Kenny Irons
Encyclopedia
Kenny Irons is an American football
running back
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals
in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Auburn
.
He is the brother of former Atlanta Falcons
cornerback
David Irons
.
in Dacula, Georgia
, Irons rushed for 1985 yards and 19 touchdowns, playing alongside his brother David
. His high school honors included PrepStar All-American, Sporting News Top 25, Atlanta Journal Constitution's Top 11, Gwinnett County Back of the Year, and playing in the Georgia-Florida High School All-Star Game. Irons initially signed with the University of South Carolina
to play for then-head coach Lou Holtz
. He is the nephew of Gerald Irons
and Leroy Jackson
and he is the cousin of Grant Irons
, Jarrett Irons
and Paul Irons
.
after appearing in nine games with one start. For the season, he rushed for 201 yards on 47 carries. He also had four pass receptions for 63 yards and one touchdown on a 30-yard catch and run against Mississippi State
. He rushed for a season high 43 yards on 12 attempts against Mississippi State.
following the 2003 season in order to play alongside his brother again. Kenny participated in the Auburn A-Day Spring Game, but was ineligible to play the following year due to NCAA regulations. While sitting out the 2004 season, Irons was able to apprentice under future NFL players Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown
.
Even though he was not allowed to play on Saturdays, Kenny Irons was an important part of the team that fall. As a member of the Scout Team, or practice squad, he simulated opposing teams' running backs, enabling the defense to get an accurate look at what the opposing runner would be like. Some have credited his dedication to that role as an important factor in the Auburn Tigers' undefeated 2004 season.
During spring practice, Irons received the Off-Season Conditioning Award from the coaching staff. Although he was lauded as the heir apparent to the starting running back role, freshman sensation Brad Lester
and undersized, but experienced veteran Tre Smith provided Irons with plenty of competition.
Irons entered the season as the backup running back after criticism that he could not pick up blocks well enough to function as a complete running back in Al Borges
's complex offensive scheme. Garnering only one carry for six yards, Irons' opening game as a Tiger was a disappointment. The following week, still as the backup, he had 13 carries against a very tough Mississippi State defense and rushed for only 28 yards. In the next two weeks against non-conference foes Ball State and Western Kentucky, Irons rushed for 258 yards on 29 carries and seemed to be finding his stride. He made his third straight start the following week against his former team, South Carolina
.
Going into the week, there was a great deal of hype regarding Irons' playing against his former team although Lou Holtz was no longer the coach, having been replaced by Steve Spurrier
. Despite two touchdowns, his performance was otherwise lackluster, gaining only 27 yards on 11 carries. Irons was replaced as a starter for the following week by Brad Lester.
The game against the Arkansas Razorbacks
in Fayetteville
proved to be a turning point in Irons' career. Lester entered the game as the starter, but suffered an injury early in the game. Substituting for the injured starter, Kenny carried the ball 33 times for 182 yards. After that performance, Irons started at running back for the rest of the season.
On October 22, 2005, Auburn traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana
to play the highly ranked LSU Tigers
. While getting off of the bus at the stadium, Irons mouthed and gestured to the ESPN
crew that he would rush for 200 that night. With only 27 carries, he totaled 218 yards and one touchdown in Auburn's overtime loss.
Through the remainder of the regular season, Kenny Irons was never held under 100 yards rushing. His season totals include 1293 yards on 256 attempts with 13 touchdowns. His 2005 rushing total was the 6th best in Auburn history, placing Irons behind greats like Bo Jackson
, Cadillac Williams, and future Cincinnati Bengal teammate, Rudi Johnson
.
At season's end Kenny Irons was a unanimous pick for the Coaches' All-SEC First-Team and the Associated Press All-SEC First Team. He was a two time SEC Offensive Player of the Week following his performances versus the Georgia Bulldogs
and Arkansas.
Going into the 2006 season, Kenny Irons was considered a candidate for the Doak Walker and Maxwell Awards and the esteemed Heisman Trophy. He was held out of the A-Day Spring game to ensure that did not sustain unnecessary injury. Speculations for his year included him rushing for 1500 yards and winning multiple post-season awards. His senior campaign was impressive, but was severely hampered by nagging injuries.
The first game of the year was against Washington State University and the highly regarded defense of Bill Doba
, featuring Mkristo Bruce
. Irons torched the Cougars for 183 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown, in a 40-14 Tiger victory. Soon after that game, Kenny suffered from a broken index finger that prevented him from planting his hand over the ball. Some say that Irons should have sat out until he was full speed, but instead, he played through the injury.
Over the next two games, Irons was held to less than 100 yards per contest, before he was allowed an off week when the Tigers played the University of Buffalo. Irons was back on the field the following week, eager to return to Columbia, South Carolina to confront the team and fans that he felt turned their back on him three years earlier The game was a hard fought contest, with a surprise onside kick allowing Auburn to maintain of the ball for the entire 3rd quarter. In the Tigers' exciting victory, Kenny rushed for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns.
For the season, Irons rushed 198 times for a total of 941 yards and 4 touchdowns, while leading the Tigers to an 11-2 season record.
He graduated with a degree in economics.
. He and his brother signed with the same agent and worked out together. They traveled together to the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine, and their individual pro days. At the combine, Irons posted a 4.45 second 40-yard dash time and a 38-inch vertical leap
.
in the second round (49th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft
.
During the second quarter of the Bengals first preseason game against the Detroit Lions
on August 9, Irons tore his ACL on his fourth carry of the game, ending his rookie season. Irons was expected to recover fully and be ready for spring workouts. After the conclusion of the 2007 regular season, Irons said he expected to be ready for training camp in July 2008. However on July 25, Irons was waived/injured by the Bengals and subsequently placed the reserve/physically-unable-to-perform list. He was waived from the PUP list on August 4.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
.
He is the brother of former Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
David Irons
David Irons
David Irons is a former American football cornerback for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn.Irons has also played for the Florida Tuskers...
.
Early years
At Dacula High SchoolDacula High School
Dacula High School is a high school in Dacula, Georgia and serves students in Grades 9-12. The school has a student population of approximately 1932. The school is operated by Gwinnett County Public Schools...
in Dacula, Georgia
Dacula, Georgia
As of 2010 Dacula had a population of 4,442. the median age was 35.2. There were 1,472 households with 92.0% of housing units occupied. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 76.6% white , 11.3% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian Indian, 2.8% other...
, Irons rushed for 1985 yards and 19 touchdowns, playing alongside his brother David
David Irons
David Irons is a former American football cornerback for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn.Irons has also played for the Florida Tuskers...
. His high school honors included PrepStar All-American, Sporting News Top 25, Atlanta Journal Constitution's Top 11, Gwinnett County Back of the Year, and playing in the Georgia-Florida High School All-Star Game. Irons initially signed with the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
to play for then-head coach Lou Holtz
Lou Holtz
Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
. He is the nephew of Gerald Irons
Gerald Irons
Gerald Irons is a former American professional football player who played ten seasons in the National Football League. His youngest son Grant Irons plays for the Oakland Raiders. Eldest son Gerald, Jr. played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and middle son Jarrett was the fifth junior elected captain...
and Leroy Jackson
Leroy Jackson
Leroy Jackson is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Western Illinois University....
and he is the cousin of Grant Irons
Grant Irons
Grant Michael Irons is an American football player who is a free agent, formerly playing for the Oakland Raiders. He played in 43 career games for the University of Notre Dame, making 26 starts at numerous positions on defense. He started playing for the Buffalo Bills in 2002. His father Gerald...
, Jarrett Irons
Jarrett Irons
Jarrett Irons is a former All-American linebacker who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines football team from 1993-1996. A native of The Woodlands, Texas, Irons was twice selected to the All Big Ten Conference team and was a team co-captain in 1995 and 1996...
and Paul Irons
Paul Irons
Paul Irons is an American football tight end for Team Michigan of the All American Football League. Irons previously played in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and in college for Florida State University....
.
South Carolina
Irons lettered as a true freshman at University of South CarolinaUniversity of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
after appearing in nine games with one start. For the season, he rushed for 201 yards on 47 carries. He also had four pass receptions for 63 yards and one touchdown on a 30-yard catch and run against Mississippi State
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
. He rushed for a season high 43 yards on 12 attempts against Mississippi State.
Auburn
Irons transferred to Auburn UniversityAuburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
following the 2003 season in order to play alongside his brother again. Kenny participated in the Auburn A-Day Spring Game, but was ineligible to play the following year due to NCAA regulations. While sitting out the 2004 season, Irons was able to apprentice under future NFL players Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown
Ronnie Brown
Ronnie G. Brown, Jr. is an American football running back for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . After graduating from Cartersville High School in Georgia, Brown attended Auburn University to play college football for the Auburn Tigers...
.
Even though he was not allowed to play on Saturdays, Kenny Irons was an important part of the team that fall. As a member of the Scout Team, or practice squad, he simulated opposing teams' running backs, enabling the defense to get an accurate look at what the opposing runner would be like. Some have credited his dedication to that role as an important factor in the Auburn Tigers' undefeated 2004 season.
During spring practice, Irons received the Off-Season Conditioning Award from the coaching staff. Although he was lauded as the heir apparent to the starting running back role, freshman sensation Brad Lester
Brad Lester
Brad Lester was an Canadian football running back who plays for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was born to Phillis Miller and Calvin Lester.-Early years:Brad Lester was born to Phillis Miller and Calvin Lester...
and undersized, but experienced veteran Tre Smith provided Irons with plenty of competition.
Irons entered the season as the backup running back after criticism that he could not pick up blocks well enough to function as a complete running back in Al Borges
Al Borges
Alan Borges is an American college football coach and the offensive coordinator of the University of Michigan football team. Borges is known for quarterback development having mentored Cade McNown and Jason Campbell, both first round NFL draft picks...
's complex offensive scheme. Garnering only one carry for six yards, Irons' opening game as a Tiger was a disappointment. The following week, still as the backup, he had 13 carries against a very tough Mississippi State defense and rushed for only 28 yards. In the next two weeks against non-conference foes Ball State and Western Kentucky, Irons rushed for 258 yards on 29 carries and seemed to be finding his stride. He made his third straight start the following week against his former team, South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks
The University of South Carolina's 19 varsity sports teams are known as the "Gamecocks". The unique moniker is held in honor of Thomas Sumter, a South Carolina war hero who was given the name "The Carolina Gamecock" during the American Revolution for his fierce fighting tactics, regardless of his...
.
Going into the week, there was a great deal of hype regarding Irons' playing against his former team although Lou Holtz was no longer the coach, having been replaced by Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
. Despite two touchdowns, his performance was otherwise lackluster, gaining only 27 yards on 11 carries. Irons was replaced as a starter for the following week by Brad Lester.
The game against the Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
in Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
proved to be a turning point in Irons' career. Lester entered the game as the starter, but suffered an injury early in the game. Substituting for the injured starter, Kenny carried the ball 33 times for 182 yards. After that performance, Irons started at running back for the rest of the season.
On October 22, 2005, Auburn traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
to play the highly ranked LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
. While getting off of the bus at the stadium, Irons mouthed and gestured to the ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
crew that he would rush for 200 that night. With only 27 carries, he totaled 218 yards and one touchdown in Auburn's overtime loss.
Through the remainder of the regular season, Kenny Irons was never held under 100 yards rushing. His season totals include 1293 yards on 256 attempts with 13 touchdowns. His 2005 rushing total was the 6th best in Auburn history, placing Irons behind greats like Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson
Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson is a former American baseball and football player. He was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports, and also won the Heisman Trophy in 1985....
, Cadillac Williams, and future Cincinnati Bengal teammate, Rudi Johnson
Rudi Johnson
Burudi Ali "Rudi" Johnson is a former American football running back who played professionally from 2001 - 2008. Rudi was born in Petersburg, Virginia approximately 30 miles south of Richmond. His first name "Burudi" is Swahili and means "cool'" and his middle name "Ali" represented his family's...
.
At season's end Kenny Irons was a unanimous pick for the Coaches' All-SEC First-Team and the Associated Press All-SEC First Team. He was a two time SEC Offensive Player of the Week following his performances versus the Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
and Arkansas.
Going into the 2006 season, Kenny Irons was considered a candidate for the Doak Walker and Maxwell Awards and the esteemed Heisman Trophy. He was held out of the A-Day Spring game to ensure that did not sustain unnecessary injury. Speculations for his year included him rushing for 1500 yards and winning multiple post-season awards. His senior campaign was impressive, but was severely hampered by nagging injuries.
The first game of the year was against Washington State University and the highly regarded defense of Bill Doba
Bill Doba
-External links:*...
, featuring Mkristo Bruce
Mkristo Bruce
Mkristo Eugene Bruce is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
. Irons torched the Cougars for 183 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown, in a 40-14 Tiger victory. Soon after that game, Kenny suffered from a broken index finger that prevented him from planting his hand over the ball. Some say that Irons should have sat out until he was full speed, but instead, he played through the injury.
Over the next two games, Irons was held to less than 100 yards per contest, before he was allowed an off week when the Tigers played the University of Buffalo. Irons was back on the field the following week, eager to return to Columbia, South Carolina to confront the team and fans that he felt turned their back on him three years earlier The game was a hard fought contest, with a surprise onside kick allowing Auburn to maintain of the ball for the entire 3rd quarter. In the Tigers' exciting victory, Kenny rushed for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns.
For the season, Irons rushed 198 times for a total of 941 yards and 4 touchdowns, while leading the Tigers to an 11-2 season record.
He graduated with a degree in economics.
Career statistics
| Opponent | Attempts | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ga. Tech | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Miss. St. | 13 | 28 | 0 |
| Ball St. | 11 | 147 | 2 |
| W. Kentucky | 18 | 111 | 1 |
| S. Carolina | 11 | 27 | 2 |
| Arkansas | 33 | 182 | 0 |
| LSU | 27 | 218 | 1 |
| Ole Miss. | 32 | 101 | 1 |
| Kentucky | 23 | 103 | 3 |
| Georgia | 37 | 179 | 2 |
| Alabama | 28 | 103 | 1 |
| Wisconsin | 22 | 88 | 0 |
| Total | 256 | 1293 | 13 |
| Opponent | Attempts | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington St. | 20 | 183 | 1 |
| Miss. St. | 21 | 69 | 0 |
| LSU | 25 | 70 | 0 |
| Buffalo | Did Not Play | ||
| S. Carolina | 27 | 117 | 2 |
| Arkansas | 15 | 75 | 0 |
| Florida | 13 | 67 | 0 |
| Tulane | Did Not Play | ||
| Ole Miss | 23 | 106 | 0 |
| Arkansas St. | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Georgia | 10 | 49 | 0 |
| Alabama | 19 | 85 | 1 |
| Nebraska | 24 | 72 | 0 |
| Total | 198 | 941 | 4 |
Pre-draft
Following the completion of his senior football season, Irons recovered from his injuries and began to work out and prepare for the 2007 NFL Draft2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He and his brother signed with the same agent and worked out together. They traveled together to the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine, and their individual pro days. At the combine, Irons posted a 4.45 second 40-yard dash time and a 38-inch vertical leap
Vertical jump
A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is...
.
Cincinnati Bengals
Irons was selected by the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
in the second round (49th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
.
During the second quarter of the Bengals first preseason game against the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
on August 9, Irons tore his ACL on his fourth carry of the game, ending his rookie season. Irons was expected to recover fully and be ready for spring workouts. After the conclusion of the 2007 regular season, Irons said he expected to be ready for training camp in July 2008. However on July 25, Irons was waived/injured by the Bengals and subsequently placed the reserve/physically-unable-to-perform list. He was waived from the PUP list on August 4.