The Rockstar known as Rob Keefe has taken his KEEFENSE tour to another city as he signed his first AFL contract with the Philadelphia Soul earlier last week.

Shock fans in Spokane witnessed a great show over the past two seasons as he compiled 179 total tackles, with 20 interceptions and all-af2 honors both seasons. The tour stop may have changed, but Rob Keefe hasn’t. He knows that he is joining a Soul roster that is full of talent, especially at the DB position.

“It feels great (to have a contract) but I’m staying humble and I still understand that we still have a month left of camp,” Keefe said. “But I do feel good to take that step to the next level.”

Keefe’s work here in Spokane did not go unnoticed; just ask Soul Head Coach Bret Munsey: “Rob had a great deal of success in Spokane and that’s what got us interested in him,” Munsey explained.  “We are deep at the defensive back position and the competition will be good for everyone.”

Despite Keefe’s abilities, he will still have to fight to secure his roster spot. As Keefe explained, three members of last year’s Soul secondary, Eddie Moten, Mike Brown, and Brian Mance, are returning this season. Brown and Moten combined for 15 total interceptions and ranked first and second on team in that category, respectively.

“There are definitely good DB’s here. It’s a team that’s pretty much intact, they’ve been to the playoffs, it’s definitely a team that people watch out for,” Keefe explained and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I always said that when I play for an Arena team, it was going to be for one of the best and this is a stacked team.”

As a consummate student of the game, Keefe feels well-prepared for the challenges that lay in front of him as he fights for a roster spot, thanks in large part to his time in Spokane.

“The talent level in Spokane has been the biggest help for me. I’d been on a few other teams prior to Spokane and they weren’t put together well; they didn’t have the athletes that Spokane had during the 2006 and 2007 season,” Keefe explained. “I was just going against great competition every day in practice - guys like Raul and ET and Savage. It prepared me for the kind of receiver I would be going against.”

No matter what happens during Keefe’s tour stop in Philadelphia, he seems content and at peace with himself and his football career.

“No matter what I have in store for my life, I’m going to try to do my best and just enjoy it. Before there was a lot of anxiety, and now it’s just like ‘let’s just play football’ and just get back to having fun,” Keefe explained. “You can’t get mad at what you can’t control. If they happen to start me then that’s great and if they happen to cut me then that’s OK too. It’s certainly not for a lack of effort. I’m actually calmer than I ever have been. All I wanted was a shot and an opportunity.”

Here’s to another good show in Philadelphia – good luck Rob.