Kendren Smith

HONORS
2024 – Recipient of the team’s 12th Man Award on defense.

AT VIRGINIA
2024 – Made the first start of his UVA career at the spur position at No. 10 Clemson (10/19) … Logged his third career interception and his first as a Cavalier in 24-14 win over Boston College (10/5) … Made UVA debut in season opener against Richmond (8/31).

PRIOR TO VIRGINIA (AT PENN)

HONORS
2023 – Second Team All-Ivy … Week 1 Ivy League honor roll … Phil Steele First Team All-Ivy.  2022 – First Team All-Ivy … Ivy League and FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week (10/17).

CAREER AT PENN
In four playing seasons, made 138 tackles (105 solo), seven tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, 24 passes defended, and two forced fumbles.

2023 – Started all 10 games at cornerback … Served as a team captain … Made 58 tackles (42 solo), had 8 pass breakups, two tackles for loss, one sack and two quarterback hurries … His 42 solo tackles were the fifth-most in the Ivy League … Tallied a career-high 10 tackles, including eight solos in triple-overtime loss to Harvard … Listed on the week 1 Ivy League honor roll after seven-tackle effort that included four solos, a sack and two pass breakups against Colgate. 2022 – Started all 10 games … Recorded 41 total tackles, 33 of which were solos … Totaled two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception on the year, all of which came in the same game against Columbia (10/15) … Closed the season tied for the most pass breakups on the team with seven.  2021 – Started the first three games at defensive back before suffering a season-ending injury … Recorded six tackles, one tackle for loss and two pass break ups in three games … Had three tackles and two pass breakups at Lafayette (9/25) and two tackles against Dartmouth (10/1).  2020 – All 2020 Ivy League fall sports were canceled on July 8 due to a nationwide outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19.  2019 – Appeared in nine games … Finished with 33 tackles, including 26 solo stops and five pass breakups … First collegiate interception came against Columbia on (10/19) Had five pass breakups Had six tackles and one pass breakup versus Sacred Heart (10/12) … Had a season-high eight tackles and one pass breakup versus Princeton (11/23).

PREP

• Graduated and played his senior season for Michael Palmieri at Mallard. Played the 2017 and 2018 seasons for Justin Hardin at Providence High School (NC)
• Four-year letterwinner and also served as a team captain
• Two-time All-Conference selection, earning 2nd team honors in 2018 and was a first team pick in 2017
• Also lettered three times in track and Member of 2016 and 2017 conference track and field championship teams at Providence

PERSONAL

• Born in Houston, Texas
• Has an older brother Kenneth Jr. and older sister Kaila, who ran track at Western Kentucky.
• Son of Kenneth Smith and Xiomara Smith
• Graduate Student in the Batten School of Public Policy