Kenny Willekes
DE
#79
Experience: 3 years
Height: 6-3
Age: 24
Weight: 264 lbs
College: Michigan State
2021 SEASON
- Solo9
- SCK2.5
- FF0
- INT--
Recent Games
| WK | OPP | RESULT | Total | Solo | AST | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TDS | FF | OPP FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Bears | W 31 - 17 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 17 | @Packers | L 10 - 37 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 13 | @Lions | L 27 - 29 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 14 | Steelers | W 36 - 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 8 | Cowboys | L 16 - 20 | |||||||||||||
| 9 | @Ravens | L 31 - 34 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Stats
Defense Career
| SEASON | TEAM | G | GS | Total | Solo | AST | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TDS | FF | OPP FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Minnesota Vikings | 6 | 0 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 2.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| TOTAL | 6 | 0 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 2.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Biography
• Winner of the 2019 Burlsworth Trophy, given to the nation's most outstanding player that began his career as a walk-on.
• Attended Kirk Cousins' football camp as a youngster.
• Named the 2018 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year after leading the conference with 20.5 TFL as a junior.
OFF THE FIELD
• The 5th of 8 children in the family. Younger brother Charles, Jr. also played on the Michigan State football team; older brother Lourens is a national champion trampoline gymnast; sister Holliann is a lawyer, and sister Allison is a concert pianist. Father, Charles, is a heart surgeon.
• Graduated with his bachelor's degree in chemistry in December of 2020.
PRO
• Selected in the 7th round (#225 overall) in 2020, part of a 15-member draft class, the biggest in Vikings history since going to a 7-round draft.
• Placed on the Vikings Reserve/Injured list on 9/2/20.
• Part of a Big Ten draft class that had the 2nd-most players selected in 2019 behind only the SEC.
