We are 96 days away from college football kickoff. Have Y’all been following along with the countdown? Let us continue with the countdown to college football kickoff, today we have Haloti Ngata from Oregon. As well as another great number 96 Cortez Kennedy.
Haloti Ngata Days Away From College Football Kickoff
A Mighty Duck
Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 338 pounds, Haloti Ngata used his size, strength, and athleticism to control the line of scrimmage during his three years in Eugene. He was also the seventh Oregon player to join the College Football Hall of Fame. Over three seasons, Ngata totaled 151 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles, and seven blocked kicks, showing how much he influenced the game.
During Ngata’s time in Eugene with Hall of Fame coach Mike Bellotti, the Ducks had a 25-19 record. He helped the team reach the 2002 Seattle Bowl, and in 2005, Oregon finished 10-2, played in the Holiday Bowl, and ended the season ranked No. 12.
Although he missed the 2003 season due to injury, Ngata returned strong, earning Second Team All-Pac-10 honors in 2004. In 2005, he was named First Team All-Pac-10 and team MVP, becoming the first defensive lineman in 18 years to win that award.
Also, in 2005, Ngata was a consensus First Team All-American and became the first Oregon player to win the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year award. That same year, he was a finalist for the Outland Trophy, given to the top interior linemen. As well as the Nagurski Trophy for the nation’s best defenders. Ngata also led all conference interior linemen with 61 tackles and won the 2005 Morris Trophy as the league’s top interior lineman.
Haloti Ngata was picked 12th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He spent 13 seasons in the NFL, playing for the Ravens—where he won Super Bowl XLVII—the Lions, and the Eagles. Over his career, he made five Pro Bowls, was named First Team All-Pro twice, and Second Team All-Pro three times.
In 2016, Ngata was named to the Pac-10’s “All-Century Team” and was inducted into Oregon’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He is also honored in the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor. Off the field, Ngata and his wife, Christinia, have made a difference through the Haloti Ngata Foundation, which helps at-risk youth, works to prevent gang violence, and offers college-preparation resources.
96 Days Days Away From College Football Kickoff
Another Great #96 Cortez Kennedy, Miami
Cortez Kennedy grew up in Arkansas. After having trouble with his grades in high school, he spent two years at Northwest Mississippi Community College. During a recruiting visit, Hurricanes assistant coach Tommy Tuberville noticed Kennedy and later helped him join Miami, where Jimmy Johnson was the head coach.
As a junior in 1988, Kennedy played as a substitute and finished the season with 27 tackles, six tackles for loss, seven quarterback pressures, and two sacks.
Shannon, who was a year ahead of Kennedy at Miami, helped him get in shape during the offseason. As a result, Kennedy improved even more as a senior under new head coach Dennis Erickson.
In 1989, Kennedy had a standout season with 92 tackles, including 45 solo tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and 16 quarterback pressures. The Hurricanes beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and went on to win the national championship.
Kennedy went on to earn first-team All-America honors from The Sporting News.
After finishing his college eligibility, Kennedy was picked third overall by the Seahawks in 1990. He later returned to the University of Miami and graduated.
Cortez Kennedy passed away on May 23, 2017, at the age of 48.
Editor’s Note: The countdown to college football kickoff has been a series on the Last Word on College Football social media platforms for the past 9 years. They consisted of a photo and a small blurb for each player, with the jersey corresponding to the number of days until kickoff. The rank of the players is sourced from articles by Bleacher Report, Fox Sports, and The Athletic. There are also some favorite players of the Last Word on College Football writers. Their bios are sourced from multiple online sources, including but not limited to the College Football Hall of Fame, their Heisman profiles, and school websites.
Main Photo: Thomas Boyd/The Register-Guard
