Kenny Ladler
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kenny Ladler
| image = Kenny Ladler NASA Commercialization Training Camp - 19 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Ladler in 2020
| number = 31, 48, 33, 32
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|6|23}}
| birth_place = Stone Mountain, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 205
| high_school = Stephenson
(Stone Mountain, Georgia)
| college = Vanderbilt (2010-2013)
| undraftedyear = 2014
| pastteams =
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2014}})
- Edmonton Eskimos ({{CFL Year|2016}}–{{CFL Year|2017}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2018}})
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2018}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2019}})
- BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2020}}–{{CFL Year|2021}})*
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 17
| cfl = kenny-ladler/162208/
| pfr = LadlKe00
}}
Kenneth Alfonzo Ladler Jr. (born June 23, 1992) is an American former professional football safety. He played college football at Vanderbilt, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills in 2014. He also played for the Edmonton Eskimos and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and the Washington Redskins and New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL).
Early life
Ladler attended Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia. As a senior, he helped Stephenson to an undefeated regular season and to the second round of the state playoffs. He registered 80 tackles, four interceptions and a forced fumble. He also scored on punt return, INT return and a blocked punt.
Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was rated the 42nd best safety prospect in the nation.[https://sports.yahoo.com/vanderbilt/football/recruiting/player-Kenneth-Ladler-90276 Kenneth Ladler - Yahoo Sports] He committed to Vanderbilt over offers from East Carolina, Kentucky, Louisville, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Toledo.[http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=2&c=873904&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2frecruiting.scout.com%2f2%2f873904.html Vanderbilt gets Georgia safety]{{cite web|url=https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2010/kenneth-ladler-50638#school-interests |title=Kenneth Ladler, 2010 Safety - Rivals.com |publisher=N.rivals.com |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}
College career
As a true freshman in 2010, he appeared in every game at free safety, including nine starts for the Commodores. He finished fifth on team in total tackles with 57, while also registering 5.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and one interception, and was a selection on the All-SEC Freshman team.[http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/12/sec_announces_all-freshman_tea_1.html SEC Announces All-Freshman Team] In 2010, he played in all 13 games, earning five starts. He finished the season fourth on the team with 53 tackles, while adding four pass deflections and one interception. In 2012, he started all 13 games, while leading the team with 90 tackles, three pass deflections, two interceptions and a forced fumble. In 2013, he earned first-team All-SEC honors after he recorded a team leading 91 tackles, with nine pass deflections and five interceptions.[http://www.anchorofgold.com/2013/12/9/5192962/kenny-ladler-jordan-matthews-named-ap-first-team-all-sec-players Ladler, Matthews Named All-SEC Players] He also led the SEC and shared the NCAA lead while setting a team record with five forced fumbles.
Professional career
=Buffalo Bills=
Ladler was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. He was among final cuts by the Bills on August 30, 2014, but was signed to the practice squad the next day. On October he was promoted to the active roster and after suffering an arm injury he was placed on season ending injured reserve on October 28, 2014.[http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/28/bills-place-kenny-ladler-on-injured-reserve/ Bills place Kenny Ladler on injured reserve] He was released by the team on September 1, 2015.
=Edmonton Eskimos=
Ladler was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos prior to 2016 season. In Kenny's first season in 2016, he had 70 tackles and 2 interceptions. The following season saw a major improvement for Ladler where he recorded 86 tackles and 3 interceptions, he was then named the Eskimos defensive player of the year and later named to the CFL all defense team.
=Washington Redskins (first stint)=
On January 9, 2018, Ladler signed a reserve/future contract with the Washington Redskins.{{cite web|title=Redskins Sign Defensive Back Kenny Ladler To Reserve/Future Contract|url=https://www.redskins.com/news/redskins-sign-defensive-back-kenny-ladler-to-reserve-future-contract-20227581|author=Czarda, Stephen|website=Redskins.com|date=January 9, 2018}} On September 1, 2018, he was waived for final roster cuts before the start of the season, but signed with their practice squad the following day.{{cite web|work=Redskins.com|url=https://www.redskins.com/news/9-1-redskins-make-roster-moves|title=9/1: Redskins Make Roster Moves|date=September 1, 2018|accessdate=September 1, 2018|archive-date=September 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902052302/https://www.redskins.com/news/9-1-redskins-make-roster-moves|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|work=Redskins.com|url=https://www.redskins.com/news/9-2-redskins-make-roster-moves|date=September 2, 2018|title=Kapri Bibbs Among Eight Added To Practice Squad|accessdate=September 2, 2018}} He was promoted to the active roster on September 11, 2018.{{cite web |title=Redskins Sign Brian Quick, Place Cam Sims On Injured Reserve |url=https://www.redskins.com/news/redskins-sign-brian-quick-place-cam-sims-on-injured-reserve |website=Redskins.com |accessdate=September 12, 2018}} He was waived on November 6, 2018.{{cite web|title=Redskins Activate Stacy McGee From Active/PUP List|url=https://www.redskins.com/news/redskins-activate-stacy-mcgee-from-reserve-pup-list|website=Redskins.com|date=November 6, 2018}}
=New York Giants=
On November 14, 2018, Ladler was signed to the New York Giants practice squad.{{cite web|title=Giants Signing S Kenny Ladler To Practice Squad|url=http://nfltraderumors.co/giants-signing-s-kenny-ladler-to-practice-squad/|work=NFL Trade Rumors|date=November 14, 2018}} He was promoted to the active roster on December 6, 2018.{{cite web|title=Giants officially place Landon Collins on IR|url=https://www.giants.com/news/giants-officially-place-landon-collins-on-ir|author=Eisen, Michael|website=Giants.com|date=December 6, 2018}}
Ladler was waived/injured during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019,{{cite web|title=New York Giants announce 53-man roster|url=https://www.giants.com/news/new-york-giants-announce-53-man-roster-x1935|author=Eisen, Michael|website=Giants.com|date=August 31, 2019}} and reverted to the team's injured reserve list the next day. He was waived from injured reserve with an injury settlement on September 5.{{cite web|url=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2019/09/06/new-york-giants-waive-three-with-injury-settlements/|title = Giants waive three with injury settlements|date = September 6, 2019}}
=Washington Redskins (second stint)=
Ladler signed with the Redskins on December 27, 2019, but was released on February 14, 2020.{{cite web|title=Redskins Place CB Fabian Moreau, S Montae Nicholson On Injured Reserve; Sign S Kenny Ladler, WR Jester Weah|url=https://www.redskins.com/news/redskins-place-cb-fabian-moreau-s-montae-nicholson-on-injured-reserve-sign-s-ken|website=Redskins.com|date=December 27, 2019|access-date=December 27, 2019|archive-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227202507/https://www.redskins.com/news/redskins-place-cb-fabian-moreau-s-montae-nicholson-on-injured-reserve-sign-s-ken|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |last1=Stackpole |first1=Kyle |title=Redskins Release Multiple Players, Including Josh Norman and Paul Richardson |url=https://www.redskins.com/news/redskins-release-josh-norman-paul-richardson |website=Redskins.com |accessdate=14 February 2020}}
=BC Lions=
Ladler signed with the BC Lions on February 25, 2020.{{cite news |author=Baker, Matt |title=Lions Add Free Agent DB Kenny Ladler |url=https://www.bclions.com/2020/02/25/lions-add-free-agent-db-kenny-ladler/ |website=BCLions.com |date=February 25, 2020 |accessdate=March 5, 2020}} After the CFL canceled the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ladler chose to opt-out of his contract with the Lions on August 31, 2020.{{cite news |title=Tracking players who have exercised opt-outs |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/08/26/tracking-cflers-exercised-opt-outs/ |website=CFL.ca |date=August 26, 2020 |accessdate=October 5, 2020}} He opted back in to his contract on January 19, 2021.{{cite news |author=Baker, Matt |title=DB Kenny Ladler returns to Lions |url=https://www.bclions.com/2021/01/19/db-kenny-ladler-returns-lions/ |website=BCLions.com |date=January 19, 2021 |access-date=February 22, 2021}} He retired from football on June 23, 2021.{{cite web |title=2021 CFL Transactions |url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/?season=2021 |website=CFL.ca |access-date=June 24, 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
- [http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/kenny_ladler_711872.html Vanderbilt Commodores bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ladler, Kenny}}
Category:Players of American football from DeKalb County, Georgia
Category:Players of Canadian football from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Sportspeople from Stone Mountain, Georgia
Category:Vanderbilt Commodores football players
Category:Canadian football linebackers
Category:American football safeties
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:Edmonton Elks players
Category:Washington Redskins players