1982-1986

East Ce!ltral Player On All-American Team Standout defensive football

after the first season of condition– ing and regular workouts, Kennedy trimmed down, got stronger, and picked up on his speed. Kennedy, who said he works out every other day, can bench press 450 pounds and can squat 650 pounds. He runs the 40 yard dash in 4.9 seconds. Kennedy, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William T. Kennedy of Slidell, has completed his athletic and academic careers__a.L Eas.t..-Central. and has transferred to Pittsburg State University in Pittsburgh, Kansas where he has signed a scholarship to play football and study industrial arts. Kennedy said he was recruited by Mississippi State University, Northeast Louis– iana, Nicholls State, and many other universities, but he chose Pittsburgh because of the cur– riculum offered at the school met his career needs. Pittsburgh is a __member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Kennedy said he did not want to leave East Central, but the opportunity was available to continue playing football and studying in his chosen profession. He added he will miss a lot of people, especially his girlfriend, Bobbie Kay Smith, a freshman from Union. · And what will the future hold for Wayne Kennedy? Is professional football a possibility? "He certainly has the talent to make it inthe professional football league," Coach Kilpatrick said, adding , "And with a little luck, he just might make it!"

All-Metro honors his senior year. So with all those honors, why did Kennedy choose East Central Junior College in Decatur, Missis– sippi? "I signed with ECJC because I was impressed with. Coach Kil– patrick, his staff, and I absolutely fell in love with the East Central campus. The campus, with its historic beauty, really appealed to me as did the people. I cannot say enough about the people at East Central. They are probably the nicest folks I've ever met. I also wanted to enroll in vocational– technical training, and I knew ECJC offered one of the best programs available," Kennedy said. Kennedy made an immediate impact at East Central. His freshman year he was named the team's most valuable defensive player and was selected honorable mention on the All-State squad. And this past season, his sophomore year, he was named to the All Region first team and the All-South State squad, and he was selected to play in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star football game on the South Division unit. Coach Kilpatrick describes Ken– nedy .as "one of the most outstanding lineman I've ever worked with." "Kennedy is a very cooperative young man; always interested in the program and he works hard. He enjoys playing which is a big asset to being a good player,'' Kilpatrick said. The head football coach said when Kennedy first: came to East Central, he was about 25 pounds heavier and not quite as fast. But

player Wayne Kennedy of East Central Junior College has carved another niche inhis belt of honors; adn this time he has received the highest tribute paid to a junior college player. Kennedy a 6' 1" 250-pound defensive tackle. from Slidell, Louisiana, was recently named to the 1986 National Junior College Athletic Association All-American Football Team. A two-year starter for Coach A.J. Kilpatrick's Warrior squad, Kennedy was the only player from Mississippi to be named on the first team defensive u.nit. He joins Aaron Fox of East Mississippi Junior College who was selected on the first team ·offensive squad. Kennedy was earlier honored by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger!Jackson Daily News when he was named the Junior College Football Player fo the Year for the 1986 season. The 20-year-old compiled im– pressive individual statistics last season and also led the defensiv_e unit which was ranked nationally in several categories. Kennedy had 69 individual tackles, 28 assists, and had 10 quarterback sacks. He caused four fumbles and ·made four fumble recoveries. Nationally, East Central ranked fifth in total defense, allowing just over 210 yards per game; and seventh in pass defense, allowing just over 95 yards passing per gamit. The Warriors ended the season with a 5-5 mark. Before signing with East Central, Kennedy was an outstanding defensive noseguard at Salmen High School in Slidell. He was chosen ll-State his junior year and received All-State, All-District, and

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