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| Connecticut Huskies–No. 34 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Running back |
| Major | Human Development and Family Studies |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College | UConn (2017–2021) |
| High school | Shepherd Hill Regional (Dudley, Massachusetts) |
Kevin Mensah (born in Worcester, Massachusetts) is an American football running back best known for his collegiate career at the University of Connecticut. A two-time 1,000-yard rusher, he ranks fourth all-time in rushing yards at UConn.
Mensah began his football journey at Holy Name Central Catholic High School. During his time there, he wore the number 3 jersey and became one of the state's top recruits. [1]
In 2016, Mensah transferred to Shepherd Hill Regional High School in Dudley, Massachusetts. He went on to rush for over 3,700 yards and accumulate more than 5,000 all-purpose yards. Mensah also competed in track and field, winning Mid-Wach A League and District E titles, and was nationally ranked in the 60-meter dash. [2]
Mensah's transfer to Shepherd Hill in 2016 drew attention due to Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association eligibility rules, which require student-athletes who transfer schools without a change of residence to sit out for one year unless granted a waiver. Mensah and his family applied for a waiver, citing family reasons for the transfer, but the case drew scrutiny in state media as part of a broader debate about recruiting and transfers in Massachusetts high school sports. [3] The final eligibility ruling allowed Mensah to play at Shepherd Hill, but the case highlighted the lack of transparency and consistency in MIAA's waiver decisions.[ citation needed ]
In 2018, Mensah rushed for 1,045 yards, becoming the first UConn player since 2011 to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards. He repeated this in 2019 with 1,013 rushing yards and a career-high 9 touchdowns. [4]
Following his 2019 season, Mensah was named to the ECAC All-Offensive Team, recognizing his achievements—particularly his two-season 1,000-yard rushing streak and a five-touchdown performance against UMass. [5] Mensah was also named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List in 2019 and 2020 and earned a spot on the Athlon Sports Preseason All‑Independent Team. [6]
Among his career highlights was a game against UMass in 2019, when he rushed for 164 yards and five touchdowns—one of the highest single-game TD totals in the country recorded that year. [2]
In 2021, Mensah concluded his college career with 2,933 rushing yards, placing him fourth on UConn's all-time rushing leaderboard. [4]
In 2021, following the NCAA's approval of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rules, Mensah announced brand partnerships with [7] [8] iSlide – a Boston-based custom slide sandal company [7] and Barstool Sports – he in their "Barstool Athlete" program for college athlete NIL endorsements. [8]
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing Yards | Rushing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | UConn | 11 | 561 | 4 |
| 2018 | UConn | 12 | 1,045 | 6 |
| 2019 | UConn | 12 | 1,013 | 9 |
| 2021 | UConn | 10 | 314 | 2 |
| | This article needs additional or more specific categories .(June 2025) |
| | This biographical article relating to an American football running back is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |