Junior Hemingway facts for kids
Hemingway with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014
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| No. 88 | |||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | December 27, 1988 Conway, South Carolina, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Conway | ||||||
| College: | Michigan | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2012 / Round: 7 / Pick: 238 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Kenneth Earl "Junior" Hemingway Jr. was born on December 27, 1988. He is a former professional football player. Junior played as a wide receiver, which is a player who catches passes from the quarterback.
He was chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2012 NFL Draft. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Michigan Wolverines football team. In his final year at Michigan in 2011, he was the top player for catches and receiving yards. He also tied for the most receiving touchdowns.
Junior Hemingway was known for gaining many yards after each catch. In 2010 and 2011, he led the Big Ten Conference in yards per reception. He was even ranked third in the entire Football Bowl Subdivision as a senior. After his great 2011 season, he was named the Most Outstanding Player in the 2012 Sugar Bowl.
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Early Life and High School Football
Junior Hemingway grew up in Conway, South Carolina. He was a very talented football player in high school. Experts rated him as one of the best wide receivers in the country. Some even said he was among the top players in the national class of 2007.
Before his senior year in 2006, USA Today newspaper listed him as a player to watch. This was because he had already made 56 catches for 846 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also played in a special North-South Game for top high school players from the Carolinas.
Junior was a highly sought-after player by many colleges. He chose to play for the University of Michigan.
College Football Career
Junior Hemingway started playing for the Michigan Wolverines in 2007. He played in 10 games during his first year. He made his first catches in a game against Eastern Michigan.
In 2008, he got sick with mononucleosis, which made him miss many games. Because of this, he was given a "medical redshirt." This meant he could play an extra year of college football later.
Big Plays and Injuries
In 2009, Junior had his first game with over 100 receiving yards. He also scored two touchdowns in that game against Western Michigan. However, he missed the next game due to an ankle injury. He also dealt with back problems later that season.
For the 2010 season, Junior missed the first two games because of a hamstring injury. He also missed the last regular season game. Despite this, he had three games where he gained over 100 yards. In one exciting game against Indiana, he caught a 70-yard touchdown pass. He also made a 42-yard catch that set up the winning score.
He finished the 2010 season with 593 receiving yards. He led the Big Ten Conference by averaging 18.5 yards per catch. This was the 15th best average in the entire nation.
Senior Year Success
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In 2011, Junior Hemingway had an amazing senior year. He set a new personal best with 165 receiving yards in a game against Notre Dame. This was a special game because it was the first time Michigan Stadium hosted a night game.
Later that season, he had another great game against Northwestern, catching 5 passes for 124 yards. After the season, he received an honorable mention for the All-Big Ten Conference team.
His biggest moment came in the 2012 Sugar Bowl. Michigan won the game in overtime, and Junior scored both of the team's touchdowns. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Sugar Bowl for his performance.
He ended his senior year with 34 catches for 699 yards and four touchdowns. His average of 20.6 yards per catch was the best in the conference and third-best in the entire Division I FBS.
Professional Football Career
Junior Hemingway was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in 2012. This is where college players show off their skills to NFL teams. He performed very well in many drills, especially the 3-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle.
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Junior in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract with the team. He spent some time on the Chiefs' practice squad before being moved to the main roster.
Playing for the Chiefs
In the 2013 preseason, Junior Hemingway led the Chiefs in catches and touchdowns. He earned a spot as one of the team's main wide receivers.
In the first game of the 2013 NFL season, he caught his first NFL touchdown pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This was a special moment for him. Later that season, he had a three-catch game against the Denver Broncos, scoring the first touchdown of that game. He finished the 2013 season with 13 catches for 125 yards. He also played in the NFL playoffs that year.
In 2014, Junior injured his hamstring during a game against the San Diego Chargers. The Chiefs later released him from the team on September 1, 2015.
Personal Life
Junior Hemingway is the older brother of Tonka Hemingway. Tonka is also a professional football player, currently a defensive tackle for the Las Vegas Raiders.
