2022 NIU Huskies Football Roster
Biography
2022
• Semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy, the “Academic Heisman” given to the top scholar-athlete in college football.
• Earned third team All-MAC recognition from league coaches.
• Named to Phil Steele’s All-MAC fourth team.
• Tied for the team lead with a career best 5.5 sacks as a senior.
• Third on the team in tackles for loss with 6.5 for losses of 35 yards.
• Totaled 32 tackles, 11 solo, while playing in all 12 games.
• His 17.5 career tackles for loss and 9.5 quarterback sacks ranked first on the 2022 roster.
• Set a career-high with six tackles at Ohio with half a sack and a tackle for loss.
• Recorded a 10-yard sack in NIU’s win at Eastern Michigan, his second straight game with a sack.
• Also had a sack against Toledo and recovered an onside kick.
• Made five tackles with a six-yard sack at Kentucky.
• Had a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss at Tulsa.
• Earned Academic All-MAC recognition.
2021
• Veteran defensive end played in every game and started seven games, including six of the first seven games of the season.
• Totaled a career best 44 tackles, 23 solo, with four tackles for loss and a pass break up.
• Twice posted a career high six tackles, in the season-opener at Georgia Tech (9-4) and at Buffalo (11-17), where he had five solo stops and half a tackle for loss.
• Made five tackles, with a sack and two tackles for loss versus Western Michigan (11-23).
• Also had five stops in the Eastern Michigan (10-2) and Central Michigan (10-23) contests.
• Recorded a tackle for loss and two stops in the Cure Bowl game versus Coastal Carolina (12-17) and accounted for three tackles in the MAC Championship game (12-4).
• Made at least one tackle in 13 of 14 games on the season.
• Member of the 2021 Academic All-MAC team.
2020
• Saw action in all six contests.
• Finished tied for ninth on the team with 17 total tackles.
• Had his best game of the year against Central Michigan (11-11) with six total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble.
• Had a season-high four assists among his five total tackles against Ball State (11-18).
2019
• Participated in nine games as a reserve defensive end and linebacker
• Tallied nine tackles, six solo.
• Established a single-game career best in tackles with four, including a sack, against Akron (10-26).
• Recorded two stops, both solo, including a tackle for loss against Nebraska (9-14).
• Posted solo stops each at Vanderbilt (9-28) and Ball State (10-5).
• Contributed an assisted tackle at Utah (9-7).
2018
• Back-up defensive end saw action in 11 games, including the first three and last seven games of the year.
• Made four tackles, three solo, as a freshman with two-and-a-half tackles for loss.
• Also contributed on several special teams units including kickoff, kickoff return and punt return.
• Played his top game vs. Toledo (11-7) with three tackles, including 1.5 for loss.
• Tallied his first career sack - for a loss of 12 yards - in the Utah game (9-8).
2017
Redshirted.
High School
• Top running back for the Mt. Carmel Caravan as a senior.
• Played in 13 games as a senior and gained 1,078 yards on 141 carries to average 7.5 yards per carry with 13 touchdowns.
• Ran for 191 yards with a 62-yard touchdown during the Chicago Prep Bowl in the Caravan’s 42-28 win over Simeon during the 2016 season.
• Two-time Prep Bowl Champion as a junior and senior.
• Team won conference and state championships as a freshman.
• Earned his first start on varsity as a sophomore in 2012.
• Excelled in track & field earning six first place medals and two conference championships.
Personal
• Born June 30, 1999 in Chicago, Ill.
• Son of Michael and Eulonda Kennedy.
• Earned his bachelor's degree in management in May 2021 with an emphasis on entrepeneurship and social responsibility.
• Pursuing his master's degree in business administration.
• Admires Inky Johnson.
Statistics
Season Statistics
No statistics available for this season.
There are no statistics available for this player.
Historical Player Information
-
2017Freshman
LB
6'1"
200 lbs
-
2018Redshirt Freshman
Defensive End
6'1"
215 lbs
-
2019Redshirt Sophomore
Defensive End
6'1"
225 lbs
-
2020Redshirt Junior
Defensive End
6'1"
220 lbs
-
2021Redshirt Junior
Defensive End
6'1"
230 lbs
-
2022Redshirt Senior
Defensive End
6'1"
225 lbs
