Kendren Smith

PRIOR TO VIRGINIA (UPENN)
HONORS: 2023 Second Team All-Ivy … 2023 Phil Steele 1st Team All-Ivy … 2022 First Team All-Ivy … FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week (10/17/22).

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

2023 (REDSHIRT SENIOR)
• 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.
• 42 solo tackles were the fifth-most in the Ivy League
• Compiled 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 (SENIOR)
• 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). Was named both FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week and Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week for the performance against the Lions
• Closed the season tied for the most pass breakups on the team with seven.

2021 (JUNIOR)
• 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 (SOPHOMORE)
• All 2020 Ivy League fall sports were canceled on July 8 due to a nationwide outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19.

2019 (FRESHMAN)
• 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 & PERSONAL
• 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.
• 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