Brandon Kennedy signed a FA deal with the Denver Broncos so he will be near his brother.

Denton Record-Chronicle article.

Football: Kennedys set for mile-high reunion

Brandon signs with Denver, joins older brother Kenoy


08:20 AM CDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2004


By Brett Vito / Staff Writer




North Texas defensive lineman Brandon Kennedy set up a reunion with his older brother Monday when he signed a free agent contract with the Denver Broncos.

Kenoy Kennedy is entering his fifth year as a safety with the team.

"It’s like a dream to play with my brother," Brandon Kennedy said. "I am without a doubt ready to go to camp."

Kennedy established himself as one of the top defensive linemen in the country during his last two years at UNT, but was not among the 255 players selected in the NFL Draft over the weekend.

Kennedy posted 20 tackles for losses as a senior after finishing third in the nation as a junior with 24 tackles for losses. Kennedy was named the Sun Belt Conference’s Player of the Year in each of the last two seasons.

Several factors hurt Kennedy’s prospects in the NFL draft, including his size. At 5-10, Kennedy is short for a defensive lineman.

Kennedy also dealt with a series of injuries beginning last summer that slowed him during his final season at UNT. Kennedy had reconstructive knee surgery after his junior year and also struggled with a sprained ankle as a senior.


Brandon Kennedy Kennedy aggravated his ankle injury before the East-West Shrine Game following his senior season. The injury prevented Kennedy from playing in the game or working out for NFL scouts at UNT’s pro day.

"I am a little surprised that I was not drafted," Kennedy said. "Most of the teams that called said they passed on me because they thought I was going to have to have surgery on my ankle."

Kennedy left UNT at the semester break to work out with personal trainers in Georgia and prepare for a potential NFL career. The strategy seemed to pay off for Kennedy, who said he has lost 15 pounds.

Kennedy said he now weighs 317 pounds, just two pounds over his listed playing weight.

"My ankle is getting a lot better," Kennedy said. "It never really healed all the way last season."

Despite playing injured most of the season, Kennedy helped UNT lead the Sun Belt Conference in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense for the third straight season.

Kennedy said the Broncos are planning on using him at nose guard and tackle. Denver did not select a defensive lineman with any of their 10 picks in the draft.

Kenoy said earlier this year that he had put in a good word for his brother with Denver’s coaches while helping the Broncos finish second in the AFC West with a 10-6 record.

Kennedy is the second member of UNT’s defense who has secured his chance to go to camp with an NFL team. The Oakland Raiders selected linebacker Cody Spencer in the sixth round of the draft Sunday.

The Broncos and Raiders are longtime rivals in the AFC West.

UNT coach Darrell Dickey said several more UNT players could sign NFL contracts in the next few days.

Kennedy and Spencer were both members of a senior class that helped lead UNT to the Sun Belt Conference title and a berth in the New Orleans Bowl in each of the last three seasons.

The Mean Green finished with a 9-4 record in 2003. UNT’s nine-win season was its first since Hall of Fame coach Hayden Fry led the Mean Green to a 9-2 record in 1978.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870.

That is great news he more than deserves a shot at the NFL.