Kody Kennedy signs to play football with Muskingum University

MINFORD — A Mighty Minford Falcon will soon head northeast to New Concord, Ohio and become a Fighting Muskie, as Minford’s Kody Kennedy officially signed to play football for Muskingum University, an NCAA Division III school.

Kennedy made it permanent when the Minford senior put ink to paper Monday afternoon in front of family, friends and coaches.

“Out of all the colleges I went to, Muskingum, it just felt like home whenever I went up there,” Kennedy said. “It was probably the second visit of all the colleges I went to and I went up there and everything just came in.”

Kennedy loved the small community of New Concord because it reminded him of his home in Minford.

“It’s not too far away, but it’s far enough away to get the full college experience that I wanted,” Kennedy said.

The soon to be former Falcon thought Muskingum was the best program suited for him, which was one of the reasons he decided to choose the university.

“Kody is one of those hard working kids,” Brent Daniels, former Minford football coach said. “He may not be the fastest or the biggest, but he makes up for it with his determination, his discipline and his heart.”

Daniels coached Kennedy during his time as a player on the football team and is currently his coach in baseball.

“He’s a great kid,” Daniels said. “He’ll run through a wall for you. He’ll do whatever you tell him, to the best of his ability. He’s a very good kid.”

Kennedy played on both sides of the ball for Minford, spending time as a running back as well as an outside linebacker.

With his absence, Minford will lose one of their biggest leaders on the field.

“He was always getting people motivated,” Daniels said. “A lot of people don’t know he played half the year with a hurt knee.”

Despite being injured, Daniels said Kennedy was a tough player who refused to quit.

“We had to actually go to him and ask Kody what was hurting. He wouldn’t tell you,” Daniels said. “He was just that type of, throwback type of kid that liked to play the game and just wanted to play.”

Daniels sees no reason Kennedy won’t make an impact for the Fighting Muskies.

“It’s a different speed to the game, college is always faster. Each level always goes faster,” Daniels said. “I think he will adjust. It will take a little time, but he’ll adjust.”

The Fighting Muskies believe they know the best spot for Kennedy right now, playing outside linebacker.

“That’s where they want me right now,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy noted he knows he will miss his teammates next season and the experience of being a Falcon football player.

“I’m just going to miss playing with all of my brothers on Friday nights,” Kennedy said. “There’s nothing like playing on Friday night, under the lights. That’s the thing I’m going to miss the most, being with them and being with the family on the field.”

While Kennedy has already played his final down for the Falcons, he is still active on the baseball team, as Minford looks to continue a deep tournament run.

“Right now I’m focused on baseball,” Kennedy said. “We just keep progressing and hopefully we can make it to Huntington Park (in Columbus, OH). After that, I’ll be dead set on getting better for football next year.”

While playing football at Muskingum University, Kennedy has plans to major in Education.

“I want to be a high-school history teacher,” Kennedy said. “I’m going to go into secondary education and work to pursue that degree.”

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By Michael Hamilton [email protected]

Reach Michael Hamilton at 740-353-3101, ext 1931, or on Twitter @MikeHamilton82.

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