.
  19. Web site: Denard Robinson scores with 17 seconds left as Michigan breaks Indiana. https://web.archive.org/web/20160915180804/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=302750084. dead. September 15, 2016. September 12, 2011. October 2, 2010. ESPN.
  20. Web site: (19) Michigan 42 (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten): Indiana 35 (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) (play-by-play). September 12, 2011. October 2, 2010. ESPN.
  21. Web site: Robinson Carries Wolverines to a Last-Minute Victory. September 12, 2011. October 2, 2010. The New York Times.
  22. Web site: Michigan Wolverines Stats - 2010. September 13, 2011. ESPN.
  23. Web site: 2010 Big Ten Conference Expanded Leaders. December 24, 2011. Sports Reference LLC..
  24. Web site: Big Ten Player Receiving Statistics - 2010: Average Yards Per Reception Leaders - Qualified. January 4, 2012. ESPN.
  25. Web site: NCAA Division I-A Player Receiving Statistics - 2010: Average Yards Per Reception Leaders - Qualified. January 4, 2012. ESPN.
  26. Web site: Opinion: Junior Hemingway is biggest winner in Michigan's scheme changes; who are other winners and losers?. September 12, 2011. September 2, 2011. AnnArbor.com. Meinke, Kyle.
  27. Web site: Michigan WR Darryl Stonum to redshirt. August 8, 2011. August 7, 2011. ESPN. Rittenberg, Adam.
  28. Web site: 2011 Football Season Preview: Wide Receivers/Tight Ends. September 12, 2011. August 8, 2011. The Michigan Daily. Florek, Michael.
  29. Web site: Stonum to redshirt in 2011; Hagerup suspended first four games. September 12, 2011. August 7, 2011. The Michigan Daily. Rohan, Tim. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120823083435/http://www.michigandaily.com/blog/stonum-redshirt-2011-hagerup-suspended-first-four-games. August 23, 2012.
  30. Web site: Michigan scores with 2 seconds left, stuns Irish. https://web.archive.org/web/20160915034600/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=312530130. dead. September 15, 2016. September 12, 2011. September 10, 2011. ESPN.
  31. Web site: Junior Hemingway (2011 game log). September 12, 2011. ESPN.
  32. Web site: Notebook: Howard honored before record crowd at Big House. September 12, 2011. September 11, 2011. Michigan Daily. Nesbitt, Stephen J..
  33. Web site: (12) Michigan 42 (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten); Northwestern 24 (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten). October 9, 2011. October 8, 2011. ESPN.
  34. Web site: Molk Named Top Offensive Lineman to Headline Big Ten Awards. November 29, 2011. November 28, 2011. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com. December 1, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111201032534/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112811aam.html. dead.
  35. Web site: Big Ten Announces 2011 All-Big Ten Teams and Select Individual Award Winners. https://web.archive.org/web/20111129235824/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112811aad.html. dead. November 29, 2011. November 29, 2011. November 28, 2011. CBS Interactive. BigTen.org.
  36. Web site: (13) Michigan 23 (11-2, 6-2 Big Ten); (11) Virginia Tech 20 (11-3, 7-1 ACC). ESPN. January 4, 2012. January 3, 2012.
  37. Web site: Brendan Gibbons' OT FG boots Michigan past Va. Tech, to Sugar Bowl title. https://web.archive.org/web/20190102050418/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=320030259. dead. January 2, 2019. ESPN. January 4, 2012. January 3, 2012.
  38. Web site: Michigan Wolverines Stats - 2011. January 4, 2012. ESPN.
  39. Web site: Big Ten Player Receiving Statistics - 2011: Average Yards Per Reception Leaders - Qualified. January 4, 2012. ESPN.
  40. Web site: NCAA Division I-A Player Receiving Statistics - 2011: Average Yards Per Reception Leaders - Qualified. January 4, 2012. ESPN.
  41. Web site: Kevin Koger, Junior Hemingway listed on roster for East-West Shrine Game. January 11, 2012. January 11, 2012. AnnArbor.com. Meinke, Kyle.
  42. Web site: Big Ten all-star roster updates. January 11, 2012. January 11, 2012. ESPN. Rittenberg, Adam.
  43. Web site: Koger eager for all-star showcase: Tight end joins Hemingway at East-West Shrine Game, hope to earn combine invite. January 21, 2012. January 20, 2012. ESPN. Rothstein, Michael.
  44. Web site: Boxscore: Michigan 34, Western Michigan 10. November 19, 2011. September 3, 2011. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com.
  45. Web site: Box Score (Final): The Automated ScoreBook: Western Michigan vs MICH (Sep 03, 2011 at Ann Arbor, MI). November 19, 2011. September 3, 2011. CSTV.com. February 1, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160201025343/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mich/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/box_score/stats_20110903aaa.pdf. dead.
  46. Web site: Michigan beats Western Michigan after game called in 3rd quarter. https://web.archive.org/web/20170412064958/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=312460130. dead. April 12, 2017. September 4, 2011. September 3, 2011. ESPN.
  47. Web site: Storm forces Michigan to end game. September 4, 2011. September 3, 2011. ESPN.
  48. Web site: NCAA won't count rain-shortened stats. September 12, 2011. September 10, 2011. ESPN. Bennett, Brian.
  49. Web site: Stats from storm-shortened game count. December 1, 2011. November 30, 2011. ESPN. Rothstein, Michael.
  50. Web site: Participants. February 29, 2012. NFL.com.
  51. Web site: Top Performers (Three Cone Drill - WR). February 29, 2012. NFL.com.
  52. Web site: Michigan's Junior Hemingway boosts draft case with strong all-around combine performance. February 29, 2012. February 27, 2012. AnnArbor.com. Meinke, Kyle.
  53. Web site: Top Performers (Three Cone Drill). February 29, 2012. NFL.com.
  54. Web site: Top Performers (Twenty Yard Shuttle - WR). February 29, 2012. NFL.com.
  55. Web site: Top Performers (Twenty Yard Shuttle). February 29, 2012. NFL.com.
  56. Web site: Top Performers (60-yard shuttle - WR). February 29, 2012. NFL.com.
  57. Web site: Top Performers (60-yard shuttle). February 29, 2012. NFL.com.
  58. Web site: Top Performers (Bench Press - WR). February 29, 2012. NFL.com.
  59. Web site: Top Performers (Broad Jump - WR). February 29, 2012. NFL.com.
  60. Web site: 2012 NFL Draft Listing . 2023-05-14 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  61. Web site: 2012 NFL Draft Central. April 28, 2012. April 28, 2012. CBS Interactive. BigTen.org. May 24, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120524062345/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042612aac.html. dead.
  62. Web site: Former Michigan receiver Junior Hemingway signs 4-year deal with Chiefs. May 14, 2012. May 11, 2012. AnnArbor.com. Meinke, Kyle.
  63. Web site: Kansas City Chiefs cut-down analysis. September 9, 2012. August 31, 2012. ESPN. Williamson, Bill.
  64. Web site: Tysyn Hartman happy to remain on Chiefs' roster. September 9, 2012. September 3, 2012. Kansas City Star. Teicher, Adam.
  65. Web site: Chiefs add receiver Junior Hemingway to practice squad. September 9, 2012. September 8, 2012. Kansas City Star.
  66. Web site: DeMarcus Ware to play in brace. January 3, 2013. December 29, 2012. San Francisco Chronicle.
  67. Web site: Hemingway no longer an afterthought. September 19, 2013. September 2, 2013. ESPN. Teicher, Adam.
  68. Web site: Chiefs 28 (1-0, 1-0 away); Jaguars 2 (0-1, 0-1 home). September 8, 2013. September 8, 2013. ESPN.
  69. Web site: @ChiefsPR status update. September 9, 2013. September 8, 2013. Twitter. Kansas City Chiefs.
  70. Web site: Broncos 35 (10-2, 4-2 away); Chiefs 28 (9-3, 5-2 home). December 2, 2013. December 1, 2013. ESPN.
  71. Web site: Chiefs 24 (11-5, 6-2 away); Chargers 27 (9-7, 5-3 home). December 30, 2013. December 29, 2013. ESPN.
  72. Web site: Chiefs 44 (11-5, 6-2 away); Colts 45 (11-5, 6-2 home). January 5, 2014. January 4, 2014. ESPN.
  73. Web site: Chiefs' Junior Hemingway practices; Will Eric Berry play?. October 26, 2014. October 24, 2014. SB Nation. Thorman, Joel.
  74. Web site: Chiefs safety Eric Berry is questionable for Sunday's game vs. Rams. October 26, 2014. October 24, 2014. Kansas City Star. Paylor, Terez A..
  75. Web site: Kansas City Chiefs cut 13 players, including Junior Hemingway, make two other roster moves. September 2, 2015. September 1, 2015. ESPN. Teicher, Adam.
  76. Web site: Nature or nurture? It's a little bit of both for South Carolina's emerging defensive lineman Tonka Hemingway. The Athletic. Josh. Kendall. May 7, 2021. March 17, 2024.
  77. Web site: Breiner . Ben . One Gamecocks freshman showing the mindset to be a longtime program staple . The State . 17 March 2024.

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