Kenny Irons facts for kids
Irons in the 2007 Cotton Bowl Classic
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| No. 30 | |
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| Position: | Running back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | September 15, 1983 Camden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight: | 201 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: | Auburn |
| NFL Draft: | 2007 / Round: 2 / Pick: 49 |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Kenny Irons (born September 15, 1983) is an American former professional football player. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL). A running back is a player who carries the football. Kenny was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft. Before that, he played college football for the Auburn Tigers.
Kenny is the brother of David Irons, who was also a football player for the Atlanta Falcons.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Kenny Irons grew up playing football. At Dacula High School in Dacula, Georgia, he was an amazing running back. He ran for nearly 2,000 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. He even played alongside his brother, David, in high school.
Kenny received many awards in high school. He was named a PrepStar All-American and was one of Sporting News' Top 25 players. He also played in the Georgia-Florida High School All-Star Game. Kenny comes from a family of football players. His uncles, Gerald Irons and Leroy Jackson, and his cousins, Grant Irons, Jarrett Irons, and Paul Irons, all played football too.
College Football Career
Playing for South Carolina
Kenny first went to the University of South Carolina to play football. As a freshman, he played in nine games. He ran for over 200 yards and caught a touchdown pass.
Transferring to Auburn
After the 2003 season, Kenny transferred to Auburn University. He wanted to play with his brother again. Due to college rules, he could not play in 2004. This gave him a chance to learn from older players like Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown, who later played in the NFL.
In 2005, Kenny became the starting running back for Auburn. He had an incredible season, running for 1,293 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns. This was one of the best rushing seasons in Auburn's history! He was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week twice. At the end of the season, he was chosen for the All-SEC First-team by both coaches and the Associated Press.
In 2006, Kenny broke his index finger early in the season. Despite the injury, he still ran for 941 yards and scored 4 touchdowns.
Professional Football Career
Getting Ready for the NFL Draft
After his college career, Kenny worked hard to get ready for the 2007 NFL draft. He trained with his brother and they went to important events together. At the NFL Combine, Kenny showed off his speed and jumping ability. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds and had a 38-inch vertical jump.
Time with the Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals picked Kenny Irons in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft. He was the 49th player chosen overall.
Sadly, during his first preseason game with the Bengals, Kenny tore a ligament in his knee. This injury meant he could not play during his rookie season. He worked hard to recover, but he was later released from the team.
