Joins the Lions after spending his first four seasons with the Giants (2014-17). Entered the League as a fifth-round pick (147th overall) and played 52 games before coming to Detroit.
MANE FACTS
- NFC Defensive Player of the Week: 2014 (Week 14).
TRANSACTIONS
- Signed by the Detroit Lions as an unrestricted free agent on March 15, 2018.
- Placed on Injured/Reserve (foot, hamstring) on December 28, 2015.
- Drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.
PRO
Joins the Lions after spending his first four seasons with the Giants (2014-17). Entered the League as a fifth-round pick (147th overall) and played 52 games before coming to Detroit.
2017: Recorded 41 tackles (24 solo), four sacks and two pass defenses on the season.
- Tied a season-high five tackles in Week 2 against Detroit (9/18).
- Recorded his first sack of the season in Week 3 at Philadelphia (9//24).
2016: Played in all 16 regular season games (nine starts) for the first time in his career, finishing the season with a career-high 58 tackles (38 solo), 1.0 sack one pass defense, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
- Tied a season-high six tackles in Week 3 against Washington (9/25).
- Posted a season-high five solo tackles in Week 6 against Baltimore (10/16).
- Recorded his first sack of the season in Week 14 against Dallas (12/11).
2015: Started all nine games in which he played in. Inactive in Week 5 and 6 due to a calf injury, before missing the final five games with injuries.
- Recorded nine tackles in Week 2 against Atlanta (9/20).
- Recorded his first-career interception in Week 4 at Buffalo (10/4).
- Posted a career-high 10 tackles in Week 12 at Washington (11/29).
2014: Played in 12 games (six starts) as a rookie, totaling 43 tackles (36 solo) and 4.5 sacks on the season.
- Posted a season-high nine tackles in Week 11 against San Francisco (11/16).
- Recorded seven solo tackles in Week 15 against Washington (12/14).
COLLEGE
Played in 51 games (32 starts) for the Trojans, finishing with 195 tackles (95 solo), 13.0 sacks, eight pass defenses and one interception.
- Finalist for the 2013 Lott Impact Trophy.
- Selected to the All Pac-12 second team in 2013.
- Voted USC’s Most Inspirational Player by his teammates his senior season.
- Winner of the Trojan Way Leadership Award in 2013.
- Winner of the Trojan Football Alumni Club Award for the top GPA in 2013.
PERSONAL
Attended Desert Vista High School.
- Son of Derek Kennard, an All-American offensive lineman at Nevada and former NFL player and Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys.
- Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in communications management.
