Nittany Lions Host Senior Day on Saturday Versus Badgers
Alex Kenney enters the season looking to make an impact in the passing game, having spent the majority of 2011 playing cornerback. Possessing excellent athleticism and quickness, Kenney's move to wide receiver brings the State College Area High School All-American back to the position where he began his Nittany Lion career in 2010. He returned to wide receiver during preparations for the TicketCity Bowl and should have an opportunity to earn a spot in the wideout rotation and be a contributor on special teams. He is listed No. 1 at the slot receiver position entering preseason camp. Kenney was having an impressive spring practice when he suffered a knee injury that knocked him out of the final several practices. A state track record-holder in the 60 meters, he is expected to be 100 percent prior to training camp. Success in athletics runs in the family, as Kenney's sister, Lauren, is an accomplished sophomore thrower on the Penn State track and field team. She gained All-America honors by placing fourth in the javelin at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a throw of 167-10, a personal-best. She finished second in the 2012 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a mark of 159-4. An older brother, Matthew, was a three-year football letterman at Cornell. Kenney brought a 3.26 grade-point average into the summer and is a potential Academic All-Big Ten candidate.
2011 Sophomore Season
Kenney spent the majority of the season at cornerback, but returned to wide receiver during preparations for the TicketCity Bowl with Houston. He recorded one tackle and returned a kickoff for 16 yards in the season-opener against Indiana State. Kenney also was a sprinter on Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan's indoor track and field team. His best performance in the 60 meters was a team-best :06.96 at the 2011 Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships. Kenney's top performance in the 200 meters was :22.08 at the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup.
2010 Freshman Season
Redshirt season.
High School
Kenney was a nine-time all-state football and track honoree at State College Area HS. Playing for Coach Al Wolski, Kenney was selected PA Football News Class AAAA all-state his final three years. He was named a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Scout.com, and ESPN.com and was selected the Old Spice Red Zone Player-of-the-Year in Pennsylvania and a SuperPrep All-American. Highlights of his 2009 senior season include being named first-team all-state and a first-team Mid-Penn Conference all-star on offense, defense and as a kick returner for the second consecutive year. As a senior, Kenney ran for 1,175 yards, had 475 receiving yards and totaled 29 touchdowns, while also grabbing 12 interceptions (returning three for scores). A 2010 Big 33 Classic selection, he scored 56 career touchdowns. The 2008 U.S. Army All-American nominee gained more than 1,400 all-purpose yards, averaging 13 yards per carry, and scored 13 touchdowns as a junior. Kenney compiled more than 1,000 all-purpose yards and scored 11 times as a sophomore. He was a 14-time Pennsylvania state track medalist, finishing second in the 100 meters (:10.63) and third in the 200 (:21.42) at the 2010 State Championships. He also holds the state indoor record in the 60 meters (:6.80), set in 2010. Kenney left State College Area HS owning seven school track and field records. Kenney received the Power of PAWS Academic Leadership award, the Kevin Dare Award and was on the honor roll.
Personal
Full name is Alex James Kenney. He is the son of Larry and Patti Kenney, both of whom are Penn State graduates. His father is a professor in kinesiology on the University Park campus. He has two siblings, Matthew and Lauren. Matthew was a three-year football letterman at Cornell and Lauren played high school soccer and was the 2011 state gold medalist in the javelin. She will be a freshman on the Penn State women's track and field team in 2011-12. Kenney enjoys skiing, skateboarding and playing video games. He is enrolled in the College of the Liberal Arts and owned a 3.23 grade-point average after the spring semester. Born September 2, 1991 in State College, Pa.
