{{Short description|American football player (born 1990)}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | image = Kenny Demens (2012-09-15).JPG | image_size = | caption = Demens in 2012 at Michigan Stadium | name = Kenny Demens | current_team = | number = 54 | position = Outside linebacker | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|2|4}} | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lbs = 242 | high_school = Detroit Country Day School<br/>(Beverly Hills, Michigan) | college = Michigan | undraftedyear = 2013 | pastteams = *Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2013}}–{{NFL Year|2015}}) | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 15 | statlabel2 = Sacks | statvalue2 = | statlabel3 = Forced fumbles | statvalue3 = 1 | statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue4 = | statlabel5 = Interceptions | statvalue5 = | pfr = DemeKe00 }}
'''Kenny Demens''' (born February 4, 1990) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, playing his redshirt senior season in 2012. He was a 2011 honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection and the 2011 team leader in tackles. Demens spent the 2013 season on the Cardinals practice squad. In 2014, he began the season on the active roster. He had a season-ending injury in 2015 and was cut in 2016. During his NFL career, he mostly played special teams.
==Early life== Demens began playing football as an 8-year-old in Southfield, Michigan and attended Ron Rice's football camp for a few years as a youth.<ref name=DASatN>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/108260794/?terms=%22Kenny%20Demens%22&match=1|title=Demens: A Shot at the NFL|accessdate=March 23, 2024|date=April 18, 2013|work=Detroit Free Press|page=C4|author=Birkett, Dave}}</ref>
Detroit Country Day reached the 2007 Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 4 State Championship game at Ford Field.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mhsaa.com/Sports/Scores/YearlyChampions.aspx|title=Football Yearly Champions 1975-2011|access-date=November 29, 2011|publisher=Michigan High School Athletic Association|archive-date=November 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127161056/http://www.mhsaa.com/Sports/Scores/YearlyChampions.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> Demens recorded 11 tackles in the game.<ref name=KD25/> Demens was close friends with classmate Jonas Gray.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/arizona-cardinals/post/_/id/10867/kenny-demens-still-celebrating-for-hs-best-friend-jonas-gray|title=Kenny Demens still celebrating for HS best friend Jonas Gray|accessdate=March 23, 2024|date=November 21, 2014|author=Weinfuss, Josh|publisher=ESPN}}</ref> Demens was regarded as the 23rd, 23rd and 35th best high school football linebacker in the country as a senior by Scout.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.com, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michigan.scout.com/a.z?s=162&p=8&c=1&nid=3144609|title=Kenny Demens|access-date=November 29, 2011|publisher=Scout.com}}</ref><ref name=KDRdc>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Kenny-Demens-45784;_ylt=AoDJbePpAGMFWYZtFkFzZnVDPZB4|title=Kenny Demens|access-date=November 29, 2011|publisher=Rivals.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/46871/kenny-demens|title=Kenny Demens|access-date=November 29, 2011|work=ESPN.com}}</ref> Rivals also ranked him as the eighth best high school football player in the state of Michigan.<ref name=KDRdc/> {{College athlete recruit start|40=yes|collapse=no|year=2008}} {{College athlete recruit entry | recruit = Kenny Demens | position = LB | hometown = Detroit, Michigan | highschool = Detroit Country Day (MI) | feet = 6 | inches = 1 | weight = 224.5 | 40 = 4.6 | commitdate = September 29, 2007 | scout stars = 3 | rivals stars = 4 | espn grade = 78 }} {{College athlete recruit end | 40 = | year = 2008 | rivals ref title = Michigan Football Commitments | scout ref title = 2008 Michigan Football Commits | espn ref title = ESPN | rivals school = michigan | scout s = 162 | espn schoolid = 130 | scout overall = 23 (LB) | rivals overall = 23 (LB), 8 (MI) | espn overall = 35 (LB) | accessdate = November 29, 2011 | bball = }}
==College== Demens saw action as a true freshman in three games under first-year head coach Rich Rodriguez for the 2008 Wolverines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090608aaa.html|title=Postgame Notes: Michigan 16, Miami (Ohio) 6|access-date=November 29, 2011|date=September 6, 2008|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=MGoBlue.com}}</ref><ref name=NCAAKD>{{cite web|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/playerDetail.jsp?yr=2011&org=418&player=25|title=Team: Michigan: Year: 2011 Thru 11/26/11: Player: Kenny Demens|access-date=November 29, 2011|date=November 26, 2011|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association}}</ref>
Demens became a starter in the October 16 game against Iowa,<ref name=KD25>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/demens_kenny00.html|title=Kenny Demens 25|access-date=November 29, 2011|date=September 6, 2008|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=MGoBlue.com}}</ref> and by the end of the season he recorded 10 tackles or more four times.<ref name=NCAAKD/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/16181/kenny-demens|title=Kenny Demens Game By Game Stats (2010)|access-date=November 29, 2011|publisher=ESPN}}</ref> He posted 12 tackles (5 solo and 7 assists) against Penn State on October 30, 10 tackles (5 solo and 5 assists) against Illinois on November 6, a career-high 13 (5 solo and 8 assists) against Wisconsin on November 20, and a career-high-tying 13 tackles (9 solo and 4 assists) against Mississippi State in the January 1, 2011 Gator Bowl.<ref name=NCAAKD/>
Under new first-year head coach Brady Hoke, Demens led the 2011 Wolverines in tackles and recorded his first three (2 solo and 2 assists) quarterback sacks.<ref name=NCAAKD/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rankingSummary?year=2011&org=418|title=Michigan (10 - 2) |access-date=November 29, 2011|date=November 26, 2011|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association}}</ref> His solo sacks came against Northwestern on October 8 and Illinois on November 12.<ref name=NCAAKD/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=312810077|title=(12) Michigan 42 (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten); Northwestern 24 (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten)|access-date=November 29, 2011|date=October 8, 2011|publisher=ESPN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=313160356|title=(24) Michigan 31 (8-2, 4-2 Big Ten);Illinois 14 (6-4, 2-4 Big Ten)|access-date=November 29, 2011|date=November 12, 2011|publisher=ESPN}}</ref> He recorded ten or more tackles three times.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/16181/kenny-demens|title=Kenny Demens Game By Game Stats (2011)|access-date=November 29, 2011|publisher=ESPN}}</ref> He posted 12 tackles (8 solo and 4 assists) in the rivalry game against Notre Dame on September 10 in the first night game played at Michigan Stadium,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=312530130|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915034600/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=312530130|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2016|title=Michigan scores with 2 seconds left, stuns Irish|access-date=November 29, 2011|date=September 10, 2011|publisher=ESPN}}</ref> 10 tackles (5 solo and 5 assists) against Northwestern on October 8 and 11 tackles (3 solo and 8 assists) against Iowa on November 5.<ref name=NCAAKD/> He was an honorable mention 2011 All-Big Ten Conference selection by both the coaches and the media for the 2011 team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112811aam.html|title=Molk Named Top Offensive Lineman to Headline Big Ten Awards|access-date=November 29, 2011|date=November 28, 2011|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=MGoBlue.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201032534/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112811aam.html|archive-date=December 1, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112811aad.html|title=Big Ten Announces 2011 All-Big Ten Teams and Select Individual Award Winners|access-date=November 29, 2011|date=November 28, 2011|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=BigTen.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129235824/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112811aad.html|archive-date=November 29, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Demens led the team and finished among the conference leaders in tackles/game (7.2, t-13th).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/stats/2011-2012/confldrs.html|title=2011 Big Ten Football: Leaders|access-date=January 6, 2012|work=BigTen.org|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203233016/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/stats/2011-2012/confldrs.html|archive-date=December 3, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2012, he finished second on the team to Jake Ryan in tackles. He concluded his career with 51 straight games played including 33 starts.<ref name=DASatN/>
==Professional career== On April 29, 2013, following the 2013 NFL draft, Demens signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals for 3 years and $1,485,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/arizona-cardinals/kenny-demens/|title=Kenny Demens Inside Linebacker|access-date=August 28, 2013|publisher=Sportrac.coms}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/29/cardinals-release-adam-snyder-sign-16-undrafted-free-agents/|title=Cardinals release Adam Snyder, sign 16 undrafted free agents|access-date=August 28, 2013|date=April 29, 2008|publisher=NBC Sports}}</ref> Demens survived the final roster cuts to make the 53-man roster, but when the Cardinals were awarded two waiver claims, they released Demens to make room on the roster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/packers-gm-sorry-about-vince-young/article_09620086-44a3-5754-be36-d795fd4b5abe.html|title=Packers GM sorry about Vince Young|access-date=September 2, 2013|date=September 2, 2013|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|author=|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Although the Cardinals had three inside linebackers on the roster — Karlos Dansby, Jasper Brinkley and rookie Kevin Minter — they added Demens to the practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/arizona-cardinals/post/_/id/168/flushing-the-pocket-cards-round-out-practice-squad|title=Flush the Pocket: Cards fill practice squad|access-date=September 7, 2013|date=September 4, 2013|publisher=ESPN|author=Weinfuss, Josh}}</ref> In 2014, he began the season on the team's official active roster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/other-sports/article/2014-Arizona-Cardinals-Roster-5726599.php|title=2014 Arizona Cardinals Roster|agency=Associated Press|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=September 2, 2014|date=September 1, 2014}}</ref> On September 14, 2014, following a Ted Ginn Jr. 71-yard punt return touchdown, Demens covered a Chandler Catanzaro kickoff and forced a fumble by Quintin Demps of the New York Giants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/playbyplay/_/gameId/400554211|title=Arizona Cardinals 25: 14 New York Giants: Play-by-Play|accessdate=March 24, 2024|date=September 14, 2014|publisher=ESPN}}</ref> Demens was lost for the season after an October 11 ACL injury for the 2015 Cardinals against the Detroit Lions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/arizona-cardinals/post/_/id/16778/cardinals-lose-lb-kenny-demens-for-season-with-acl-injury|title=Cardinals lose LB Kenny Demens for season with ACL injury|publisher=ESPN|author=Weinfuss, Josh|access-date=September 12, 2016|date=October 12, 2015}}</ref> Demens was cut by the Cardinals prior to the 2016 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cardswire.usatoday.com/2016/09/01/cardinals-throwback-thursday-september-1/|title=Cardinals throwback Thursday: September 1|access-date=September 12, 2016|date=September 1, 2016|work=USA Today|author=London, Jack}}</ref> During Demens' career he mostly played special teams, the only 6 snaps that he took on defense happened on September 9, 2013, when he posted his career high 3 tackles in 19 plays on the field in a 13–10 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DemeKe00/gamelog/|title=Kenny Demens|accessdate=March 23, 2024|date=|publisher=Sports Reference}}</ref>
==Personal life== He has a younger brother named Koreal.<ref name=DASatN/>
==Notes== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commons}} *[http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/playerDetail.jsp?yr=2012&org=418&player=25 Demens] @ NCAA.org *[http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/players/playerpage/1630976/kenny-demens Demens] @ CBS Sports *[http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/demens_kenny00.html Demens Michigan Bio] *[https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/16181/kenny-demens Demens] @ ESPN
{{DEFAULTSORT:Demens, Kenny}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:American football linebackers Category:Detroit Country Day School alumni Category:Arizona Cardinals players Category:Michigan Wolverines football players Category:Players of American football from Oakland County, Michigan