09 standout racking up the offers
Defensive end Devon Kennard (6-3.5, 235, 4.7) from Phoenix (Ariz.) Desert Vista is living up to his reputation as one of the best players from the western region for the class of 2009.
In seven games, Kennard has accounted 75 tackles, 16 sacks and one fumble recovery that he returned 72 yards for a touchdown and he still has with a lot of season yet to go. What makes Kennard's stats so impressive is he gets a lot of attention from the opposition.
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"Devon has had to battle double and triple team schemes galore," Derrick Kennard, Jr., Kennard's older brother and assistant coach at Desert Vista said. "The tackle and the tight end work him then they get help from the running back who chips Devon. They do that and run away from him, too.
Kennard is also playing some running back and fullback. He has rushed for approximately 200 yards and two touchdowns on roughly 20 carries.
Though Kennard still has much of his junior season left to play he has already garnered offers from the likes of USC, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Notre Dame, Michigan, Colorado, Nebraska, Florida, LSU, Nevada and San Diego State.
Kennard comes from outstanding football bloodlines. His father, Derrick Kennard, Sr., used to open up holes for Emmett Smith and provide pass protection for Troy Aikman for the Cowboys and even earned a ring while he played in Dallas.
Derrick Kennard, Jr., now an assistant coach at Desert Vista was a standout defensive tackle for Nevada and played a season in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts.
As a sophomore, Kennard earned all-city and all-region honors after racking up a team leading 91 tackles, eight sacks and two interceptions from his defensive end position.
Another thing that will open up the eyes of D-I schools is he carries a 3.9 GPA.