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.gif) | -1997 (Original) NFL
Draft Scout Website
by Coach Bill Walsh
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NFL Draft Scout
Featured In/On:
Kenny Willekes, DS #16 DE, Michigan State 
Selected: Round 7, Pick 11, Overall Pick 225 by Vikings
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Name: Kenny Willekes
College: Michigan State Number: 48
Height: 6-3 Weight: 264
Position: DE Pos2: OLB
Class/Draft Year: Sr/2020
40 Low: 4.82 40 Time: 4.87 40 High: 4.96
> Projected Round: 5-6 Stock: 
Projected High: 4th Low: 6-7th
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Combine Results |
Pro Day Results |
Combine Invite: Yes
Height: 6034
Weight: 264
Zybek PD3X AKA "Official"
40 Yard Dash (ET): 4.87
40 Yard Dash (HH): 4.89
20 Yard (ET): 2.82
20 Yard (HH): 2.71
10 Yard (ET): 1.69
10 Yard (HH): 1.68
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225 Lb. Bench Reps: 32
Vertical Jump: 32 1/2
Broad Jump: 09'11"
20 Yrd Shuttle:
3-Cone Drill: 7.39
Projected 4.89/-.02/No Shuttle-Choice
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Dates: 03/18/20
Hand: 09 1/2 Arm: 31 1/4
Wingspan: 77 7/8
Height: 6034
Weight: 264
40 Yrd Dash:
20 Yrd Dash:
10 Yrd Dash:
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225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump:
Broad Jump:
20 Yrd Shuttle:
3-Cone Drill:
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+12 LBs |
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Data Scout Notes: **2019: BurlsworthTrophyWinner/2ndC/BurlsworthTrophyFinalist...BurlsworthSemifinalist...PHendricks/P1stDS/PWCamp/PNagurski/PBednarik...Walter Camp 2nd team All-American, FWAA 2nd team All-American, Sporting News 2nd team All-American, Big Ten DL of YR, 1 s
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Kenny Willekes, Michigan State, Player News
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2020 NFL COMBINE INVITE: Kenny Willekes, DE, Michigan State,...Willekes is Michigan State's all-time leader in tackles for loss with 51 and also ranks third at MSU with 26 sacks. As a junior in 2018, he earned first-team All-America honors from The Athle tic and was named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year after leading the league with 20.5 tackles for loss. He picked up second-team All-America accolades from the Walter Camp Football Foundation in 2019 and won the Burlsworth Trophy for the nation' s most outstanding player who began college as a walk-on. - Michigan State Football
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020  DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: Michigan State Football
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Almost a year to the day after breaking his leg, Kenny Willekes is ready for his Michigan State swan song. As usual, he's trying to think of himself as an underdog. "Always," he said. "That's the way you've got to play, that's the mentality I play with. I play with a chip on my shoulder regardless. I still feel like I got a lot to prove." Willekes already holds a school record with 49 1/2 tackles for loss in his career, and the senior defensive end has nine sacks this season. But the honor that best exe mplifies his path at Michigan State may be the one he received earlier this month. Willekes was the 2019 winner of the Burlsworth Trophy, which goes to the nation's most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on.Brandon Burlsworth was a walk-on who eventually became a standout at Arkansas. He died in a car accident 11 days after being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1999. The award bearing his name has gone to players such as Baker Mayfield and Hunter Renfrow. "It's pretty cool. E veryone loves the underdog. Everyone loves the underdog story," Willekes said. "There's a lot of people that truly are the underdog, and they're working to get noticed, so the fact that they brought that trophy in to acknowledge some of those underdogs a nd show other walk-ons that there's a way to do it - it can be done, and here's an example of it." Michigan State faces Wake Forest in the Pinstripe Bowl on Friday. For Willekes, it's a chance to finish his college career on a positive note - and another opportunity to move on from his difficult experience last year, when Willekes broke his leg in a 7-6 loss to Oregon in the Redbox Bowl. - AP College Football
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020 DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: AP College Football
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2019 BURLSWORTH TROPHY WINNER: Michigan State's Kenny Willekes was named tenth winner of the Burlsworth Trophy in Springdale, Ark. at a ceremony hosted by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation and the Springdale (Ark.) Rotary Club. The award is given to the nation's most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. On hand to present the trophy to Willekes was Marty Burlsworth, Chairman and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy. Willekes, a preseason All-America selection and last year's Big Ten Defensive L ineman of the Year, has 59 tackles this season with 24 solo tackles, including 6.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Willekes was named Defensive Player of the Week by the Big Ten and the Walter Camp Football Foundation after recording seven tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against Tulsa earlier this season.Willekes, named a Burlsworth semifinalist in 2018, did not receive scholarship offers from any Division I schools. He was invited to walk-on at Michigan State, where he redshirte d as a true freshman in 2015. Willekes was named a mid-season All-American by Rivals.com in 2019. Willekes, 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, suffered a broken fibula in a bowl game to end last season and rehabbed in the offseason. He is the active career leader in tackles for loss per game (1.22). Other finalists for the award were University of California safety and returner Ashtyn Davis and University of Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship. - Burlsworth Trophy
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020 DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: Burlsworth Trophy
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2019 ALL-BIG TEN SECOND TEAM (COACHES): DL Kenny Willekes, Michigan State,...Team captain became MSU's all-time leader in tackles for loss on Senior Day with 2.5 TFLs vs. Maryland and now has 49.5 TFLs in his career...leads MSU and ranks tied for fourth in the Big Ten with a career-high nine sacks...ranks first among all Big Ten defensive linemen with 69 tackles...leads all active FBS players in career tackles for loss (1.27 per game)...has 14.5 tackles for loss in 2019...Burlsworth Trophy finalist...fi rst Spartan defensive player to win the Governor's Award (team MVP) twice...2018 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and 2018 first-team All-American...has 220 tackles overall in 39 career games. - Michigan State Football
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020 DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: Michigan State Football
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2019 BURLSWORTH TROPHY FINALIST: Kenny Willekes, Michigan State University, Defensive End, SR - Willekes, a preseason All-America selection and last year's Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, has 59 tackles this season with 24 solo tackles, including 6.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Willekes was named Defensive Player of the Week by the Big Ten and the Walter Camp Football Foundation after recording seven tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against Tulsa earlier this season. Willekes, named a Burlsworth semifinalist in 2018, did not receive scholarship offers from any Division I schools. He was invited to walk-on at Michigan State, where he redshirted as a true freshman in 2015. Willekes was named a mid-season All-American by Rivals. com in 2019. Willekes, 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, suffered a broken fibula in a bowl game to end last season and rehabbed in the offseason. He is the active career leader in tackles for loss per game (1.22). - Burlsworth Trophy
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020 DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: Burlsworth Trophy
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2019 BURLSWORTH TROPHY SEMIFINALIST: Kenny Willekes, Michigan State University, Defensive End, SR - Willekes, a preseason All-America selection and last year’s Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, has 55 tackles this season. He has 21 solo tackles wi th 5.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries for the Spartans. Willekes was named Defensive Player of the Week by the Big Ten and the Walter Camp Football Foundation after recording seven tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against Tulsa earlier th is season. - Burlsworth Trophy
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020 DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: Burlsworth Trophy
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WEEK 1 BIG TEN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kenny Willekes, Michigan State, Sr., DE, Rockford, Mich./NorthPointe Christian,...Scored the first touchdown of his career with a fumble recovery in the end zone in Michigan State's victory over Tulsa...Tallie d 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries in the contest...Led the Spartans with seven tackles to help Michigan State set a school record by holding Tulsa to -73 rushing yards...Receives his first career Defensive Player of the Week hon or...Last Michigan State Defensive Player of the Week: Josiah Scott (Nov. 26, 2018). - Big Ten Football
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020 DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: Big Ten Football
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WEEK 1 WALTER CAMP NATIONAL FBS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: KENNY WILLEKES, MICHIGAN STATE, Senior, Defensive End, Rockford, MI/NorthPointe Christian,...Kenny Willekes had two tackles for loss, recovered two fumbles and had one quarterback sack as 18th -ranked Michigan State opened the 2019 season with a 28-7 victory over Tulsa. Willekes recovered one of his fumbles in the end zone for his first career defensive touchdown and added six assisted tackles as the Spartans held the Golden Hurricane to minus -73 yards rushing for the game. Notes: Kenny Willekes is the fifth Michigan State player to earn Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors since 2004, and the first since former Spartan linebacker Jon Reshke (Nov. 22, 2015). - The Walter Camp Footba ll Foundation
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020 DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: The Walter Camp Football Foundation
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Raequan Williams knocked the ball out, and Kenny Willekes recovered it in the end zone. When Michigan State's defensive linemen are playing like this, the Spartans' offense has plenty of margin for error. Willekes recovered two fumbles, including one for a touchdown, and No. 18 Michigan State manhandled Tulsa 28-7 on Friday night. Willekes, back on the field after breaking his leg in last season's Redbox Bowl, was part of a swarming Michigan State defense that held the Golden Hurricane to minus-73 yards rushing.The touchdown by Willekes came after he and Williams sacked Zach Smith near the goal line. The ball came free, and Willekes came up with it to put Michigan State up 22-0. "Thank you Raequan for my first touchdown," Willekes said. "It spea ks to how, I think, the chemistry on our defense, how much work we put in this offseason - you see how dominant we are when we play together, we all do our job." The Spartans (1-0) still had their problems offensively, but that made little difference on this night. - AP College Football
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020 DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: AP College Football
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2019 PRESEASON PHIL STEELE/DRAFT SCOUT FBS P5 FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN: Kenny Willekes, Michigan State, Sr.,...Willekes, who entered the program as a walk-on linebacker for the 2015 season, has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the nation. Unfortu nately, he suffered a broken fibula in the Redbox Bowl against Oregon, but he will be fully recovered in time for the 2019 season. A 6-foot-4, 260-pound native of Rockford, Michigan, Willekes collected a league-best 20.5 tackles for loss in 2018, good fo r second most in a Spartan single season and eighth most in the FBS in 2018. - Michigan State Football
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020 DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: Michigan State Football
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2019 PRESEASON WALTER CAMP PLAYER OF YEAR PLAYERS TO WATCH: Kenny Willekes, DL, Senior, Michigan State,...A 2018 Walter Camp Second-Team All-American, Willekes continues to add to his preseason Watch List collection, which also includes the Nagurski Awar d (top defensive player of the year) and Bednarik Award (top defensive player in college football). Willekes, who entered the program as a walk-on linebacker for the 2015 season, has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the nation. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken fibula in the Redbox Bowl against Oregon, but he will be fully recovered in time for the 2019 season.A 6-foot-4, 260-pound native of Rockford, Michigan, Willekes collected a league-best 20.5 tackles for loss in 2018, good for se cond most in a Spartan single season and eighth most in the FBS in 2018. He also led the Spartans with 8.5 sacks, which ranked tied for fifth in the Big Ten. He registered a career-high 78 tackles to rank first among all defensive lineman in the nation, including a career-high 13 against Ohio State on Nov. 10. - Michigan State Football
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020 DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: Michigan State Football
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2019 PRESEASON BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY WATCH LIST: DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State,...Willekes collected a league-best 20.5 tackles for loss in 2018, good for second most in a Spartan single season and eighth most in the FBS in 2018. He also led the Spa rtans with 8.5 sacks, which ranked tied for fifth in the Big Ten. - Michigan State Football
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020 DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: Michigan State Football
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2019 BIG TEN PRESEASON HONORS (MEDIA): Kenny Willekes, Sr., DE, MSU,...Willekes collected a league-best 20.5 tackles for loss in 2018, good for second most in a Spartan single season and eighth most in the FBS in 2018. He also led the Spartans with 8.5 s acks, which ranked tied for fifth in the Big Ten. He registered a career-high 78 tackles to rank first among all defensive lineman in the nation, including a career-high 13 against Ohio State on Nov. 10. - Michigan State Football
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020 DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: Michigan State Football
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2019 PRESEASON BEDNARIK AWARD CANDIDATE: DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State,...After leading the Big Ten in 2018 with 20.5 tackles for loss, Willekes was named the 2018 Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and a first-team All-American by The Athletic. Willekes became the second Spartan to win the award (Shilique Calhoun in 2013), which is named after MSU's Bubba Smith and Penn State's Courtney Brown and given to the Big Ten's most outstanding defensive lineman, and was the first Spartan def ensive end to earn first-team All-America honors since Robaire Smith in 1998.Willekes was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team by the coaches, media, Associated Press, Athlon Sports, ESPN.com, Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus, and earned sec ond-team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Phil Steele, Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation. - Michigan State Football
(DS#16 DE) Sr/2020 DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
News Source: Michigan State Football
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