Kennedy signed to Lions' active roster

ALLEN Park, Mich. – Bryant University football and men's lacrosse alumnus Tom Kennedy has been signed to the active roster of the Detroit Lions, becoming the first Bryant alum to make an NFL 53-man roster.

Kennedy played in the preseason for the Lions and spent the first two weeks of the NFL regular season on Detroit's practice squad. He will be eligible to dress for the Lions' 1 p.m. home game Sunday vs. Kansas City.

The native of Farmingdale, New York, recorded five catches for 76 yards in preseason action and was a presence in Detroit's return game, collecting 72 yards on six punt returns and 40 yards on two kick returns.

In his time in Smithfield, Kennedy played two seasons for the Bryant football team, appearing in 18 games. The Long Island native had his most productive season on the gridiron in 2017, hauling in 57 catches for 888 yards and nine touchdowns. Kennedy was a first-team All-NEC honoree in 2017 and earned accolades for his efforts in the classroom as a CoSIDA Academic All-District and FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team selection.

Kennedy made 33 catches for 410 yards and a touchdown over seven games as a graduate student in 2018 after missing the first four contests of the season due to injury.

Kennedy joins a rare class of athletes to appear on an active roster in two professional sports. A three-time All-NEC selection in men's lacrosse in a four-year career in Black & Gold, Kennedy was drafted in the third round of the 2018 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft by the Boston Cannons and appeared in six games for Boston.

The Bryant University football team returns to action Saturday when the Bulldogs host Saint Francis U at 1 p.m. Tickets for the four remaining home games at Beirne Stadium are available by clicking HERE.

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