December 5, 2000
Release: Upon Receipt

(Courtesy of New York Jets Media Relations)

JETS SIGN FORMER FURMAN WR-KR DESMOND KITCHINGS

NEW YORK -- The New York Jets announced today that they had signed former Paladin wide receiver and kick returner Desmond Kitchings off of the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs and waived 1st-year WR Malcolm Johnson.

The 5-9, 179-pound Kitchings was a 7th-round draft pick of the Chiefs this year out of Furman and has been a member of their practice throughout the season. He earned a reputation as a versatile and big play performer in college generating 22 touchdowns‹12 receiving, 6 rushing and 4 on kickoff returns. During his 4-year career for Furman he started in 34 of 47 games and caught 118 passes for 1961 yards, a 16.2 avg. and 12 TD. His receptions and yardage totals rank 3rd in school history and his TD total is 5th best. He rushed 53 times for 566 yards, a 10.7 avg. and 6 TD. He added 37 kickoff returns for 1054 yards, a 28.5 yard avg. and 4 TD, including 3 as a senior.

In the 2000 preseason at Kansas City, Kitchings returned 11 kickoffs for 264 yards, a 24.0 avg. with a long of 34. He also had 1 reception for 21 yards and returned 3 punts for 10 yards, a 3.3 avg. with a long of 6 yards. Johnson was claimed on waivers from Pittsburgh 2 weeks ago and was active for only 1 game playing on special teams against Indianapolis. He was inactive for the game against Chicago.

(see Kitchings bio below)

Desmond Kitchings #85 WR 5-9 179 7/19/78 Furman

PRO: Signed as free agent off of Kansas City¹s practice squad on 12/5/00Šwas KC¹s 7th round selection (208 overall) in the 2000 draft.

COLLEGE: Started his final 3 years at WR for Furman finishing his career as the 3rd leading pass catcher in school history with 118-1,961 yards-16.6 avg.-12 TDŠhis receiving yards are also 3rd in school annals and his 12 receiving TD rank 5th all-timeŠalso tallied 53 rushes for 566 yards (10.7 avg.) for 6 TDŠreturned 37 kickoffs for 1,054 yards (28.5 avg.) with 4 TDŠadded 1 punt return for 3 yardsŠa true all-purpose performer who racked up 209 total touches during his collegiate career registering 3,534 yards (16.9 avg.) with 22 TDŠ1999: started at WR in all 12 contests and was a 1st team All-Southern ConferenceŠregistered 12 TD as a senior all-purpose threatŠcaught a career-high 48 passes for 911 yards (19.0) and 5 TDŠhis 48 catches ranked 4th on the school¹s seasonal chartŠalso racked up 35 caries for 361 yards (10.3 avg.) and 4 TDŠhad 16 kick returns for 527 yards-32.9 avg.-3 TDŠbig-play specialist who recorded a 95-yard kickoff return, 63-yard reception, and 51-yard runŠregistered a 79-yard kickoff return for a TD vs. UT-Chattanooga...hauled in a 63-yard TD pass vs. East Tennessee State...got a career-high 169 yards on 7 catches in a 28-3 win over North Carolina...had a 12-yard scoring run vs. Western Carolina...pulled down 7 passes for 105 yards vs. Elon...became the first Furman WR to ever post a 100-yard rushing game, getting 117 yards on 5 carries with TD of 51 and 34 yards vs. William and Mary...got a 79-yard KOR for a TD vs. UT-ChattanoogaŠ1998: started at WR in all 11 games as a junior in ¹98, catching 35-560 yards-16.0 avg.- and 3 TD...also rushed 12-130 yards 1 TD...had 11 KOR-241 yardsŠhad a 52-yard TD catch and scored on a 65-yard reverse vs. The Citadel. 1997: Led the team with 30 receptions for 354 yards-11.8 avg.- 3 TD...ran the ball 6 times for 75 yards with 1 TD...had 9 KOR-266-yards-29.6-1 TD, a 90-yard jaunt vs. UT-ChattanoogaŠcaught 5-136 yards-27.3-1 TD as a freshman...hauled in his lone scoring pass on a 70-yard play vs. Northern Arizona in the Division I-AA playoffs.

Personal: SingleŠmajored in health and exercise science at FurmanŠPrepped at Wagener-Salley High School in Columbia, SC where he played wide receiver and defensive backŠfinished his career with 90-1,989 yards-24 TDŠas a senior caught 32 - 749 -11 TDŠwas a 1st team all-state selection as a senior when he played in South Carolina¹s North-South All-Star Game Šalso played basketball and baseballŠresides in Wagener, SC.