Fansided

25 best Pac-12 football players of the last 25 years

By Nathaniel Reeves

Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 08: Lincoln Kennedy of Washington attends The 2015 College Football Hall of Fame Class panel during the 58th Annual National Football Foundation Awards press conference held at The Waldorf=Astoria on December 8, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 08: Lincoln Kennedy of Washington attends The 2015 College Football Hall of Fame Class panel during the 58th Annual National Football Foundation Awards press conference held at The Waldorf=Astoria on December 8, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images) /

20. Lincoln Kennedy, OL, Washington 

One of the last greats of the Don James era, Kennedy helped the Huskies to a pair of Rose Bowls while earning a spot in the Washington Ring of Honor.

A native of Pennsylvania, Kennedy grew up in the San Diego area and played high school football at Samuel F.B. Morse. The massive 6-6, 335-pound offensive tackle moved up to Washington to play his college football for a program that was coming off a Rose Bowl win in 1990.

After starting as a true freshman and helping the Huskies to a national championship, Kennedy’s best season came in 1992. Kennedy was named a consensus All-American and narrowly missed out on winning both the Lombardi and Outland Trophies while helping running back Napoleon Kauffman pile up over 1,000 rushing yards.

Washington went 9-2 in the 1992 regular season thanks in large part to Kennedy to earn a berth in the Rose Bowl, where it would lose to Michigan. Kennedy returned for the 1993 season and earned another All Pac-10 nod, although the Huskies would fall to 7-4 with James retired.

The Atlanta Falcons selected Kennedy ninth overall in the 1993 NFL Draft, and he earned a pair of All-Pro honors with the Oakland Raiders in the early 2000s.

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