Kenny Yeboah
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kenny Yeboah
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Detroit Lions
| number = 88
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|10|30}}
| birth_place = Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 250
| high_school = Parkland {{avoid wrap|(South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania)}}
| college = Temple (2016–2019)
Ole Miss (2020)
| undraftedyear = 2021
| pastteams =
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2021|2024}})
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 9
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 111
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 1
| pfr = YeboKe00
}}
Kenneth Yeboah (born October 30, 1998) is an American professional football tight end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Temple Owls and Ole Miss Rebels.
Early life
Yeboah was born in Providence, Rhode Island. Following his sophomore year in high school, his family moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania. He attended Parkland High School in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, where he was a starter on the basketball and football teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.lvpnews.com/20160316/yeboah-makes-the-most-of-two-years-at-phs/|title=Yeboah makes the most of two years at PHS|first=CJ|last=Hemerly|work=Lehigh Valley Press|date=March 16, 2016|access-date=October 17, 2020}} Yeboah had 47 receptions for 773 yards and 13 touchdowns in his junior season.{{cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-kenny-yeboah-commits-temple-20150804-story.html|title=Parkland High's Kenny Yeboah to play football at Temple|work=The Morning Call|date=August 4, 2015|access-date=October 17, 2020}} As a senior, he caught 72 passes for 1,160 yards and 14 touchdowns and had five interceptions on defense and was named Class AAAA All-State.{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/mc-4a-2a-all-state-football-20151222-story.html|title=Six EPC South football players land on Class 4A all-state team|work=Baltimore Sun|access-date=October 17, 2020}}
Yeboah committed to play college football at Temple over offers from Towson, Old Dominion, and New Hampshire.{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/sports/college/Kenny-Yeboah-commits-to-Temple-football.html|title=Kenny Yeboah commits to Temple football|first=Marc|last=Narducci|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=July 27, 2015|access-date=October 17, 2020}}
College career
As a freshman, Yeboah played in one game and caught a 15-yard pass before redshirting the season in order to transition from wide receiver to tight end.{{cite web|url=https://temple-news.com/yeboah-becoming-playmaker-position-change/|title=Yeboah becoming playmaker after position change|date=23 August 2017|access-date=October 17, 2020}} He had 14 receptions for 136 yards in his redshirt freshman season.{{cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-spt-temple-parkland-yeboah-mackey-award-list-20180729-story.html|title=Temple's Kenny Yeboah, a Parkland grad, named to John Mackey Award watchlist|work=The Morning Call|date=July 29, 2018|access-date=October 17, 2020}} Yeboah finished his redshirt sophomore season with 13 catches for 154 yards and one touchdown.{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/temple/temple-david-martin-robinson-offense-season-2020-20201014.html|title=Temple Owls find new offensive weapon in TE David Martin|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=October 14, 2020|access-date=October 17, 2020}} After the season, Yeboah entered the transfer portal to play at another program for his final season of eligibility.{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/temple/kenny-yeboah-temple-football-transfer-portal-20191202.html|title=Temple tight end Kenny Yeboah to enter the transfer portal|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|access-date=October 17, 2020}}
Yeboah originally committed to transfer to Baylor in order to play for Matt Rhule, who had previously coached him at Temple, but de-committed after Rhule left the school to become the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.{{cite web|url=https://wacotrib.com/sports/college/baylor/temple-te-transferring-to-baylor/article_bb360885-5710-5d6e-97b9-5775fc8e6aca.html|title=Temple TE transferring to Baylor|work=Waco Tribune-Herald|date=December 20, 2019|access-date=October 17, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/olemiss/football/how-baylor-commit-kenny-yeboah-ended-up-with-ole-miss-football|title=How Baylor Commit Kenny Yeboah Ended up with Ole Miss Football|first=Nate|last=Gabler|website=SI.com|date=May 6, 2020|access-date=October 17, 2020}} He ultimately transferred to Ole Miss for his final season.{{cite web|url=https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/networking-helped-transfer-te-yeboah-land-at-ole-miss/article_425e5bcb-9a0a-5bab-91a6-2260cc069b4d.html|title=Networking helped transfer TE Yeboah land at Ole Miss|work=Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal|date=September 10, 2020|access-date=October 17, 2020}} Yeboah set a school record for most receiving yards in a game by a tight end with 181 on seven receptions and two touchdowns on October 10, 2020, in a 63–48 loss to Alabama.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30103056/why-grad-transfer-success-stories-no-longer-apply-just-college-football-elite|title=Why grad transfer success stories no longer apply to just college football elite|first=Ivan|last=Maisel|website=ESPN.com|date=October 13, 2020|access-date=October 17, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/olemiss/football/how-kenny-yeboah-and-matt-corral-grew-their-chemistry-in-an-offseason-without-practice|title=How Kenny Yeboah and Matt Corral Grew Their Chemistry in an Offseason Without Practice|first=Nate|last=Gabler|website=SI.com|date=October 14, 2020|access-date=October 17, 2020}} He finished the season with 27 receptions for 524 yards and six touchdowns.{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/football/2020/12/17/elijah-moore-kenny-yeboah-opt-out-season-ole-miss-football/3950059001/|title=Elijah Moore, Kenny Yeboah opt out of season for Ole Miss football|work=The Clarion-Ledger|date=December 17, 2020|access-date=January 11, 2021}}
On December 17, 2020, Yeboah announced that he was forgoing the remainder of the 2020 season and entering the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web|title=Moore, Yeboah End Ole Miss Careers|url=https://olemisssports.com/news/2020/12/17/football-moore-yeboah-end-ole-miss-careers|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Ole Miss Athletics|language=en}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 7/8
| weight = 250
| dash = 4.75
| ten split = 1.70
| twenty split = 2.69
| vertical = 34.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 8
| bench = 15
| arm span = 34 1/8
| hand span = 9 1/2
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/kenny-yeboah/32005945-4241-5291-cc6e-c371135db900 |title=Kenny Yeboah Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=November 6, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1022503&DraftYear=2021 |title=2021 Draft Scout Kenny Yeboah, Mississippi NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=November 6, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106204448/https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/105185/kenny-yeboah |title=Kenny Yeboah 2021 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=November 6, 2022}}
}}
=New York Jets=
Yeboah signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on May 7, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Greenberg |first=Ethan |date=May 7, 2021 |title=Jets Sign 12 Undrafted Free Agents |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-12-undrafted-free-agents |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=NewYorkJets.com}} He was waived on August 31, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.{{Cite web |last=Lange |first=Randy |last2=Greenberg |first2=Ethan |date=August 31, 2021 |title=Jets Remove 27 Players from Roster to Reach 53-Man Limit |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-53-man-roster-2021-season |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=NewYorkJets.com}}{{cite web|title=Jets Sign 13 to the Practice Squad|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-practice-squad-2021-season|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=September 1, 2021|access-date=September 3, 2021|archive-date=September 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925095109/https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-practice-squad-2021-season|url-status=dead}} Yeboah was elevated to the active roster on October 9, for the team's week 5 game against the Atlanta Falcons and made his NFL debut in the game.{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/snap-count-analysis-which-jets-played-most-snaps-in-loss-to-falcons-in-london|title=Snap Count Analysis: Which Jets Played Most Snaps in Loss to Falcons in London?|first=Ethan|last=Greenberg|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=October 11, 2021|access-date=October 11, 2021}} On November 16, Yeboah was signed to the active roster.{{cite web|title=Jets Sign TE Kenny Yeboah, CB Rachad Wildgoose to Active Roster|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-te-kenny-yeboah-cb-rachad-wildgoose-to-active-roster|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=November 16, 2021}} In a January 2, 2022, game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Yeboah collected his first two NFL receptions for a total of 36 yards, both from quarterback Zach Wilson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/jets-kenny-yeboah-two-catches-as-teams-top-te/|title = Jets' Kenny Yeboah: Two catches as team's top TE}}
On August 30, 2022, Yeboah was waived by the Jets and signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Final Cuts: Jets Move 27 Players to Trim Roster to NFL's 53-Man Limit|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-53-man-roster-2022-season|last1=Lange|first1=Randy|last2=Greenberg|first2=Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 30, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Jets Sign 13 Players to Practice Squad|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-practice-squad-2022-season|author=Lange, Randy|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 31, 2022}} He was promoted to the active roster on November 5.{{cite web|title=Jets Sign TE Kenny Yeboah to Active Roster|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-te-kenny-yeboah-to-active-roster|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=November 5, 2022}}
On August 30, 2023, Yeboah was placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|title=Jets Sign P Thomas Morstead, FB Nick Bawden to 53-Man Roster|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-thomas-morstead-nick-bawden-53-man-roster|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 30, 2023}} He was activated on December 6.{{cite web|title=Jets Place TE C.J. Uzomah on Injured Reserve; Activate TE Kenny Yeboah|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/cj-uzomah-injured-reserve-kenny-yeboah-active-roster-12-6-2023|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=December 6, 2023}}
On August 27, 2024, Yeboah was placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|title=Final Cuts {{!}} Jets Move 37 to Get Their Roster to 53 Players|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-53-man-roster-2024-season|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 27, 2024}} On October 31, the Jets reactivated him and Yeboah made his season debut in the Thursday Night Football win over the Houston Texans.{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-place-allen-lazard-leku-fotu-ir-sign-riley-patterson-alec-lindstrom-to-active-roster-10-31-2024|work=NewYorkJets.com|title=Jets Place WR Allen Lazard, DT Leku Fotu on IR; Sign K Riley Patterson, OL Alec Lindstrom to Active Roster|first=Ethan|last=Greenberg|date=October 31, 2024|accessdate=October 31, 2024}} In Week 11 of the 2024 season, Yeboah scored his first NFL touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts on an 11-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers.{{Cite web |title=Kenny Yeboah 2024 Game Log | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/Y/YeboKe00.htm |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
=Detroit Lions=
On March 14, 2025, Yeboah signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions.{{Cite web|title=Detroit Lions sign veteran TE Kenny Yeboah from New York Jets|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/03/14/detroit-lions-sign-veteran-te-kenny-yeboah-from-new-york-jets/82423989007/|access-date=March 18, 2025|website=freep.com|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.newyorkjets.com/team/players-roster/kenny-yeboah/ New York Jets bio]
- [https://owlsports.com/sports/football/roster/kenny-yeboah/11422 Temple Owls bio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20201021044808/https://olemisssports.com/sports/football/roster/kenny-yeboah/2730 Ole Miss Rebels bio]
{{Detroit Lions roster navbox}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yeboah, Kenny}}
Category:American football tight ends
Category:New York Jets players
Category:Ole Miss Rebels football players
Category:Parkland High School (Pennsylvania) alumni
Category:Players of American football from Allentown, Pennsylvania
Category:Players of American football from Providence, Rhode Island