Kenny Willekes
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Rockford, Michigan, U.S.
.jpg) Willekes with the Michigan State Spartans in 2018 | |||||||||
| No. 48 – Columbus Aviators | |||||||||
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| Position | Defensive end | ||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | July 22, 1997 Rockford, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 264 lb (120 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | NorthPointe Christian (Grand Rapids, Michigan) | ||||||||
| College | Michigan State (2015–2019) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 2020: 7th round, 225th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Kenny Willekes (born July 22, 1997) is an American professional football defensive end for the Columbus Aviators of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Michigan State, and was three times named to the All-Big Ten team. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2020 NFL draft.
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]