Know Your DB History: Kenny Easley
I know what you youngsters are thinking. You see this man wearing #45 and think “how good could he have been?” Long before there was a Seahawk named Kam Chancellor, there was one named Kenny Easley. The 6’3″ 206 lb. Virginia native hailed from Oscar Smith HS. He became the first Virginia HS football player to rush for and pass for 1,000 yards in a season.
Some 300+ schools recruited Easley and he ended up at UCLA in 1977 and became a starter his freshman year. At UCLA, Easley became the first player in history to make All Conference four consecutive years. Easley holds the UCLA career record for INTs with 19.
In 1981, the Seahawks chose Easley 4th overall. He became an immediate starter and went on to play seven seasons, all with Seattle. Easley was a 5 time Pro Bowler including NFL defensive player of the year in 1984 when he nabbed 10 INTs. Easley was a ferocious hitter but also ended his NFL career with 32 INTs.
Chad Wilson is the owner of All Eyes DB Camp and author of "101 DB Tips". He played college football at the University of Miami and briefly in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks. Over his 15 year high school football coaching career, he tutored over a dozen Division I defensive backs and as a trainer has worked with NFL All Pros, first round draft picks, college football All Americans and Top 10 ranked high school football prospects.
