Penn State commit David “DK” Kency Jr. knows that being a walk-on in the recruiting world means people will overlook him.
He’s comfortable with that.
To him, it just creates extra motivation.
For many, the words “walk-on” and “underdog” go hand-in-hand. Plenty of athletes who walk on to a big college program see themselves as underdogs and embrace it.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Kency, who announced his commitment to Penn State as a preferred walk-on Monday night, isn’t one of them.
Louisiana Bred….Penn State bound! WeAre!!! pic.twitter.com/uQSoQme7bb
— David “DK” Kency, Jr (@MrFlash_8) January 23, 2023
“I will never see myself as the underdog,” Kency told Nittany Sports Now via direct message, “because I am willing to do anything it takes to make my team great.”
Oh, and another thing.
“Plus, I’m too fast to be even thought of as a walk on,” he said. “My speed speaks for itself.”
That last part was said in jest. Kency added “lol” to the end of the message. But Kency’s speed is no joke, and it made him one of the top prep running backs in Louisiana. As a senior this past season, Kency ran for 1,655 yards and 25 touchdowns for Archbishop Shaw Catholic High School in Marrero.
He’s also a standout in the 100 and 200-meter dash and a two time first-team All-District soccer player, so Kency’s speed has served him well in multiple sports.
This past weekend, he visited Penn State, and loved the place enough to commit. He told NSN he was recruited by running backs coach JaJuan Seider, assistant running backs coach Charles Walker and assistant recruiting coordinator Rashad Elby.
For Kency, being committed makes him “part of the brotherhood.”
“It means that I am joining a community, and a family,” Kency said. “It means that I am now in a place where I belong. I’m committed not just to football, but to our fans, our families and our community.”
Kency is excited to get to work with Penn State’s coaching staff.
“I am humbled to know I am being coached by the best of the best,” he said. “I respect them.”
He describes himself as a humble, both on the gridiron and anywhere else.
“I am hungry,” Kency said. “I am a team player and I don’t just want to win, I want us to win.”
Penn State won a lot this past season. Coach James Franklin’s team went 11-2, beat Utah in the Rose Bowl earlier this month and finish the season ranked seventh in the AP Poll. Kency watched every Penn State game he could in 2022.
With plenty of talent coming back and another solid recruiting class coming in, Penn State is expected to be a problem in 2023 and ‘24, and Kency is excited to be a part of it. He plans on being there for Penn State’s annual Blue-White spring game April 15 and introducing himself to some of his future teammates.
Getting the chance to play at a school like Penn State is a dream come true for Kency.
“Football is my passion,” Kency said, “and being able to play on a field that I could only see on TV is surreal. I am still in shock.
Once Kency gets to Penn State, he’ll be there to “work hard, here to join this family.”
“I am a Nitty Lion for life,” he said.
