JOURNAL SPORTS
LSU’s Eddie Kennison played in one of the most memorable Independence Bowls and helped create a moment that lives in Independence Bowl lore.
The Lake Charles native earned his place in bowl history and has been selected as the No. 8 player among 50 standouts on the 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. The roster has been selected by a local media panel to commemorate the bowl’s 50th edition to be held Dec. 22 at Independence Stadium.
Kennison starred on the LSU team that took on a young Nick Saban and his Michigan State Spartans in the 1995 Independence Bowl, and he stuffed the stat sheet in that game. He caught five passes for 124 yards and one touchdown, and he ranks sixth in Independence Bowl history for individual all-purpose yards in a game (249).
He delivered a second-quarter memory that Independence Bowl fans will remember for a lifetime. After Michigan State scored early in the second frame to make it 13-7 Spartans, the game flipped twice in a matter of seconds. After the Spartans’ touchdown, Kennison took it upon himself to propel the Tigers back into the lead with a 92-yard kickoff-return touchdown, and on the ensuing kickoff, 50th Anniversary All-Time Team player No. 21 Derrick Mason ran it back 100 yards to flip the game back in Michigan State’s favor. LSU won 45-26 on the backs of Kennison, Kevin Faulk and the offense.
In three years with LSU, Kennison racked up 1,554 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and 1995 was his best season with the Bayou Bengals. He caught 45 passes for 739 yards and two touchdowns, earning second-team All-SEC recognition.
In Baton Rouge, Kennison was also a six-time All-American sprinter on the LSU track and field team. He starred on the 4×100-meter relay team that won the 1994 NCAA Outdoor Championship.
After running a blazing 40-yard dash at his LSU Pro Day, Kennison was selected 18th overall in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. The first-rounder made an immediate impact in 1996, earning a spot on the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team. He finished second among rookies in receiving yards (924) and receptions (54), outpacing number-one overall pick Keyshawn Johnson.
Kennison remained productive for most of his 13-year NFL career, but he didn’t surpass his rookie numbers until 2004 with the Kansas City Chiefs, when he broke 1,000 yards for the first time. He had only two 1,000-plus-yard seasons, in 2004 and 2005, when he caught 1,086 and 1,102 yards, respectively. Overall, Kennison caught 548 passes for 8,345 yards and 42 touchdowns over his 13 years in the NFL.
Kennison was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
The next player on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 7, will be released on Monday, October 26. Players will be unveiled individually weekly with No. 1 being announced on Monday, December 7.
Players previously announced on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (Name, position, school, year played in I-Bowl):
No. 9 – Fernando Mendoza (QB, California, 2023);
No. 10 – Takeo Spikes (LB, Auburn, 1996); No. 11 – Brett Favre (QB, Southern Miss, 1988); No. 12 – Roy Williams (S, Oklahoma, 1999); No. 13 – Josh Heupel (QB, Oklahoma, 1999); No. 14 – Art Monk (WR, Syracuse, 1979); No. 15 – Von Miller (OLB, Texas A&M, 2009); No. 16 — Wesley Walls (DE/TE, Ole Miss, 1986); No. 17 – Joe Morris (RB, Syracuse, 1979); No. 18 – Ray Childress (DT, Texas A&M, 1981); No. 19 – Sidney Rice (WR, South Carolina, 2005);
No. 20 – Brad Smith (QB, Missouri, 2003 and 2005); No. 21 – Derrick Mason (WR, Michigan State, 1995); No. 22 – Garrison Hearst (RB, Georgia, 1991); No. 23 – Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech, 2023); No. 24 – Tim Krumrie (NG, Wisconsin, 1982); No. 25 – Muhsin Muhammad (WR, Michigan State, 1995); No. 26 – Ja’Mar Toombs (RB, Texas A&M, 2000); No. 27 – Otis Wilson (LB, Louisville, 1977); No. 28 – A.J. Green (WR, Georgia, 2009); No. 29 – Rocky Calmus (LB – Oklahoma, 1999); No. 30 – Flozell Adams (OT – Michigan State, 1995);
No. 31 – Willie Blade (DT, Mississippi State, 2000); No. 32 – Scott Thomas (S, Air Force, 1983 & 1984); No. 33 – Chad Hennings (DT, Air Force, 1984); No. 34 — Dameyune Craig (QB, Auburn, 1996); No. 35 – Geno Atkins (DT, Georgia, 2009); No. 36 – Rondell Mealey (RB, LSU, 1997); No. 37 – Rolando McClain (LB, Alabama, 2007); No. 38 – Weldon Brown (CB, Louisiana Tech, 2008); No. 39 – Andre Smith (OT, Alabama, 2006 & 2007; No. 40 – Tiki Barber (RB, Virginia, 1994);
No. 41 – Puka Nacua (WR, BYU, 2021); No. 42 – Gary Kubiak (QB; Texas A&M, 1981); No. 43 — Seneca Wallace (QB, Iowa State, 2001); No. 44 – Todd McClure (C, LSU, 1995 & 1997); No. 45 – Gary Anderson (K, Syracuse, 1979); No. 46 – Booger McFarland (LB, LSU, 1995 & 1997); No. 47 – Tremaine Edmunds (LB – Virginia Tech, 2015); No. 48 – Bill Musgrave (QB – Oregon, 1989); No. 49 – Larry Anderson (DB – Louisiana Tech, 1977); No. 50 – Lorenza Baker (LB – Louisiana Tech, 1990).