Kevin Strong
{{Short description|American football player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kevin Strong
| image = Kevin Strong.png
| image_size =
| caption = Strong in 2022
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Defensive tackle
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1996|8|5}}
| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 295
| high_school = Cleveland
(Cleveland, Texas)
| college = UTSA (2014–2018)
| undraftedyear = 2019
| pastteams =
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2019}}–{{NFL Year|2021}})
- Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2021}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2023}})
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
| status =
| highlights =
- Second-team All-Conference USA (2017)
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 95
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 3.5
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 1
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 4
| pfr = S/StroKe00
}}
Kevin Strong Jr. (born August 5, 1996) is an American professional football defensive tackle. He played college football at UTSA before graduating in 2018. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions in 2019.
College career
Strong was a member of the UTSA Roadrunners for five seasons, redshirting his freshman year. As a junior, Strong was named second-team All-Conference USA after recording 27 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks.{{Cite news |last=Luca |first=Greg |date=October 2, 2018 |title=UTSA's Strong seeing improvement after rough start to 2018 season |work=San Antonio Express-News |url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/college_sports/utsa/article/UTSA-s-Strong-seeing-improvement-after-rough-13276400.php |access-date=September 12, 2019}} He finished his collegiate career with 106 tackles (26.5 for loss), 7.5 sacks, three pass deflections, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two blocked kicks in 47 games played (40 starts).{{Cite web |last=Schlitt |first=Erik |date=August 14, 2019 |title=Lions Wire exclusive: Kevin Strong's path to his first NFL game |url=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/14/kevin-strong-detroit-lions-interview-utsa-football/ |access-date=September 12, 2019 |website=Lions Wire |publisher=USA Publisher}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 5/8
| weight = 289
| dash = 5.26
| ten split = 1.81
| twenty split = 3.02
| shuttle = 4.88
| cone drill = 7.95
| vertical = 30.5
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 10
| bench = 17
| arm span = 32 3/4
| hand span = 10 1/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=Kevin Strong Jr., Texas-San Antonio, DT, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1007442&DraftYear=2019 |access-date=November 23, 2021 |website=draftscout.com}}
}}
=Detroit Lions=
Strong signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2019.{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2019 |title=Lions sign 13 undrafted rookie free agents |url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-sign-13-undrafted-rookie-free-agents |access-date=September 11, 2019 |website=DetroitLions.com}} He made his NFL debut on September 8, 2019, against the Arizona Cardinals.{{Cite web |last=Raven |first=Benjamin |date=September 9, 2019 |title=Snap counts: Lions Frank Ragnow returns to play every offensive snap on OL in Week 1 tie |url=https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/snap-counts-lions-frank-ragnow-returns-to-play-every-offensive-snap-on-ol-in-week-1-tie.html |access-date=September 11, 2019 |website=MLive.com}} On November 12, 2019, Strong was placed on injured reserve after a season ending injury. He finished his rookie season with five tackles and a pass defended in eight games played.{{Cite web |last=Schlitt |first=Erik |date=November 12, 2019 |title=Lions claim OT Dan Skipper off waivers, place DT Kevin Strong on IR |url=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/11/12/lions-claim-ot-dan-skipper-off-waivers-place-dt-kevin-strong-on-ir/ |access-date=November 12, 2019 |website=Lions Wire |publisher=USA Today}}
On September 5, 2020, Strong was waived by the Lions and signed to the practice squad the next day.{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2020 |title=Lions announce roster moves |url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-announce-roster-moves-x4330 |website=DetroitLions.com}}{{Cite web |date=September 6, 2020 |title=Lions establish practice squad |url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-establish-practice-squad |website=DetroitLions.com}} He was elevated to the active roster on September 19 for the team's Week 2 game against the Green Bay Packers, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.{{Cite news |last=Schlitt, Erik |date=September 19, 2020 |title=Lions elevate Kevin Strong and Dee Virgin to the active roster for Week 2 |work=USAToday.com |url=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/09/19/lions-elevate-kevin-strong-and-dee-virgin-to-the-active-roster-for-week-2/ |access-date=October 5, 2020}} He was released by the Lions on November 11, 2020.{{Cite news |last=Schlitt, Erik |date=November 11, 2020 |title=Lions re-sign RB Dalyn Dawkins to practice squad, release DT Kevin Strong |work=USAToday.com |url=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/11/11/lions-re-sign-rb-dalyn-dawkins-to-practice-squad-release-dt-kevin-strong/ |access-date=November 12, 2020}} He re-signed to the practice squad on December 1, 2020,{{Cite news |last=Schlitt, Erik |date=December 1, 2020 |title=Lions sign DT Kevin Strong to practice squad, protect him and three others in Week 13 |work=USAToday.com |url=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/12/01/detroit-lions-sign-kevin-strong-practice-squad-protect-week-13-frank-herron-albert-huggins-bobby-price/ |access-date=January 9, 2021}} and was promoted to the active roster the next day.{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2020 |title=Lions announce roster moves |url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-announce-roster-moves-trufant-shelton-bryant |website=DetroitLions.com}} In Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings, Strong recorded his first career sack on Kirk Cousins during the 37–35 loss.{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – January 3rd, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202101030det.htm |access-date=January 3, 2021 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
On September 25, 2021, Strong was placed on injured reserve.{{Cite web |last=Schlitt |first=Erik |date=2021-09-25 |title=Detroit Lions elevate K Ryan Santoso to active roster, place DL Kevin Strong on IR |url=https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/9/25/22693366/detroit-lions-elevate-k-ryan-santoso-to-active-roster-place-dl-kevin-strong-on-ir |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Pride Of Detroit |publisher=SB Nation |language=en}} He was activated on November 2, 2021. He was waived on November 20.
=Tennessee Titans=
Strong signed with the Tennessee Titans' practice squad on November 23, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Wyatt |first=Jim |date=November 23, 2021 |title=Titans Make 13 Roster Moves – On the Active Roster, Practice Squad and Injured Reserve – On a Busy Tuesday |url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-make-13-roster-moves-on-the-active-roster-practice-squad-and-injured-rese |access-date=November 23, 2021 |website=TennesseeTitans.com}} He was promoted to the active roster on January 8, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Wyatt |first=Jim |date=January 8, 2022 |title=Titans Promote DL Kevin Strong to the Active Roster While Waiving RB Jeremy McNichols |url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-promote-dl-kevin-strong-to-the-active-roster-while-waiving-rb-jeremy-mcni |access-date=January 8, 2022 |website=TennesseeTitans.com}}
=Arizona Cardinals=
On March 15, 2023, Strong signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/kyzir-white-agrees-to-two-year-deal-with-cardinals-kevin-strong-hjalte-froholdt|title=Kyzir White Agrees To Two-Year Deal With Cardinals|work=AZCardinals.com|date=March 15, 2023|first=Darren |last=Urban}} He was released on January 5, 2024.{{cite web |last1=Urban |first1=Darren |title=Cardinals Move Dante Stills, D.J. Humphries To Injured Reserve |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-move-dante-stills-d-j-humphries-to-injured-reserve |website=azcardinals.com |access-date=6 January 2024}}
=Los Angeles Rams=
On December 3, 2024, Strong was signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad.{{cite web|title=Rams sign 3 players to practice squad, including a CB they just waived|url=https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2024/12/03/rams-roster-moves-practice-squad-signings/|work=The Rams Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=December 3, 2024}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://goutsa.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=384 UTSA Roadrunners bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Strong, Kevin}}
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Los Angeles Rams players
Category:People from Cleveland, Texas
Category:Players of American football from Liberty County, Texas
Category:Sportspeople from the Houston metropolitan area