
Michael Kennedy brings veteran edge-rush juice to NIU
In the 2022 season, Michael Kennedy emerged as a productive Northern Illinois edge defender, finishing with 32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks, which shows a real knack for disruptive plays rather than just piling up volume. He was praised for turning into a pass-rush specialist after initially coming to NIU as a high school running back, giving him a quick-twitch, high-effort profile that can be hard to scheme against. The fit question is simple: if a team wants a mature, experienced defender who plays with urgency and can finish in the backfield, he’s a strong fit.