Kenny Willekes

Last updated

Kenny Willekes
IX8A9795 (45466934212).jpg
Willekes with Michigan State in 2018
No. 48 – Michigan Panthers
Position: Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1997-07-22) July 22, 1997 (age 26)
Rockford, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:264 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school: NorthPointe Christian
(Grand Rapids, Michigan)
College: Michigan State (2015–2019)
NFL draft: 2020  / Round: 7 / Pick: 225
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:16
Sacks:2.5
Pass deflections:1
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Kenny Willekes (born July 22, 1997) is an American football defensive end for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Michigan State.

Contents

Early years

Willekes attended NorthPointe Christian High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He played linebacker and running back in high school. He had 423 tackles during his high school football career. [1]

College career

Willekes joined Michigan State University as a walk-on in 2015. [2] [3] He redshirted his first year and played in one game in 2016. [4] In 2017, Willekes became a starter, starting 12 of 13 games. He finished the season with 72 tackles and seven sacks. [5] In 2018, he was named the Big Ten Conference Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year after recording 78 tackles and 8.5 sacks. [6] [7] Willekes returned to Michigan State his senior year in 2019 rather than enter the 2019 NFL Draft. [8] [9] During the season he broke Julian Peterson's school record for career tackles for loss. [10] He was named the 2019 recipient of the Burlsworth Trophy on December 9, 2019, in Springdale, Arkansas, during a reception hosted by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation in conjunction with the Springdale Rotary Club at the Springdale Convention Center. [11]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+1⁄2 in
(1.92 m)		264 lb
(120 kg)		31+1⁄4 in
(0.79 m)		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		4.87 s1.69 s2.82 s7.39 s32.5 in
(0.83 m)		9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)		32 reps
All values from NFL Combine [12] [13]

Minnesota Vikings

Willekes was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 225th pick in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. [14] He was placed on injured reserve on September 2, 2020. [15]

On August 31, 2021, Willekes was waived by the Vikings and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. [16] [17] He was promoted to the active roster on January 8, 2022. [18]

On June 2, 2022, Willekes was waived/injured by the Vikings and placed on injured reserve. [19]

On May 23, 2023, Willekes was released. [20]

Michigan Panthers

On December 8, 2023, Willekes signed with the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL). [21]

Related Research Articles

The Burlsworth Trophy is an award given annually to the most outstanding FBS college football player who began his career as a walk-on. It was first awarded for the 2010 season and is a program of the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation. Burlsworth walked on to the Arkansas Razorbacks football program in 1994 and became an All-American. He was killed in a car accident 11 days after being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Remmers</span> American football player (born 1989)

Michael Remmers is an American football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Oregon State, where he finished his career as the Beaver with the sixth-most starts in school history. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos in 2012, and has played with eight different franchises in his NFL career, and started two Super Bowls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Zettel</span> American football player (born 1992)

Anthony Zettel is a former American football defensive end. He played college football at Penn State. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Robinson (offensive tackle)</span> American football player (born 1992)

Corey Robinson is a former American football offensive tackle. He played college football at South Carolina, and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL draft. He also played for the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antwione Williams</span> American football player (born 1993)

Leander Antwione Williams is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Georgia Southern. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round in the 2016 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Bisnowaty</span> American football player (born 1993)

Adam Bisnowaty is a former American football tackle. He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers as a four-year starter at left tackle, and was first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference his last two seasons. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat O'Connor (American football)</span> American football player (born 1993)

Patrick Joseph O'Connor is an American football defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Ford (cornerback)</span> American football player (born 1995)

Michael Ford is an American football cornerback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Southeast Missouri State.

Chris Payton-Jones is an American football cornerback for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Nebraska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Layne</span> American football player (born 1998)

Justin Layne is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at Michigan State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Strong</span> American football player (born 1996)

Kevin Strong Jr. is an American football nose tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at UTSA before graduating in 2018. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions in 2019.

Kenneth Robinson Jr. is an American football safety for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at West Virginia, and previously played for the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL and the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL).

Josiah Scott is an American football cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan State and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Brian Keith Cole II is an American professional football linebacker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Mississippi State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raequan Williams</span> American football player (born 1997)

Raequan Williams is an American football defensive end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan State.

Trishton Jackson is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and the Syracuse Orange. He has previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron McGrone</span> American football player (born 2000)

Cameron McGrone is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan and was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Shakur Brown is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Ross (American football)</span> American football player (born 1999)

Josh Ross is an American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luiji Vilain</span> American football player (born 1998)

Luiji Vilain is a Canadian football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan before transferring to Wake Forest and was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

References

  1. ↑ Charboneau, Matt. "Tireless work ethic pays off for MSU's Kenny Willekes". Detroit News.
  2. ↑ "Seems like old times: How a former walk-on is sparking the Spartans' revival". ESPN.com. November 9, 2017.
  3. ↑ Solari, Chris. "How Michigan State DE Kenny Willekes went from walk-on to NFL prospect". Detroit Free Press.
  4. ↑ "Once doubted as walk-on, Michigan State DE Kenny Willekes validated as potential starter". mlive. August 9, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Kenny Willekes - It's No Wonder That He Drives Team Chemistry". July 29, 2018.
  6. ↑ Solari, Chris. "Michigan State's Kenny Willekes: Big Ten defensive lineman of the year". Detroit Free Press.
  7. ↑ Charboneau, Matt. "Former walk-on Kenny Willekes emerges as Michigan State's terror in trenches". Detroit News.
  8. ↑ Solari, Chris. "To understand Kenny Willekes' rise at MSU, start with his broken leg". Detroit Free Press.
  9. ↑ Solari, Chris. "Kenny Willekes returning to Michigan State football for his senior season". Detroit Free Press.
  10. ↑ "Kenny Willekes breaks Michigan State's tackle for loss record vs. Maryland". mlive. December 1, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Kenny Willekes Wins Burlsworth Trophy". December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Kenny Willekes Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  13. ↑ "2020 Draft Scout Kenny Willekes, Michigan State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  14. ↑ Wenzel, Matt (April 25, 2020). "2020 NFL draft: Michigan State DE Kenny Willekes picked by Vikings in seventh round". MLive.com. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Willekes Placed on Reserve/Injured; Roster Moves". Vikings.com. September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Vikings Announce Roster Moves to Get to Initial 53". Vikings.com. August 31, 2021.
  17. ↑ Peters, Craig (September 1, 2021). "Vikings Claim TE Ben Ellefson & Sign 14 to Practice Squad". Vikings.com.
  18. ↑ "Vikings Activate Christian Darrisaw & Ezra Cleveland, Make Multiple Roster Moves". Vikings.com. January 8, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Vikings Add Jonathan Bullard to Roster". Vikings.com. June 2, 2022.
  20. ↑ Ireland, Tyler (May 23, 2023). "Vikings sign XFL WR Lucky Jackson, waive OLB Kenny Willekes". Daily Norseman. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  21. ↑ Larsen, James (December 8, 2023). "Michigan Panthers Sign RB Nate McCrary & Edge Kenny Willekes". Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.