Nazareth offensive and defensive tackle Sean Kinney (6’3 290) announced today that he is committing to Lafayette to continue his college football career in the Lehigh Valley. Lafayette went 9-3 this year, won the Patriot League, and made their first trip to the FCS playoffs since 2013. Nazareth head coach Tom Falzone played wide receiver at Lafayette, graduating in 2000.
Kinney has played left tackle for the Blue Eagles since his freshman season. He earned All State honors as a junior on both sides of the ball and is almost guaranteed to do the same this year. He finished his season with 78 tackles, 22 TFL, and nine sacks. Parkland coach Tim Moncman said Kinney is the best defensive lineman in the Lehigh Valley in his memory. Kid can play.
However, it is mind boggling that Kinney will play FCS football in college. Kinney is the #3 ranked heavyweight in the country coming into his senior season that will leave him the most decorated heavyweight in Pennsylvania history. Kinney is 90-4, was the first freshman state finalist ever in Pa at heavyweight, and is a two-time state champ. A win in March, almost guaranteed, will make him the first 3x state champ at heavyweight and the first 4x state finalist at heavy. Only an 8-6 OT loss to current Iowa State heavyweight Nate Schon keeps him from being a four-timer. He has 70 pins in 94 career matches, and both of his state finals wins are shutouts over nationally ranked opponents.
Kinney was at the top of Cael Sanderson’s board as the next heavyweight at Penn State. Sanderson made it to four different Nazareth football games this fall in an effort to woo Kinney, who also holds offers from Oklahoma, Iowa State, NC State, Michigan, Missouri, and Lehigh. Penn State has had Kinney on an official visit dueinf a football weekend and even gave him permission to try and play both sports in State College. But he has been adamant during the recruiting process that he only wanted football at the next level. Kind of wild that the best heavyweight ever in Pennsylvania will have his wrestling career just end in Hershey.
Kinney has played left tackle for the Blue Eagles since his freshman season. He earned All State honors as a junior on both sides of the ball and is almost guaranteed to do the same this year. He finished his season with 78 tackles, 22 TFL, and nine sacks. Parkland coach Tim Moncman said Kinney is the best defensive lineman in the Lehigh Valley in his memory. Kid can play.
However, it is mind boggling that Kinney will play FCS football in college. Kinney is the #3 ranked heavyweight in the country coming into his senior season that will leave him the most decorated heavyweight in Pennsylvania history. Kinney is 90-4, was the first freshman state finalist ever in Pa at heavyweight, and is a two-time state champ. A win in March, almost guaranteed, will make him the first 3x state champ at heavyweight and the first 4x state finalist at heavy. Only an 8-6 OT loss to current Iowa State heavyweight Nate Schon keeps him from being a four-timer. He has 70 pins in 94 career matches, and both of his state finals wins are shutouts over nationally ranked opponents.
Kinney was at the top of Cael Sanderson’s board as the next heavyweight at Penn State. Sanderson made it to four different Nazareth football games this fall in an effort to woo Kinney, who also holds offers from Oklahoma, Iowa State, NC State, Michigan, Missouri, and Lehigh. Penn State has had Kinney on an official visit dueinf a football weekend and even gave him permission to try and play both sports in State College. But he has been adamant during the recruiting process that he only wanted football at the next level. Kind of wild that the best heavyweight ever in Pennsylvania will have his wrestling career just end in Hershey.
