Class of 09 standout racks up offers

There is a good argument that defensive end Devon Kennard (6-3, 235, 4.8) from Phoenix (Ariz.) Desert Vista could be the most sought after defensive end in the western region for the class of 2009. He sure getting serious attention.

"Devon is being recruited by everyone in the Pac 10," Derrick Kennard, Jr., Devon's older brother and an assistant coach at Desert Vista said. "He is also being recruited by Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State, Colorado and Nebraska.

"Devon has offers from everybody in the Pac 10 except for Stanford and USC," Kennard said. "USC said they are going to offer him on September 1st.

"Michigan, Michigan State, Colorado, Nebraska and Notre Dame have also offered Devon," Kennard said. "They all saw Devon's tape and they were impressed with his play.

"Devon has a natural knack for finding the football and making big plays," Kennard said. "He uses his hands extremely, has outstanding lateral quickness and is very explosive.

"Devon attended camps at ASU and USC this past summer," Kennard said. "USC was very impressed with how he exploded off the ball.

"At ASU it was the same thing," Kennard said. "The Sun Devils love how Devon moves and reacts to the football.

It is apparently clear that the younger Kennard is following in his father's and his older brother's footsteps as a D-I player.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.

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 besides his size at the age of 15 is his quite heady and carries a 3.9 GPA.